The 8th Symposium on Language Testing and Assessment was held at the International Conference Hall of Sichuan International Studies University (SISU) from October 24 to 26. Themed “Language Assessment in the Era of Intelligent Technology: Innovation and Future,” the event was co-hosted by the Language Testing and Assessment Committee of the China Association for Comparative Studies of English and Chinese and SISU, and organized by SISU’s School of Business English.

More than 200 experts and scholars from China and abroad gathered to explore how emerging technologies—such as large language models and generative artificial intelligence—are driving theoretical breakthroughs and practical innovations in the field of language assessment.

During the keynote session, scholars presented forward-looking research outcomes. Professor Yan Xun from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign emphasized that the role of AI in language testing will depend largely on specific contexts and urged the academic community to think carefully about how AI can be effectively integrated into different testing scenarios. Professor Dong Manxia from SISU combined behavioral, eye-tracking, and EEG evidence to reveal, from a neurocognitive perspective, how cognitive control influences reading comprehension at various levels, offering a new lens for validating test validity.

On the opening day, three pre-conference workshops offered participants immersive opportunities to learn about cutting-edge methodologies. These were followed by six thematic forums and seven parallel sessions covering topics such as “Applications of Human–Machine Dialogue Systems in Language Assessment,” “GenAI and Innovation in Higher Education Evaluation,” “Appropriate Use of AI in Language Testing and Teaching,” “Language Assessment Literacy,” “International Chinese Education and Multilingual Assessment,” and “Language Testing in Basic Education.” Together, these discussions injected fresh momentum into improving foreign language education quality, strengthening national language capacity, and enhancing international communication.

A special Editors’ Forum also drew considerable attention from early-career researchers. Editors-in-chief and editorial board members of leading domestic and international journals—including Foreign Languages in China, Language Testing and Assessment, Modern Foreign Languages, Foreign Language Testing and Teaching, Language Assessment Quarterly, and Language Testing—gathered to engage young scholars in discussions on academic innovation, publishing standards, and submission strategies.

The 8th Symposium on Language Testing and Assessment in Session at SISU