This book offers fresh insights into how we assess the language skills of young learners, aged 5 to 17. It breaks this broad group into three smaller age ranges – young children (5/6 to 8/9 years), older children (8/9 to 12/13 years), and teenagers (12/13 to 17 years). 

The first part of the book looks at the basics, beginning with the characteristics of young learners and how these are manifested in first language development. It considers how learners might perform in a second or foreign language, exploring how learners at different age ranges might roughly match up with levels on the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). Key ideas about how to assess young learners, specifically through formative tests and assessment are explored, focusing on how their language, thinking and social skills grow over time.

The second part dives into how we test different language ‘skills’. It explains some of the thinking behind what testing tries to measure, followed by an analysis of how each skill is tested across the three age groups. It ends with a summary of the unique characteristics of each age group and what this means for language testing.

The book is designed for anyone working with young language learners and offers practical guidance and ideas for further research.