Last week, I joined the PSI team and hundreds of assessment leaders, policymakers, educators, and technologists, at the 2025 International e-Assessment Conference in London. Across three days of lively discussion, one theme was clear: assessment is evolving fast, and the sector is ready to lead with integrity, inclusion, and innovation.
PSI was proud to contribute to this important conversation and our team took part in several sessions. These covered the key topics of AI in test development, how to integrate AI in assessment without losing trust, and strategies for globalizing your assessment program.
Here’s a roundup of seven key themes that were dominant throughout the conference, each one reflecting a significant shift in how we think about, design, and deliver digital assessments. These themes are all active forces shaping strategy and operations for assessment providers, awarding organizations, and their test takers.
1. Responsible AI in assessment
It’s no surprise that AI took center stage again this year, especially during Monday’s dedicated AI Symposium. From automated item generation to adaptive testing, speakers explored how artificial intelligence is transforming assessment design and delivery.
But excitement was tempered by caution. There were thoughtful discussions about algorithmic bias, explainability, and maintaining human oversight in high-stakes environments like medicine and law.
Key takeaway: AI in testing must be transparent, explainable, and equitable. It is also essential that AI is deployed with clear ethical guardrails to preserve academic integrity and trust.
Find out more about how to modernize credentialing without losing trust.
2. Accessibility and inclusive design
Sessions on accessibility struck a powerful chord for me. As remote-first and mobile assessments become more widespread, I was reminded how critical it is to design with every learner in mind. Inclusivity isn’t a feature to add later or at the end of assessment design, it has to be part of the foundation.
Innovations showcased included VR assessments with subtitles, mobile-first interfaces, and tools designed specifically for neurodivergent candidates and those in low-bandwidth environments.
Key takeaway: Designing for the margins leads to better outcomes for everyone. Inclusive assessment is the foundation of fair testing.
3. Securing the remote testing experience
Online proctoring is now mainstream but so are concerns about test integrity when it comes to remote test security. Delegates debated how to balance robust security protocols with a candidate-first mindset.
Solutions ranged from AI-driven anomaly detection to respectful, low-friction authentication processes that minimize stress and reduce false flags.
Key takeaway: Security should be both strong and humane / human. Candidate experience and test integrity are inseparable.
Discover four ways AI can strengthen your test security strategy.
4. Data ethics and learner privacy
As assessments generate increasing volumes of performance data, the focus is shifting to data governance. How is data stored and for how long? Who gets to see it? And how is it used?
Multiple sessions called for clearer standards around data consent, analytics, and learner transparency. This is becoming more important, as AI-powered insights are increasingly used to inform decisions about what support a learner receives, which level of instruction they’re placed in, or whether they progress in a course or program.
These AI tools can offer valuable guidance, but they should never be used in isolation to make final decisions that could impact someone’s educational path or future opportunities. Human judgment must remain at the center.
Key takeaway: Ethical data use isn’t just about compliance. It’s about earning and maintaining learner trust.
5. Continuous, competency-based assessment
Traditional exam models are being reimagined. Rather than relying solely on high-pressure, end-point assessments, many providers are embracing more dynamic and responsive approaches. This includes low-stakes, formative assessments and competency-based credentialing that help capture a fuller, more nuanced picture of learner progress over time.
Use cases shared at the conference illustrated this shift. In some vocational and professional training programs, learners are now completing in-app quizzes embedded directly within digital learning platforms, offering real-time feedback and adaptive content tailored to their pace. Simulation-based tasks are also gaining traction, especially in fields like healthcare, engineering, and aviation, where candidates can demonstrate decision-making and problem-solving in realistic virtual environments.
Key takeaway: The future of assessment is ongoing, contextual, and competency aligned.
6. The environmental cost of AI
A newer and urgent conversation focused on the sustainability of AI in assessment. As large models become more compute-intensive, stakeholders are beginning to assess the carbon footprint of deploying AI at scale.
There were calls to factor in energy usage, data center choices, and hardware lifecycles when selecting assessment technology partners.
Key takeaway: Sustainable assessment means more than digital. It means being green by design.
7. Celebrating innovation: e-Assessment Awards
The annual e-Assessment Awards Dinner celebrated excellence across the sector. And PSI was honored to be shortlisted for a Best Summative Assessment Award with our client the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM).
The winners included an immersive VR assessment platform, the innovative use of summative testing, and technologies for scalable, inclusive solutions. These examples show how user-centered design and bold innovation can transform the testing experience.
Final reflections: redefining what ‘fair’ means
From ethics to inclusion to innovation, the 2025 International e-Assessment Conference made it clear that the next generation of assessments must do more than measure knowledge. They must earn trust, remove barriers, and create opportunity.
At PSI, we are part of shaping that future. Whether through AI-assisted test development or AI-powered test security, our work on globalization strategy, or our commitment to test taker centered design.