Ask most learners about tests and the reaction is usually negative – learners often find the prospect of formal tests demotivating, while teachers sometimes fall into the trap of trying, with limited success, to “teach for the test”. However, testing is changing in response to a new environment where the role of English is more than just a foreign language skill to be learned. Using examples from international exams, as well as the Vietnamese VStep exam, the presenter will show the links between these changes and how using inspiring 21st century materials can lead to better performance in both local and international exams.