Abstract

The rapid pace of globalisation has created a substantial demand for, and subsequently ongoing evolution in, the conceptualisation of intercultural competence (IC). However, it remains unclear whether assessment methodologies have kept pace with these theoretical shifts. This paper presents a critical review of 57 quantitative IC assessment instruments published between 1980 and 2025. These instruments were identified from a pool of 3503 papers sourced from major databases including ERIC, Google Scholar, ProQuest, PsycINFO, PSYNDEX, Scopus, and Web of Science. Despite the increasing demand to develop global citizens, the review revealed an overreliance on self-report Likert-type surveys, which accounted for 98% of the tools analysed. Significant flaws were identified in these traditional measures, namely social desirability, also known as ‘faking’, cognitive biases, and limited ability to assess actual behavioural and cognitive skills. The study examined alternative formats such as Situational Judgement Tests and Intercultural Scenario-based items, highlighting their potential to provide more direct behavioural evidence despite challenges in internal consistency. The findings suggest that more innovative quantitative approaches are needed to accurately assess IC.