SPEAK Testing
The Kansas Board of Regents requires any graduate teaching assistant whose first language is not English to have a minimum score of 50 on the Speaking Proficiency English Assessment Kit (SPEAK test) or 22 on the Speaking part of the iBT (Internet based TOEFL) taken before January 21, 2026; or a score of 4.5 on the Speaking section of the TOEFL iBT taken on or after January 21, 2026 or a minimum score of 7 on the Speaking section of the IELTS (International English Language Test System).
All SPEAK testing is done using Zoom. The candidate will meet with the SPEAK Coordinator who will administer the test. The test takes approximately 30 minutes and emphasizes speech functions and extended samples of speech. The speech sample will be recorded and scored after the test is completed.
The ELP administers the SPEAK test on an ongoing basis online via Zoom and may offer in-person testing at the beginning of each semester as circumstances require. GTA candidates may register for the SPEAK at any time. To request a SPEAK, please fill out the registration form.
SPEAK Orientation
After receiving the candidate’s registration form, a time and date will be set for a SPEAK Orientation. During this session, which lasts approximately one hour, the candidate will meet with an ELP SPEAK Administrator to become familiar with the format and expectations for the test. At this time, a date for the SPEAK test will be set.
There is a $60 fee for each SPEAK test in order to cover the cost of administering and scoring the exam. After the test is given, the department will be invoiced for this fee.
We will need the following information for invoicing the fee.
- Department name
- Department accountant's name
- Accountant's email address
Task-specific Questions
| Task | Preparation Time | Organization | Vocabulary | Grammar | Pronunciation |
| Directions | 30 seconds | spatial order | specific to directions |
prepositions imperative transitions |
elicited by street, building, room names |
| Story | 60 seconds | chronological order | general |
tense prepositions/ transitions of time |
general |
| Graphs | none |
summarizing/ interpreting visual data |
specific to graphs/tables | tense transitions dates numbers | elicited by the content in chart |
| Schedule | 60 seconds | announcing information in a schedule emphasizing changes | general | tense dates, numbers transitions | elicited by names, places, and titles |
General Questions (non preparation time other than the initial time to review map, story, or schedule)
Skills performed:
- stating/explaining an opinion
- giving/explaining a solution to a problem
- comparing two options
- explaining a field-related concept/term
- discussing an issue of general interest
- stating a complaint and requesting a solution
- discussing a future goal/plan
- discussing alternatives/prevention
Resources:
- Street/building maps
- Graphs and charts
- Comic strips and graphic novels
- Schedules and course policies from classes
Listen to this file while you look at the practice test.(pdf)
(listen in QuickTime)
Results will be available within one week from the test date.
- Test scores are uploaded to KSIS for departments to view.
- Students will receive an email informing them of their results.
The passing score is 50 on a scale of 20-60. Two graders independently score each test, and their scores are averaged.
SPEAK graders have graduate degrees or training in English as a Second Language and Linguistics. All SPEAK graders at K-State have undergone a standardized training program and periodically check their scoring against the grading standard on the training materials.
Responses are graded according to the following competencies (or abilities):
- Functional competence: the speaker's ability to select functions to reasonably address the task and to select the language needed to carry out the function (for example, giving directions, telling a story, discussing topics).
- Sociolinguistic competence: the speaker's ability to demonstrate an awareness of audience and situation by selecting language, register (level of formality), and tone that are appropriate.
- Discourse competence: the speaker's ability to develop and organize information in a coherent (unified) manner, and to make effective use of cohesive devices (for example, use of sentence connectors, transition words, order markers) to help the listener follow the organization of the response.
- Linguistic competence: the effective selection of vocabulary (including proper word forms), control of grammatical structures, and accurate pronunciation, along with smooth delivery, in order to produce understandable speech.
adapted from Educational Testing Service. (1996). SPEAK Rater Training Kit. Princeton, New Jersey.
The following is a general description of each score level:
| Score | Description of Speaking Competencies |
| 60 | The speaker offers information easily, with little or no effort, and may go beyond the task through the use of advanced expressions. Almost no listener effort is required. |
| 50 | The speaker understood the question and answered appropriately. There may be some effort in the response. Expressions may be awkward. Generally, strong content is included. |
| 40 | The speaker may understand the question, but has difficulty responding. The answer may lack details, without appropriate transitions. Grammar problems may be present (for example verb tense errors, word forms, sentence structure). Limited vocabulary. Delivery slow or hesitant. |
| 30 | The speaker responds with much effort, provides limited response and often runs out of time. Function of the task may be accurate, but difficult to tell if task is completed due to other language weaknesses (sentence fragments, word form errors, lack of vocabulary). |
| 20 | The speaker attempts to perform task but may repeat only simple words, give up, or be silent. Extreme effort is required by the listener. Speech contains mostly sentence fragments, repetition of vocabulary and simple phrases. |
adapted from Educational Testing Service. (1996). SPEAK Rater Training Kit. Princeton, New Jersey.
- Students receiving scores of 45 may take the test again the next month (not January or August).
- Students with scores below 45 may take the test in two months time (not January or August).
- Students who fail the test twice must seek remediation before taking the test again.
- Students may have a review session after the first test. This will help identify specific problems to work on and make the best use of a student's practice time.
- Students wanting a review session need to make an appointment by emailing elp@ksu.edu.
In consultation with Associate Provost for Institutional Effectiveness, K-State will accept SPEAK scores from any Kansas Regent institution in fulfillment of the Board of Regents requirement for English proficiency for international teaching assistants (ITAs).
The SPEAK test has two versions, both of which K-State will accept:
| Test | Total Score Possible | Passing Scores for ITAs |
| Older version | 300 | 240 |
| Newer version | 60 | 50 |
K-State will accept for evidence the reporting of the score from the institution on letterhead (or test report form) with contact information for verification.
If you have questions, please contact the English Language Program: elp@ksu.edu