SPEAK Test
1. Who must take the SPEAK test?
All international graduate students for whom English is a second language who are either appointed as Teaching Assistants or who are required to teach undergraduates as part of their graduate programs, regardless of citizenship or degrees earned in the U.S.
2. What is the purpose of the SPEAK test?
The purpose of the ITA Oral English Proficiency Screening is to determine whether international teaching assistants can speak English well enough and clearly enough to be understood by the undergraduates whom they teach.
3. Can a student’s TOEFL iBT, IELTS, or Duolingo score exempt them from the SPEAK?
Yes. If a student scores 26 or higher on the Speaking section of the TOEFL iBT, a 7.0 or higher on the Speaking section of the IELTS, or a 115 or higher on the Duolingo English test, then the SPEAK test is not required.
4. How can students sign up for the SPEAK test?
They cannot register themselves. The academic department Graduate Services Coordinator or Director of Graduate Programs must sign students up at this website: apps.chass.ncsu.edu/stars2. The student’s name and UNITY ID are required for sign up.
*A student may only take the SPEAK test twice and those dates must be at least 5 months apart. Scores are valid for one year.
5. How can students find out when they are scheduled to take the SPEAK test?
Students will receive an automated email notifying them of an assigned test date and time. Any changes to the date and time will also be emailed to the student. Students may also ask the graduate secretary or Director of Graduate Programs in their department, or they may contact the administrator of the SPEAK test at: speaktest@ncsu.edu.
6. When and where will the test be given?
The next dates for the SPEAK test are:
- Wednesday, December 4, 2024, 10:00 AM
- Friday, January 3, 2025, 1:30 PM
Location: WLC Language and Computer Labs (former Laundry Lab) located at 2341 Stinson Dr.
7. What is the test like?
The test, the Speaking Proficiency English Assessment Kit, is an institutional version of the Test of Spoken English (TSE). Students listen to recorded questions through headphones, and they speak their answers into a microphone attached to their headset. The responses are recorded via their computer. Approximately 20 students take the test at each scheduled time, and the test runs about 30 minutes.
8. How can students prepare for the SPEAK test?
To access a practice SPEAK test, go to
https://esl.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/180/2017/05/Sample.SPEAK_.Test_.pdf
9. How can students, Graduate Services Coordinators, and Directors of Graduate Programs check a SPEAK Test score?
They can go to the following website a day or two after the test was taken: https://apps.chass.ncsu.edu/stars2/.
10. What is a passing score on the SPEAK test?
A student must score at least a 48 to be cleared for full teaching responsibilities. A student who scores lower than a 48 may have limited teaching responsibilities, with a senior TA or a professor who has primary responsibility. A student who scores less than 48 should be limited to TA responsibilities that don’t involve explaining things to undergraduates, such as grading or setting up labs.
11. If a student scores LESS THAN a 48 on the SPEAK test, what should the student do?
A student may sign up for an English course such as WLEN 401 or WLEN 400 to improve his or her spoken English.
What courses are recommended?
If a student scores
- a 35 or 40: on average it takes at least 2 semesters of English instruction to reach a 48. It is recommended that students enroll in WLEN 400 the first semester, and then WLEN 401 the following semester.
- a 45: it is recommended that students enroll in WLEN 401.
*Students should consult with their advisers to see what courses they recommend and to find out about departmental and university policies.
12. What are the responsibilities of Graduate Secretaries/Directors of Graduate Programs for the SPEAK test?
The graduate secretary or DGP is responsible for:
- Determining which students from their departments need to take the SPEAK
- Registering their students for the SPEAK
- Checking students’ scores and advising them accordingly
13. Additional Questions?
Please contact the SPEAK Test Administrator at: speaktest@ncsu.edu.