My Life! Teaching in a Korean University

  • ESL Korea
  • Teaching English
  • ESL Activities
  • Learning English

in Life in the Classroom

ESL Speaking Tests | 4 English Speaking Test Ideas for Assessment

There are a few different options for ESL speaking tests, all of which have their advantages and disadvantages in terms of teacher effort, ease of grading and how well it measures what you’re trying to measure. If you’re conducting an ESL speaking test, stay tuned for all these helpful tips and tricks.

esl-speaking-test

ESL Speaking Tests

Choosing the best English speaking test style can go a long way towards making you feel less exhausted during exam periods. It can also assist with better student evaluations if the students feel that your testing method is fair, and measure what you’re teaching in the class. Let’s get to the conversation test ideas to use for TEFL classes.

ESL Speaking Test: 4 Ideas

Check out my top 4 English speaking test options below.

ESL Speaking Test Option #1: Speeches for ESL Students

Some English teachers put a big emphasis on presentations and speeches, but I don’t love this ESL Speaking Test idea for a conversation class. I’ve taught lots of presentation classes in Korean universities over the years, and of course, the final exam was a speech. It makes sense.

However, for a conversation class, it’s not the best option. This is because a speech is more of an academic thing, and not a true test of communication skills. Communication is more of a 2-way thing and is far better judged by the following speaking test styles I’ll mention below.

But, if you’re going to do the speech thing for an ESL Speaking Test, check out:

Ideas for Presentation Projects

ESL Speaking Test Option #2: A Dialogue

This is something that students prepare at home and perform in front of the teacher, or class. Many of my fellow teachers do this, but I’m not sure this is ideal either.

Generally, the best students will write the dialogues, and then the rest of the team will memorize their parts. However, to me, memorization isn’t really a true test of English communication. It’s not even an indication of the weaker students’ English skills, as the best student was the one who wrote it.

In general, I much prefer something where the questions/answers can’t be known ahead of time. This is how communication in real life actually works. There’s some give and take, and it’s impossible to predict with certainty what sort of responses will be needed.

speaking-test-esl

English speaking test

Conversation Test Option #3: Question and Answers, with another student

This English speaking test happens between two students, chosen at random on the day of the test. These days, this is by far my favourite way to conduct ESL speaking tests, since the teacher can just listen and not act an examiner at the same time. This makes English speaking tests, particularly if you have a large numbers of students far less exhausting.

I do have to facilitate a little bit, but it’s quite easy. For example, John and Carol, go ahead. Okay stop. Next group: Tim and Jen.

If you spend time during class showing your students what to expect, and how to do the exam, then it’ll be quite easy for you on the exam day.

How I Do This Style of English Speaking Test

The way I do it is to give students a list of around 10 possible topics a week or two before the exame (things we covered in class). For example, hobbies, future dreams, high school days, etc. I don’t make specific questions because that’s the students job to figure out!

I print off the list, and cut them into strips of paper. Each student (I evaluate 6 at a time, in about 12-15 minutes total) grabs one paper at random. I then choose two students to go together, and direct one student to start with their topic. The students have a 1-2 minute conversation about that, and then I direct them to talk about the second topic for 1-2 minutes.

Sure, the group of 6 knows ahead of time that they’re together, so could in theory plan everything out. But, 10 topics, with any number of pair variations? I’m not sure anyone would put in the effort to memorize dialogues in this case!

All about Student-Centred Learning

I’m all about student-centred learning as well and so anything that can put the pressure on my students, and not on me is my goal. It’s up to them to open the conversation, keep the conversation going with follow-up questions, and shift topics when appropriate. I speak English well and don’t need practice with this stuff!

Check out this ESL speaking rubric for some ideas on how I evaluate this kind of exam.

English Speaking Test Option #4: Questions and Answers, with me

This English speaking test is where the teacher has a short conversation with the teacher, individually. This is a very accurate way to test students but the huge negative is the exhaustion factor, especially with very low-level students.

There is basically nothing more tedious than having 1-1 conversations with someone who is just waiting for the teacher to ask them question after question. It’s particularly bad if you have people who only give 1-2 word answers in return. The pressure is not on the student to keep the conversation going, it’s on the teacher.

Another reason this option isn’t great is because the students usually don’t ask questions in this style of English speaking exam. You can design it so that they have to, but it’s not so easy to do. Then you also have the problem of when a student asks you a very personal question that you don’t want to answer (which they often will in Korea!). I just try to avoid this whenever possible.

39 No-Prep/Low-Prep ESL Speaking Activities: For English Teachers of Teenagers and Adults Who Want...
39 No-Prep/Low-Prep ESL Speaking Activities: For...
(344)
Check Price on Amazon
101 ESL Activities: Games, Activities, Practical ideas, & Teaching Tips For English Teachers of...
101 ESL Activities: Games, Activities, Practical...
(99)
Check Price on Amazon
71 Ways to Practice English Reading: Tips for ESL/EFL Learners Who Want to Improve their English...
71 Ways to Practice English Reading: Tips for...
(10)
Check Price on Amazon

ESL Speaking Test Samples

Do you want to see some more ideas, including some speaking test questions? Then you’ll certainly want to check out some of the top resources from around the Internet right here:

ESL Flow

ISL Collective

ESL Speaking Tests: Have Your Say!

Leave a comment below and let us know your favourite ESL Speaking Tests. How do you evaluate your students’ spoken English ability? We’d love to hear from you.

Also be sure to give this article a share on Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter. It’ll help other busy English teachers, like yourself find this useful resource.

esl-speaking-test-questions

ESL speaking test questions

Last update on 2022-06-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

About Jackie

Jackie Bolen has been teaching English for more than 15 years to students in South Korea and Canada. She's taught all ages, levels and kinds of TEFL classes. She holds an MA degree, along with the Celta and Delta English teaching certifications.

Jackie is the author of more than 30 books for English teachers and English learners, including Advanced English Conversation Dialogues and 39 No-Prep/Low-Prep ESL Speaking Activities for Teenagers and Adults. She loves to share her ESL games, activities, teaching tips, and more with other teachers throughout the world.

You can find her on social media at:
Facebook
Pinterest

« University Job in South Korea: 103 Tips for Getting Korean Uni Jobs
ESL Listening Lesson Plan Template | Teaching English Listening »
Great Debates for ESL/EFL: 39 Important Debating Topics for English Learners (Teaching ESL Speaking...
Great Debates for ESL/EFL: 39 Important Debating Topics for English Learners (Teaching ESL Speaking...
Check Price on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. What does this mean? I recommend products (only ones that I like) and if you purchase a product through that link, I earn some money.

103 Fun ESL Games & Activities for the Classroom : Interactive, Minimal Prep TEFL Ideas for All Ages
103 Fun ESL Games & Activities for the Classroom : Interactive, Minimal Prep TEFL Ideas for All Ages
Check Price on Amazon
67 ESL Conversation Topics with Questions, Vocabulary, Writing Prompts & More: For English Teachers...
67 ESL Conversation Topics with Questions, Vocabulary, Writing Prompts & More: For English Teachers...
Check Price on Amazon
39 ESL Warm-Ups: For Teachers of Teenagers and Adults who Want to Start Their English Classes Off...
39 ESL Warm-Ups: For Teachers of Teenagers and Adults who Want to Start Their English Classes Off...
Check Price on Amazon
39 No-Prep/Low-Prep ESL Speaking Activities: For English Teachers of Teenagers and Adults Who Want...
39 No-Prep/Low-Prep ESL Speaking Activities: For English Teachers of Teenagers and Adults Who Want...
Check Price on Amazon
39 Task-Based Language Teaching and Learning Activities: A Very Practical Guide to Using TBL in the...
39 Task-Based Language Teaching and Learning Activities: A Very Practical Guide to Using TBL in the...
Check Price on Amazon

Recent Posts

  • Renewable Energy Lesson Plan for ESL Students: For Intermediate-Advanced
  • Personality Game Powerpoint | ESL Activity Personality
  • University Jobs: Teaching ESL Korea vs Japan
  • Serial Podcast for ESL Students: Happy Times all ’round
101 Activities and Resources for Teaching English Online: Practical Ideas, Games, Activities & Tips...
101 Activities and Resources for Teaching English Online: Practical Ideas, Games, Activities & Tips...
Check Price on Amazon
Sale 101 ESL Activities: For Teenagers and Adults
101 ESL Activities: For Teenagers and Adults
Check Price on Amazon

About and Contact

Jackie Bolen has been talking ESL South Korea since 2014. The goal is to bring you the best tips, ideas, and news for everything teaching English in Korea, including university jobs.

Contact Jackie Bolen and My Life! Teaching in a Korean University here.

Email: [email protected]

Address: 2436 Kelly Ave, Port Coquitlam, Canada

Find the Privacy Policy here.

Facebook

Pinterest

TikTok

YouTube

LinkedIn

Best Seller

101 ESL Activities: Games, Activities, Practical ideas, & Teaching Tips For English Teachers of...
101 ESL Activities: Games, Activities, Practical ideas, & Teaching Tips For English Teachers of...
Check Price on Amazon

Search

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Advertise on My Life! Teaching in Korean University

Recent Articles

website resources for esl teachers

The 10 Best Websites for ESL Teachers

wh-questions-esl

WH Questions ESL Activities and Games | ESL WH Question Ideas

phrasal-verbs-esl

ESL Phrasal Verbs Games, Activities, Worksheets & Lesson Tips

english-writing-tip-proofreading

ESL Writing Tip: Always Proofread | Better English Writing

Copyright © 2025 Jackie Bolen + My Life! Teaching in a Korean University. All Rights Reserved.