Speaking Test Design and12 Types of Task for

Speaking TestsDavid HutchinsonHoseo University

Email: hutchinson@hoseo.edu Website: david-hutchinson.ca

Measures of a good test

Validity

Positive Washback

Reliability

Measures of a good test

Measures of a good test

Validity

Positive Washback

Reliability

A paper-based speaking test …

Test Validity

Speaking Test

Name: ________

A: Hi, I’m Frank.B: ___________A: Nice to meet you. So where are you

from?B: ___________. ____________?A: I’m from Saskatchewan. Have you

been here long?B: ____________. A: So what’s your major?B: ________________.

Measures of a good test

Validity

Positive Washback

Reliability

Measures of a good test

Measures of a good test

Validity

Positive Washback

Reliability

Measures of a good test

3 ways to add variation to the task:

1. Questions with blanks2. Follow-up questions3. Pictorial Input

#1: Questions & Answers

What’s your favorite ______?

#2: Preference with Choices

Ballroom dancing club Skydiving club Pets club

Ping pong club Stargazing club Guitar club

What club would you like to join? Why?

What elective class would you like to take?

日本語 Japanese Breakdancing History of Rock Music

Photography Computer Graphic Design Stocks & Investment

#2: Preference with Choices

Where would you like to visit?

#2: Preference with Choices

Canada Egypt Moscow

Hawaii Rome Sydney

What gift will you give to mom for her birthday?

#2: Preference with Choices

$20 $300 $120 $60

More Ideas:

Who would you like as a friend? Where would you like to live? Which summer job would you get? What would you like to buy? What business would you open?

#2: Preference with Choices

#3: Information Gap

VacationsName Place How long Activity Food

Mark 10 days steak

Suji Japan sightseeing

Anna 1 month crepes

Jinho Vietnam biking Pho

Name Place How long Activity Food

Mark Australia scuba diving

Suji 3 weeks sushi

Anna France visit galleries

Jinho 5 days pho

#3: Information Gap

Mark JohnsonDistrict Manager

Office: Cell: (905)380-2817

Email:

Alice

MaryBill

Maud

George

Bob

Name Phone Number

Email

Jack Spratt

010-3421-7387

Emily Moon

010-2424-3888

Minwoo Goh

suji.kim34737@naver.com

What does he / she look like?

#4: Picture Description

• Clothing• Places• There is / there

are

#5: Interactive TasksMenu

Salad• Garden salad…….……5.00• Greek salad……….…..7.00• Caesar salad……….….9.00

Soup• Potato leek soup .……6.50• French onion soup….7.50• Vegetable soup……….5.00

Sides• French Fries ……………….5.00• Baked potato ………………4.00• Fried vegetables ………….4.50

Main Course(all main courses come with a choice of salad or soup)

• Steak with onions…………..27.00• Cornish game hen………….25.00• Lobster …………………………33.00• Pizza …………………….....18.00• Spaghetti Bolognese..….15.00• Teriyaki chicken………..21.00

Drinks

Soft drinks……………………….3.00Juice………………………………..5.00Bottled water …………………..2.00

#5: Interactive Tasks

Monday Tuesday Wednesday

Thursday Friday

9:00 English class

Lab English class

English class

10:30

Lab Physics Lab Physics

12:00

Lab

1:30 Math class Chemistry Math class Chemistry

3:00 Club meeting

#6: Storytelling

#6: StorytellingAugust 2011

1 2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

France

The Louvre museum

By the Seine River …

#7: Data Description

Food; $250

Bus; $100 Books; $50

Entertainment, $100

Clothing; $150

George’s Budget

2008 2009 2010 20110

0.51

1.52

2.53

3.54

4.55

XYZ Shoe Company Sales

Running shoesHiking ShoesDress shoes

Year

Sale

s in

mil

lion

s#7: Data Description

#7: Data Description

budget charts sales charts weather charts floor plans scientific diagrams

#8: Comparisons

Seoul

• Population: 9,700,000 • Traffic ●●●●●• Crime ●●●• Pollution ●●●●• Shopping ●●●●●• Entertainment ●●●●

Jeonju

• Population: 650,000• Traffic ●●• Crime ●• Pollution ●• Shopping ●●• Entertainment ●●

I really want to become a professional boxer. I love fighting, and nothing makes me more satisfied than beating my opponent and seeing him lying on the ground. I think I’m a natural born boxer! Nobody can beat me! However, my parents don’t agree with me. They say that boxing is dangerous. They say it’s a waste of my abilities. They want me to go to university to study! I hate studying. What should I do?

#9: Giving Advice

#9: Giving Advice

I’ve got a terrible runny nose, I’ve

been sneezing all day and I’ve got

an awful headache!

#10: Giving Instructions

#10: Giving Instructions

The university has some money to develop facilities on campus. What change should they make?

#11: Expressing Opinions

I think they should build a bigger library, and buy more books!

They should put in tennis courts and

plant more trees and flowers.

Discuss the benefits and drawbacks of …

living in the country smart phones going to university staying in the dormitory

#12: Advantages & Disadvantages

Do the tasks match what’s been done in class? Do the tasks have variable input? Are the tasks memorizable? Do the tasks elicit the kind of speech you

want? Do the tasks cover a broad range of the topics

/ functions covered in class? Can students report test contents to later

students?

Speaking Task Checklist

In Summary…

I. Question & Answer

II. Preference w/

Choice

III.Information Gap

IV. Picture Description

V. Interactive Tasks

VI. Storytelling

VII.Data Description

VIII.Comparisons

IX. Giving Advice

X. Giving Instructions

XI. Expressing

Opinions

XII.Advantages &

Disadvantages

David Hutchinsonemail: hutchinson@hoseo.eduwebsite: david-hutchinson.ca

Contacting me