Spanish K–12
For Testing until 9/30/2023
Speaking Skills
Test Format and Sample Questions
The Spanish K to 12 subject area test consists of sections that test your speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills; your knowledge of Spanish-speaking cultures; of Spanish language structure and vocabulary; and of effective teaching and learning strategies based on second language acquisition principles. The test includes approximately 86 questions, and you will have two-and-one-half hours to complete the entire test.
Table of Question Formats
Scoring Criteria: Speaking
Your oral response will be scored holistically by two raters. The raters will use the criteria listed below when evaluating your response. The score you receive for your oral response is the combined total of the two raters' scores.
| SCORE of 6 | Grammatical usage consistently serves as a prescriptive model. Vocabulary sufficiently accurate, extensive, and nuanced to serve as a prescriptive model. Polished pronunciation; consistently serves as a prescriptive model. Speech is effortless and smooth, presenting a prescriptive model. |
|---|---|
| SCORE of 5 | Few performance errors, with competence evident in all patterns. Choice of words almost always accurate; evidence of ability to distinguish registers. Rare mispronunciations; close to prescriptive model. Speech is usually effortless and smooth, with rare repetitions and pauses. |
| SCORE of 4 | Occasional errors showing imperfect control of some minor but no major patterns. Choice of words usually accurate; general vocabulary permits discussion (with some circumlocutions) of a wide range of topics, or without significant interference from English. Noticeable “foreign accent”, stigmatized regional variations, and/or occasional mispronunciations which do not interfere with understanding. Speech is occasionally hesitant with some unevenness caused by repetitive groping for words. |
| SCORE of 3 | Frequent errors showing some major patterns uncontrolled. Choice of words frequently inaccurate; limitations of vocabulary prevent discussion of some common topics. Strong “foreign accent” requires concentrated listening; mispronunciations may lead to occasional misunderstanding. Speech is frequently hesitant and jerky; may be characterized by non-Spanish phatic expressions; sentences may be left uncompleted. |
| SCORE of 2 | Constant errors showing control of very few major patterns; errors frequently obscure communication. Vocabulary limited to survival needs. Frequent gross errors and/or a very heavy accent make understanding difficult. Speech is slow and uneven except for short sentences and stock phrases. |
| SCORE of 1 | Grammar almost entirely inaccurate except in stock phrases. Vocabulary inadequate for even the simplest conversation. Pronunciation usually unintelligible. Speech is so halting and fragmentary that conversation is virtually impossible. |
Directions: Speaking
The first section of the Spanish test assesses speaking skills.
Listen and read along as the directions below are presented on audio.
During this section of the test, the computer will control playing and recording of the audio and navigation to each test question. The navigation buttons at the top of the screen and the control buttons on the audio player will be disabled. For each test question, though, you will be able to adjust the volume of the audio.
For the speaking section, test items are presented both on the audio recording and on the screen, and you will record your responses in Spanish by speaking into the microphone.
Throughout the speaking section of the test, once the test items are presented, there will be a 15-second pause for you to prepare your response. You will then hear a tone when you are to begin recording your response to an item prompt.
A time warning will appear on the screen when 10 seconds remain for you to conclude your response. It is expected that you will use all or most of the time allotted for your responses in order to provide an adequate speaking sample.
At any point in this section of the test, you may make notes on your erasable noteboard to help you prepare your responses.
Once you begin the speaking section of the test, you will not be able to stop until you have completed the entire speaking section. You will also not be able to go back and review your responses.
Sample Speaking Items
Begin recording your response at the sound of the tone. You will have 20 seconds to record your response. Stop recording when time is up.
sample prompt for item roman numeral 1 In Spanish, tell your students to work within their groups to write a list of four facts they learned from the assigned reading and to choose a student who will report the information to the class.
Begin recording your response at the sound of the tone. You will have 20 seconds to record your response. It is expected that you will use all or most of this time when you speak. Stop recording when time is up.
sample prompt for item roman numeral 2 Discúlpese con un familiar o con un amigo o amiga por no haber podido asistir a la ceremonia de graduación.
sample prompt for item roman numeral 2 Pídale ayuda al dependiente o dependienta de una tienda de ropa para devolver un artículo.
Begin recording your response at the sound of the tone. You will have 60 seconds to record your response. It is expected that you will use all or most of this time when you speak. Stop recording when time is up.
sample prompt for item roman numeral 3 ¿A qué nueva tecnología tendrán acceso los consumidores dentro de los próximos 10 años?
sample prompt for item roman numeral 3 Describa de qué forma ha influido en su vida un maestro o una maestra de la escuela.
sample prompt for item roman numeral 4 ¿Cómo se podría mejorar la calidad de la enseñanza en las escuelas de la Florida?
sample prompt for item roman numeral 4 ¿Qué papel deberían tener los medios sociales en nuestras vidas diarias?
sample prompt for item roman numeral 5 Describa su pasatiempo favorito y por qué se interesó en él.
sample prompt for item roman numeral 5 Describa un problema global acerca del cual ha leído o escuchado en las noticias.