SPEAK test for non-native speakers of English to work as a Teaching Assistant

[mbgnjasb]

Hi,

 

I have got some PhD offers from US Universities for Fall 2015. They have offered me TA positions. I just have one confusion. In the offer letter, it is written that all non-native speakers of English have to take an English Proficiency Test (SPEAK) to work as teaching assistant. The test will be conducted during the orientation in August. I would like to know how hard this test is ? My TOEFL iBT (103, Speaking-24) and GRE Verbal (160) scores are I guess decent. But I would like to know from someone who has taken the test already.

 

Thanks

[fuzzylogician]

My school had all the international students take an English exam during orientation before first year. I don't remember if it had a particular name, but it wasn't anything out of the ordinary. I'm sure you've taken various English proficiency exams by now so you know the drill -- they're all pretty much the same. Mine had the "usual" reading/listening/writing components and then a interview portion where they would bring us into someone's office two at a time and have us talk to each other about some topic for a few minutes. It was no big deal, though I understand that given the stress of everything else you want to clarify as many unknowns as possible. Given your TOEFL score, I don't think you have anything to worry about here. I wouldn't even recommend preparing at all.  

[TakeruK]

It turns out SPEAK is yet another one of ETS' tests! I found this practice test online via Google: http://cte.illinois.edu/testing/pdf/TSE_SampleTest060906.pdf. From your TOEFL scores, I don't think you need to worry about it at all.

 

My school had a very informal "English test" for all international students (even from Canada; although I think they have removed this requirement for students who studied in countries like Canada, UK, etc.). It was just 5 minute conversation between you and a staff member about yourself.