This test is to be used as a guideline to assess students' abilities. These questions are meant to provide examples for the teacher. The teacher can change or omit any section according to needs.
While giving the Oral Test, it is a good idea to use the Oral Test Checklist for your records as well as feedback for the students.
The beginning part of the test is meant to flow as naturally as possible like a conversation. Listen for fluency, confidence, pronunciation, accuracy, comprehension, grammar, and speed of response.
Later on, it becomes more test-like to pinpoint areas that need work.
The Grammar Point section is for the teacher's use only. In the second column, do not read out loud any text in parentheses.
Note: For the section testing Present Progressive; flashcards, or a picture showing people doing various things, are very helpful.
| Simple Present (everyday activities) |
What do you do? What's your job? What do you do at work / school? Where do you live / work? What company do you work for? What school do you go to? |
| Present Perfect for example: "have worked" also listen for correct use of prepositions: "for", "since" |
How long have you (had that job? / worked there? /
lived in _________?) (Ask more questions like this and listen for the grammar used in the answers.) |
| Adverbs of Manner for example: "well", "badly" |
What do you like to do in your free time?
How well do you (play tennis)?
(You can also ask other follow-up questions based on what the student says to assess more about the student.) |
| Adverbs of Manner (continued) |
(This section is more like a test.) (Teacher says:) "I'm going to say a sentence and I want you to change the word. For example: I say: 'He is a bad singer.', you say: 'He sings badly.' OK? Let's begin."
|
| Adverbs of Frequency for example: "always, ... never", "once a week", "everyday" |
How often do you (play tennis)?
What do you usually do on weekends?
(now a bit more like a test) Tell me something you never do in the morning?
|
| Present Perfect (part 2) "for", "since" |
How long have you (played tennis) / (been a member of
the tennis club)?
|
Present Perfect
Simple Past |
Have you ever been abroad?
(If the answer is "No, I haven't", then ask about a city in the student's country.) Have you ever been to (Kyoto)? When did you go? Who did you go with? How long did you stay? What did you do there? What airline did you take? |
| There is / There are can / can't |
(Continue the topic of discussion from above.) Tell me more about (Kyoto).
What can you do in (Kyoto)?
(Continue along those lines until you are satisfied with your results.) |
| Future Tense with "going to" |
When are you going to go on your next vacation? (-or-) What are you going to do (tonight)? (Ask: who, what, where, when, why, etc... questions.) |
| Future Continuous for example: "will be ~ing" |
What will you be doing at 7:00 PM tonight? What will you be doing at 2:00 AM tonight? What will you be doing at this time tomorrow? |
| Past Progressive for example: "I was eating." |
OK. Now, I'm going to ask you some questions about
the past. Listen carefully, then answer with the correct grammar. What were you doing last night at 2AM?
What were you doing at 1PM yesterday?
(Then ask who, what, where, when, etc... questions.) |
| Prepositions showing locations, and using singular / plural with "there is" / "there are" |
For this next part of the test, I'd like you to
describe what you see in this room. For example: (There
is a computer on the desk. There are many chairs in the room.). (Don't forget negatives as well. You may have to prompt the student. For example: There are no elephants in the room. Also, listen for prepositions such as: on, in, under, behind, in front of, next to, near, etc...) |
| Adjectives | I'm going to say a word and I want you to give me the
opposite. For example: I say "big". You say
"small". OK? Let's begin. rich / expensive / thick / hot / short / beautiful / early / fast / heavy / loud / (etc...) |
| Adjectives (continued), and Descriptions of Things |
Can you describe to me what you are wearing? For
example: (give a description of your clothes) I'm wearing brown, leather shoes, a thin, black, leather belt, a light blue, cotton shirt, and khaki, cotton pants. (Listen for word order like this: your opinion about it i.e. 'lovely' / size / age / shape / color / where it is from / material / object ) |
| Prepositions of Time for example: at, on, of, in |
OK. Now I'm going to ask you about time and dates. (Listen for use of: at / in / on / of, and note verb tenses.) What time is it now? What time did you get up this morning? When is your birthday? What day is tomorrow? What is today's date? What was yesterday's date? |
| Present Progressive for example: "He is running." |
(For this part of the test, the
teacher needs flash cards, or a picture with people doing
various things. Or you can also ask about the people you see around the school.) (Point to various people and ask "What is he / she doing?". Don't forget to use plurals as well. Ask yes or no questions too.) |
| Count / No count for example: "There is some water." "There are some apples." |
I'm going to say a word, and I want you to put into a
sentence. For example: I say: 'water', you say: 'There is some water.'. OK? Let's begin.
cheese / oranges / salt / rice / beans / money / tofu / tickets / seats / people Now make this sentence into a question.
(Continue along those lines if necessary. Also, time permitting, you may want to try the negative forms as well.) |
| Question format Future Tenses |
I want you to ask me some questions about the future
using: who, what, where, when, why, how, do, does, is,
are, which, and will. (Listen for student's accuracy, fluency, word order, and word choice.) |
| Question format Past Tenses |
OK. Now ask me some questions about the past. Don't
forget to use: who, what, where, when, why, how, did, was, and were. (Again, listen for overall grammar, and speed of response.) |
| Question format: Simple Present |
Now ask me some questions about what I do everyday.
Again, use: who, what, where, when, why, how, do, does, is, are, will, and which. (Make sure student does not confuse tenses.) |
You have completed the Basic Oral Test! |