Information for test-takers

The U-ADEPT evaluates your oral English skills. Developed and administered by the ELI, the U-ADEPT is a direct and interactive measure of speaking performance.

What will happen on test day?

Be sure to bring with you to the test:

1. Your test registration form
2. Your photo ID

When you arrive in 302 Olin Hall for the test, you will meet the one test rater. They will ask you to fill out some paperwork and scan your photo ID. You will then have some time to prepare your teaching demonstration while they set up the audio recording equipment for use during the test. Then the test will begin.

Section 1: Warm-Up 

The warm-up consists of introductions and some typical first-encounter small talk. This is not an official part of the test but serves to put you at ease with the test administrator, to give you and the test administrator a chance to become accustomed to each other's speaking styles and to adjust the recording equipment as necessary. The warm-up takes no more than three minutes.


Section 2: Two Informal Discussions

The test includes two informal discussions on topics provided by the test administrator. For each discussion,

• You are given a general topic orally.
• You will have 60 seconds to think and prepare your response.
• You will have three minutes to speak.

During the presentation, the evaluator will interact with you and might ask you for more information to engage you in the natural give-and-take of a dialogue.


Section 3: One Role Play

The test includes one role-play, in which you attempt to solve a problem and in which you begin and carry on a conversation to get information from another person. The test administrator will participate in the role play with you.

For the role play:

• The situation is described to you orally.
• You will have 60 seconds to think and prepare.
• You will have three minutes to speak and interact.

Section 3b: One read-aloud

• You will be given a short lecture-like text of 300-350 words.
• You will have five minutes to prepare to read.
• You will read the text aloud to the evaluator. 

Section 4: Teaching Simulation (15 minutes) 

Because the purpose of the test is so you can begin to work as a teaching assistant at UA, the final section is a teaching simulation.

• In lecture format, you will explain one basic concept, chosen from a list provided to you upon arrival, as if you were teaching a group of undergraduate students with no background knowledge in the topic.
• Your "student" (the test administrator) will ask you questions during your teaching simulation.
• You will have a black or white board and an overhead projector available to you and you will have time before the test begins to prepare a PowerPoint presentation on an office laptop.