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You need a SPEAK Test score if you are an F-1 graduate student who is either:
- Serving as an instructor of record for an undergraduate course or
- Serving as a graduate assistant and your department requires you to take a SPEAK Test because your duties require a high level of English proficiency.
You must obtain a score of 50 or higher . Students scoring below 50 are allowed to re-take the Speak Test once. If you fail to achieve the minimum score, you must enroll in the IEI SPEAK Test Preparation Course and successfully complete it before being allowed to take the test again. Please see the bottom of this page for more information about the IEI SPEAK Test Preparation Course.
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To schedule a SPEAK Test appointment, please send an email to the Intensive English for Internationals (IEI) at iei@memphis.edu.
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The Speak Test Fee is $100. This fee may be paid by departments or students depending on individual departmental policy. The fee will be charged each time the student takes the exam.
- A copy of your scores will be sent to you, your department and to the Graduate School by email after your test has been rated. All tests should be completed and scored before the contract deadline set by the Graduate School.
IMPORTANT: Please read SPEAK TEST GUIDE
Testing dates for TA's Teaching Fall 2024
August 12 - August 23, 2024
NO SPEAK tests will be administered for the fall semester after August 23.
Tests for TA's Teaching Spring 2025
October 28 - November 1, 2024
NO SPEAK tests will be administered for the spring semester after November 1.
The following test scores may be used instead of the SPEAK Test for Teaching Assistantships:
TOEFL iBT - Speaking Section Score: 26+
Log in to the ETS website and request that your TOEFL iBT scores be sent to the University
of Memphis, institution code R-1459. Ask your department to contact the Graduate School
office to look up your scores.
IELTS - Speaking Section Score: 8.0+
Email a copy of your IELTS Test Report Form to the Graduate School with a note indicating
that the score is for your Teaching Assistantship requirements. Ask your department
to contact the Graduate School office to authenticate your scores.
PTE Academic - Speaking Section Score: 67+
Log in to the PTE Academic website and request that your PTE Academic scores be sent
to the University of Memphis. Ask your department to contact the Graduate School office
to look up your scores.
Duolingo English - OverAll Score (Temporary): 120+
Log in to the Duolingo English Test website and request for your scores to be sent
to The University of Memphis. Ask your department to contact the Graduate School office
to look up your scores.
- Students who have an undergraduate or a graduate (MSc) degree from a US institution in a related field of study are exempt from taking the SPEAK test.
- Evidence of a SPEAK test from a previous institution meeting our minimum scores is acceptable, provided the scores are not older than two years.
Need help to pass the SPEAK Test?
IEI SPEAK Test Preparation Course: Designed for UofM international graduate students seeking teaching assistantships. To register for this course, please contact Stacey Smith <satrimbl@memphis.edu>.
Course Description: This 8-week, non-credit online course prepares UofM international graduate students to take the SPEAK Test. The focus will be on the strategies and approaches necessary for the successful production of the various functions of English that the test evaluates. Coursework will be submitted online, via the course website. Successful completion of the course before the SPEAK Test administration date is required for the coursework to qualify as remediation for students needing to re-take the SPEAK test. Class size is limited to ten (10).
Dates: Summer, Fall, and Spring semesters 2023. This remediation course will be offered if there is enough enrollment. Please be aware that the class will be cancelled if there have not been enough students registered by 12:00 pm on the Friday before the first class. You will be informed and your tuition fee will be refunded if this happens.
Format: Asynchronous (Online)
Cost: $160