TEAP English Speaking Test Guide | Sophia CBT & Interview Prep

Try a TEAP Roleplay Prompt

In Part 2 of the TEAP Speaking test, you must interact with the examiner in a simulated roleplay. Here is a realistic practice candidate card.

Part 2: Situational Roleplay (Candidate Card)

Situation: Changing Your Seminar Class
"You are studying at a university in the UK. You want to change your seminar class. You are talking to your university tutor (played by the examiner)..."

You must cover the following four points during the dialogue:

State which seminar class you currently attend and the new class you want to switch to.
Explain your academic reasons for requesting the change.
Inquire about the schedule and whether there are any open spaces in the new group.
Ask what coursework you need to submit to catch up with the new group.

Speaking Test Structure

The face-to-face oral exam takes approximately 10 minutes. You will interact 1-on-1 with a professional examiner across four distinct parts.

Part 1: Warm-up & General Q&A

Approximately 2 Minutes

The examiner asks direct questions about your daily life, hobbies, high school, or future academic plans to evaluate basic interactive fluency.

Pro Tip: Give complete answers! Do not just say "Yes" or "No". Add details or explanations in a second sentence to show confident communication.

Part 2: Examiner Roleplay

30s Prep | 2 Minutes Dialogue

You receive a card describing a school or everyday scenario. You must ask the examiner questions or explain your needs to achieve a specific communicative goal.

Pro Tip: Listen carefully to the examiner's responses! React naturally to their suggestions and ensure you cover all four bullet points on your card.

Part 3: Card Description & Speech

60s Prep | 1 Minute Speech

You are given a card displaying a visual graph, chart, or sequence of events. You have one minute to prepare, then one minute to describe it and express your opinion.

Pro Tip: Do not just list the numbers. Synthesise the overall trend and state your opinion clearly, using words like "in contrast" or "as a result."

Part 4: Academic Follow-up Discussion

Approximately 3 Minutes

The examiner asks follow-up questions related to the topic from Part 3 or other general academic issues, testing your ability to support and justify arguments.

Pro Tip: Explain your opinions with logical arguments and examples, showing a good range of academic vocabulary appropriate for university level.

Watch an Example Test

Watch a representative high school speaking test preparation video to understand the face-to-face interview pacing and atmosphere.

What are examiners looking for?

1. Task Achievement & Coherence

Did you cover all roleplay points and describe the graph card accurately? Using clear paragraph structures is highly valued.
2. Grammatical Accuracy & Range

Are you using correct question structures in Part 2 and complex sentences (conditionals, passives) in Parts 3 and 4?
3. Lexical Diversity

Use varied vocabulary and academic collocations appropriate for university entrance standards, avoiding basic repetitive terms.
4. Pronunciation & Speech Intonation

Speak clearly at a natural tempo. Natural sentence intonation, word linking, clear syllable stress, and interactive fluency are evaluated.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TEAP English exam?

TEAP (Test of English for Academic Purposes) is a standardized English proficiency exam developed by Sophia University and the Eiken Foundation of Japan specifically for university entrance applications.

How is the TEAP Speaking test conducted?

It is a face-to-face 1-on-1 interview format with an examiner, taking approximately 10 minutes to complete.

What are the four parts of the TEAP Speaking test?

The test consists of Part 1 (Short Q&A), Part 2 (Role-play), Part 3 (Speech based on cards), and Part 4 (Academic Discussion).

TEAP English Speaking

Who is this exam for?