Department of Communication Oral English Competency Test

Students who wish to satisfy the Oral English Competency Requirement by successfully completing the Oral English Competency Test must pass the exam by the time they have completed 56 hours of academic credit.

Students who transfer 56 or more credit hours to Central Michigan University must take the competency examination on the first test date following the conclusion of their first semester at CMU. This means that students entering in the fall semester must take the January exam and those entering in the spring semester must take the August exam.

The Oral English Competency examination includes the development and delivery of a ten-to-fifteen minute public speech accompanied by a properly typewritten or word-processed, detailed outline. A complete sentence typed outline with bibliography (10 sources) is required. The student delivers the speech, which is evaluated by judges assigned to oversee the examination. Students receive feedback, and students who receive unsatisfactory examination results will be allowed one retest.

Exam results are reported in writing through email to the student. Students who receive notice of unsatisfactory examination results will be allowed to retest. A student may retest only once. Students who fail twice are required to obtain a grade of C (2.0) or better in one of the following Oral English Competency courses: COM 101, 267, 269, 357, TAI 170, 302.

Test Instructions

The Oral English Competency Examination is administered twice a year on the Friday prior to the beginning of the fall and spring semesters.

You must submit the registration form and payment at least two weeks prior to the test date.

The examination is non-transferable.

Contact your Academic Advisor for more information.