Abstract
Testing second language speaking via computer is a fast-growing area in second language assessment. The purpose of this article is threefold: to familiarize readers with the state of computer technology as it can be applied to speaking tests by discussing three speaking tests: the speaking section of the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-based test (TOEFL iBT), the Versant English Test (VET), and the Basic English Skill Test Plus (BEST Plus); to summarize the evidence for these tests' validity for potential end-users to evaluate them; and to provide critical issues to consider for developing a computer-delivered speaking test and potential areas for future research.
