Free OPIc Practice Questions
10 free, exam-style ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview - Computer (OPIc) (OPIc) practice questions with answers and
explanations. No signup required. Work through them below, then take the
full free OPIc practice test to study every exam domain.
Question 1
Before any rated prompts, the OPIc has the test taker complete a Background Survey. What does this survey actually determine?
- The proficiency rating the test taker will ultimately receive
- The pool of topics from which the test's speaking prompts are drawn
- Whether the test taker is exempt from the role-play sections
- The language in which the on-screen instructions are delivered
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B - The pool of topics from which the test's speaking prompts are drawn
Question 2
During a prompt, the OPIc avatar asks you to describe a trip you took last summer. You never actually took one. What is the BEST course of action?
- Say you have nothing to describe and wait for the next prompt
- Ask the avatar to repeat the prompt until it changes the topic
- Invent a trip and describe it, since content and truthfulness are not rated
- Describe a trip but explain first that the story is not true
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C - Invent a trip and describe it, since content and truthfulness are not rated
Question 3
A test taker prepares by memorizing polished paragraph-length answers for the most common topics and delivers them nearly word-for-word. According to ACTFL, what is the MOST likely consequence?
- It guarantees a higher rating because the responses are well-organized
- Raters detect rehearsed material, which can cap the rating at Novice
- The memorized sections are simply skipped and only new speech is rated
- It has no effect, since raters only evaluate grammar and pronunciation
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B - Raters detect rehearsed material, which can cap the rating at Novice
Question 4
After the Background Survey, the OPIc presents a Self-Assessment. What is its function?
- It selects the test Form, which sets the difficulty and the possible rating range
- It gives the test taker a preliminary score before the speaking section begins
- It records a language sample that raters use as the baseline for comparison
- It decides how many prompts the test taker must answer to finish
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A - It selects the test Form, which sets the difficulty and the possible rating range
Question 5
A test taker selects a low Self-Assessment level and is placed on Form 1 (range Novice Low to Intermediate Low). During the test they speak far above that range. What rating can they receive?
- Advanced Low, because raters score the actual speech sample regardless of Form
- No higher than Intermediate Low, because that is the ceiling of the selected Form
- Intermediate High, as a one-sublevel bonus above the Form's range is allowed
- The test is voided and must be retaken on a higher Form
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B - No higher than Intermediate Low, because that is the ceiling of the selected Form
Question 6
The OPIc reports a rating on the ACTFL scale. Which is the FULL set of major levels the OPIc can award?
- Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, Superior, Distinguished
- Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Fluent
- Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, Superior
- A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C - Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, Superior
Question 7
A rating includes a sublevel of Low, Mid, or High. What does the sublevel primarily communicate about a speaker within a major level?
- Which language the test taker was assessed in
- The number of prompts the test taker answered correctly
- The quality and quantity of performance and proximity to the next major level
- Whether a human rater or the avatar assigned the score
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C - The quality and quantity of performance and proximity to the next major level
Question 8
OPIc raters evaluate four factors holistically: Functions, Accuracy, Context/Content, and Text Type. In this framework, 'Accuracy' is best understood as:
- Whether the facts and opinions in the response are correct
- How well the speaker is understood overall
- Whether every verb tense and article is grammatically perfect
- How closely the answer matches the avatar's expected response
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B - How well the speaker is understood overall
Question 9
Within the OPIc rating criteria, 'Text Type' refers to:
- Whether the response is spoken formally or informally
- The written transcript the rater produces from the recording
- How much language is produced and how well it is organized
- The topic category assigned by the Background Survey
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C - How much language is produced and how well it is organized
Question 10
What is the defining ability that separates an Intermediate-level speaker from a Novice-level speaker?
- Speaking without any grammatical errors
- Creating with language rather than relying on memorized words and phrases
- Narrating a detailed story across past, present, and future
- Supporting an opinion with a structured argument
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B - Creating with language rather than relying on memorized words and phrases