About The Test

About TOPT

The Texas Oral Proficiency Test™ (TOPT™) program is an extension of and an addition to the TExES and ExCET programs for certification to teach either Spanish or French, or to teach in a Spanish or French bilingual setting.

  • The TOPT is required if you plan to teach either Spanish or French or plan to teach in a bilingual setting.
  • The TOPT assesses your ability to speak Spanish or French.
  • The TOPT requires you to provide a recorded response to specific speaking tasks in order to demonstrate your proficiency in Spanish or French.
  • During the testing session, you will respond on audiotape to questions that allow you to demonstrate your speaking ability in Spanish or French. The test session lasts approximately one hour and 15 minutes. Part of this time is for orientation and completing forms.
  • Your proficiency in speaking the language will be measured against an established standard of competence.
  • To pass the TOPT, you must receive a score of 6 or higher based on the combination of scores received from a minimum of two independent scorings of your response.
  • Preparation strategies and additional information can be found under "Preparing for the TOPT" in the Registration Bulletin.

Back to Top

What's New in 2009-10?

New Tests
When a new test is introduced, there is a grace period of one year during which both the new test and the test it will replace are offered. After that initial year, the new test will be required for certification in that field.

First offered in 2009: TExES Bilingual Target Language Proficiency Test (BTLPT) - Spanish (190)
Not offered after July 2010: TOPT - Spanish (081)

First offered in 2009: TExES Languages Other Than English (LOTE) French (610) and Spanish (613)
Not offered after July 2010: TOPT - French (080) and Spanish (081)

TExES Bilingual Target Language Proficiency Test (BTLPT) - Spanish
The computer-administered TExES Bilingual Target Language Proficiency Test (BTLPT) - Spanish was offered for the first time in 2009. It will replace the TOPT - Spanish (081) test after July 2010. During the time that both tests are offered, candidates testing under the Certification by Examination option can choose which test they want to take. Educator Preparation Programs (EPPs) will determine which test should be taken by their candidates via the test approval process.

Beginning with the 2010-11 testing year, educators seeking the Bilingual Education certification in Spanish will be required to take the BTLPT - Spanish.

The BTLPT test is designed to measure four domains:

  • Listening
  • Speaking in Spanish
  • Reading
  • Writing

The Writing section of BTLPT - Spanish requires you to enter written responses on the computer. An alternate character toolbar for inputting Spanish accents and characters is built into the test. A tutorial is available that lets you practice using the toolbar prior to taking the test. You are strongly urged to take the tutorial.

The test preparation manual for TExES BTLPT - Spanish is available for download in the Preparation Materials section of this website.

TExES Languages Other Than English (LOTE) - French and Spanish
The TExES Languages Other Than English (LOTE) - French and Spanish tests will be offered for the first time in fall 2009. The LOTE tests will replace the TOPT - French and Spanish  tests after July 2010. These tests will be used to certify educators who are teaching a foreign language to students who are non-native speakers of that language. The tests will be offered only via computer during one week administration windows at various times throughout the year.

All LOTE tests are five-hours long and have the following sections:

  • Listening
  • Reading
  • Practice Writing
  • Writing
  • Speaking
  • Pedagogy Multiple-Choice
  • Pedagogy Writing

You will use headsets with built-in microphones to hear prompts and record your responses.

Like the BTLPT - Spanish test, there are Writing sections in the LOTE tests that require you to enter written responses on the computer. An alternate character toolbar for inputting accents and characters is built into the tests, specific to the language being tested. Tutorials are available that let you practice using the toolbar for each language prior to taking the test. You are strongly urged to take the appropriate tutorial prior to the day of the test.

The test preparation manuals for LOTE will be available for download in the Preparation Materials section of the ETS TExES website in fall of 2009.

Updated Cell Phone Policy
You are not allowed to bring cell phones, smartphones (e.g., BlackBerry® devices, iPhones), PDAs and other electronic or photographic devices into the test center. If you do, you will be dismissed from the test, your test fees will be forfeited and your scores will be canceled. Test administrators are not permitted to collect and hold cell phones.

Back to Top

Registration Bulletin

The Registration Bulletin is a free publication that contains program information, test dates, contact information, and registration procedures.

Back to Top

Fees for Tests and Related Services

Test Fees
$120 Test fee (per test)
$35 Late registration fee*
$75 Emergency registration fee*

*Late and emergency registration fees are nonrefundable

Additional Services
$15 Test, test center, test date or test session change during regular or late registration period
$75 Test, test center, test date, or test sesssion change during emergency registration period
$70 TOPT score verification
$135 Expanded Diagnostic Feedback Service
$20 Fee for returned check

The above amounts are exclusive of any Sales and Use, Value-Added or similar taxes.

Payment

  • Online and phone payments can be made by credit or debit card (American Express®, Discover®, MasterCard® and VISA®). Any debit/check card branded with one of the above four accepted credit card logos can be processed.
  • Information about payments sent by mail is on the form for the service you are requesting.

Payment Policies

  • All fees are stated in U.S. dollars.
  • All outstanding balances with ETS must be paid in full prior to registering for any ETS-administered tests.
  • All payments must be for the full amount.
  • If you do not have sufficient credit or funds in your account, your scores will be withheld, you will be unable to register for additional tests and an additional service fee of $20 will be added to your account. You will receive your scores as soon as the total outstanding balance has been cleared, unless your scores are being withheld for any other reason.
  • Services may be withheld for nonpayment of fees.
  • Refunds of test fees will be made in U.S. dollar denominations.
  • There are no refunds for service fees.
  • Additional policies for payments sent by mail are on the form for the service you are requesting.

Back to Top