Foreign Language Oral Examination Regulations

Dates of Promulgation

Establishment of the complete text of 14 articles, promulgated on October 8, 2001 as per Examination Yuan (90) Kao-Tai-Zu-(1)-Yi-Zi Order No. 0900006790 and taking effect upon promulgation.
Amendment to Article 1, promulgated on April 10, 2002 as per Examination Yuan (91) Kao-Tai-Zu-(1)-Yi-Zi Order No. 0910002348.
Amendments to the complete text of 14 articles, promulgated on April 24, 2013 as per Examination Yuan Kao-Tai-Zu-(1)-Yi-Zi Order No. 10200035991 and taking effect upon promulgation.
Amendments to Article 1, 5, 12, and 13, promulgated on August 7, 2015 as per Examination Yuan Kao-Tai-Zu-(1)-Yi-Zi Order No. 10400046691.
Amendment to Article 13, promulgated on May 2, 2016 as per Examination Yuan Kao-Tai-Zu-(1)-Yi-Zi Order No. 10500025881.
Amendment to Article 8, promulgated on September 9, 2019 as per Examination Yuan Kao-Tai-Zu-(1)-Yi-Zi Order No. 10700012781.

The text of these Regulations is as follows:

Article 1
These Regulations are established as per Article 14, Paragraph 2 of the Examination Affairs Act.

Article 2
A foreign language herein may refer to English, French, German, Japanese, Spanish, Arabic, Korean, Russian, Italian, Turkish, Malay, Thai, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Indonesian, or other designated languages. 

Article 3
There are three foreign language oral exam formats. The exams may be administered following one or two of these formats.
1.Individual oral exam: Individual examinees answer questions by oral examiners to evaluate verbal communication in the foreign language, pronunciation and intonation, and talent and knowledge.
2.Group oral exam: Two or more examinees answer questions by oral examiners in a designated order. If an examiner designates a group member to comment, the examinee shall respond in order to evaluate verbal communication in the foreign language, pronunciation and intonation, talent and knowledge, and problem-solving skills.
3.Group discussion: Five or more examinees chair a discussion session by turns. Examinees are evaluated on their ability to chair a meeting, verbal communication in the foreign language, decisiveness, influence within a discussion, and proactivity.

Article 4
Foreign-language oral exams may be administered in groups depending on exam level, category, number of examinees, and scheduling.
If group oral exams or discussions are necessary, similar categories may be held jointly.
Group oral exams will not be held with fewer than two examinees. Group discussions will not be held with fewer than five examinees.
When group oral exams, group discussions, or a combination of both cannot be held, individual oral exams will be held instead. 
When a combination of individual exam and group discussion or individual exam and group exam is necessary but the group discussion or group exam cannot be held, individual exams will be held.

Article 5
Oral examiners are assigned by the Board of Examiners. One oral examiner will be appointed as convener.
Excepting specialized subjects or specific languages, oral exam sessions for individuals or groups will have two to five oral examiners. Group discussion sessions will have three to five oral examiners.
Oral examiners may be chosen from members of the Board of Examiners, or when necessary, by senior civil servants from a relevant hiring agency, the agency requesting the exam, the professional supervisory agency, or by experts in the field. Alternate oral examiners may be assigned if necessary.

Article 6
Scoring components and weights for individual foreign-language oral examinations:
1.Communication skills: 60 points 
2.Pronunciation and intonation: 20 points
3.Talent and knowledge: 20 points

Scoring components and weights for foreign-language group oral examinations:
1.Communication skills: 50 points
2.Pronunciation and intonation: 15 points
3.Talent and knowledge: 15 points
5.Problem solving skills: 20 points

Scoring components and weights for foreign-language group discussions:
1. Acting as chair:
(1) Chairing skills: 20 points
(2) Communication skills: 20 points
(3) Decisiveness: 10 points

2. Engaging in discussion:
(1) Influence: 20 points
(2) Communication skills: 20 points
(3) Proactivity: 10 points

In addition to the above-mentioned scoring components and weights, additional information regarding the vacancy (profession) and job descriptions (including rank standards) may be provided by the hiring agency (professional supervisory agency). Scoring standards may be changed in accordance with core competence, exam level, and category. Any changes to scoring components and weights shall be announced and made known to examinees beforehand.
Scoring sheets for individual and group oral exams and group discussions are included in Appendixes One, Two, and Three.

Article 7
Before individual and group oral exams and group discussions are held, a meeting shall be called to discuss question scope and topic, scoring standards, time allotment, and other related matters. If necessary, an oral exam technical meeting may be held.
When necessary, questions for individual and group oral exams may be drafted in writing beforehand.
If necessary, oral exam questions or discussion topics may be printed beforehand in the exam facilities.

Article 8
If necessary, examinees taking group oral exams and group discussions may be assigned to different time slots. Examinees shall be present at the exam at the designated time. Late arrivals will be denied entry to the exam hall and given a grade of zero on the oral exam.
An individual oral exam session may take 10 to 30 minutes.
A group oral exam session may take 30 to 90 minutes
A group discussion session may take one to three hours.
The duration of exams in the preceding section may be adjusted according to exam level and category.
Examinees in the same group oral exam session will answer by seating order. If an examiner designates a group member to comment, the examinee shall respond.
Examinees in a group discussion will determine the order to act as chair by drawing lots. Then discussion themes will be drawn by lot and distributed to examinees for preparation.
The chair should lead the discussion and make a summary before the end of the discussion.

Article 9
For individual and group oral exams, examiners will grade each scoring section on the score sheet and give comments if necessary.
Reasons should be provided for scores lower than 60 points.
Each oral examiner shall observe examinee performance as chair and in group discussion. After group discussion, examinees will be graded on each scoring section on the score sheet and given comments.

Article 10
The weight of the foreign-language oral exam score on the total score and other related matters shall be provided separately in the particular exam regulations.

Article 11
Foreign-language oral exam scores are calculated as the average of the sum of all actual scores given by each foreign-language oral examiner for that specific exam.
If the foreign-language oral exam is held using two formats, each format shall account for 50% of the total score.
If a foreign-language group discussion cannot be held due to the number of examinees being less than five or because the exam categories differ in nature, the score of the foreign-language oral exam will be the score of the individual or group foreign-language oral exam.
Examinees whose individual foreign-language oral exam score, group foreign-language oral exam score, foreign-language group discussion score, or average score of any two exams is less than 60 points will not pass the exam even if the total score of the exams meets the passing threshold.

Article 12
Members of the Board of Examiners, foreign-language oral examiners, and examination staff members, whose spouse, blood relative, or relative through marriage within three degrees of relation happens to take the exam, or those who happen to be the head in the examinee’s workplace, or the examinee’s direct superior at work, or thesis supervisor, should recuse themselves.
In case of recusal following the preceding paragraph, the exam organizing agency should re-arrange the grouping of foreign-language oral examiners or examinees.
A violation of Paragraph 1 will lead to disqualification from the Board of Examiners or from the position of oral examiner or examination staff member.

Article 13
Members of the Board of Examiners, foreign-language oral examiners, and examination staff members shall maintain confidentiality in regards to the scoring process.
Disclosure is prohibited and subject to Article 31 of the Examination Affairs Act.

Article 14
These Regulations shall come into effect upon promulgation.

In case of any discrepancy between the English version and the Chinese version, the latter shall prevail.