The item types range from items presenting the testees with situations in which they initiate conversations to incomplete conversations with the part of one speaker omitted (i.e. a one-sided dialogue). Tests containing such item types are on the whole reliable, but they cannot be described as being valid tests of speaking. If an opportunity is provided in other parts of the test for real oral interaction, (i.e. genuine conversation and discussion), however, these controlled test items can be of some use in directing the attention of the students to specific language areas and skills.