Northern Illinois University
Department of Communication
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

If you meet all of these requirements, you are eligible to take this exam.

• Currently enrolled at NIU
• Have not attempted COMS 100
• Have experience in public speaking that qualifies you to opt out of the COMS 100 OCCE
• Have not previously attempted the OSCE exam

Upcoming Exam Dates (Part One)

• Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, 2 p.m. (the last day to apply is Thursday, Oct. 2)
• Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, 2 p.m. (the last day to apply is Thursday,Nov. 13)

About the Exam

COMS 100 is an oral communication course that combines communication theory with the practice of oral communication skills. This includes learning various rhetorical skills that improve both speaking and listening, as well as speech preparation techniques. Therefore, the exam will have both a theoretical component (Part One) and a practical or performance component (Part Two). If you do not pass Part One, you will not be eligible to complete Part Two.

Part One Assesses Competence

• Speech organization and structure
• Audience analysis principles
• Supporting materials and evidence
• Delivery fundamentals
• Communication ethics and context

The exam will consist of 20-30 questions focused on theory and listening skills. The exam will take approximately 60 minutes to complete. The exam will consist of a set of verbal instructions and a series of multiple-choice and True/False questions. You must pass Part One with 85% to be eligible to take Part Two.

Part Two Assesses Speaking Ability

For this part, students prepare and deliver a six to eight-minute extemporaneous persuasive speech. You will be given a list of topics and audiences to choose from. Your speech will be evaluated by a panel of COMS 100 faculty. After the speech, you will answer a few brief questions about it, and your responses will also be rated. Except for the week allocated for preparation, Part Two takes about 10-15 minutes to complete. You should not use PowerPoint or similar presentations with your speech. Part Two must be completed no more than 10 days after finishing Part One.

You can take the exam only once and cannot retake any part of it. You are not allowed to appeal the exam results.

Passing a competency examination fulfills the requirement for the core competency but does not earn credit (i.e., it reduces the required hours in general education but does not lessen the total hours required for a degree). You will not receive hours or a grade.

Lastly, if you plan to take the OCCE, it is recommended that you take the exam at least one year before graduating from NIU. If you fail the OCCE, arrangements must be made to take COMS 100 to fulfill graduation requirements.

Requirements

Students taking Part One of the OCCE are required to complete the application form by the deadline for the testing session.

Late Arrival/No Show Policy

• If you do not show up to take Part One on your registered test date, you must reapply to take the exam at another time.
• If you arrive late to take Part One, you will need to reapply to take the exam at another time.