This book documents a comparability study of direct (face-to-face)and semi-direct (language laboratory) versions of the speaking component of the access: test, an English language test designed in the 1990s as part of the selection process for immigration to Australia. The findings have important implications in various high-stakes contexts such as immigration and universityentrance. As such the book will be of interest to policy-makers and administrators as well as language teachers and language testing researchers.