A discussion of the simulated oral proficiency interview (SOPI), a type of semi-direct speaking test that models the format of the oral proficiency interview (OPI), describes its development and research and examines its usefulness. The test used for discussion is a tape-recorded test consisting of six parts, scored by a trained rater using the American Council of the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL)/Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) proficiency scale. A review of research on different SOPI tests in different contexts reveals a high correlation with the OPI and some practical and psychometric advantages over it. The OPI must be administered by a trained interviewer, whereas any teacher, aide, or language lab technician can administer the SOPI. The SOPI can be simultaneously administered to a group of examinees by a single administrator, whereas the OPI must be individually administered. The SOPI may be preferred for some testing purposes, such as qualification for employment, and the OPI for others such as placement or program evaluation. It is concluded that the SOPI may not be, as previously characterized, only a "second-order substitute" for the OPI. (MSE)