Frequently Asked Questions

What does the OEPP do?
The OEPP provides oral English proficiency screening services to all departments on campus employing non-native speaking TAs, certifies the oral English proficiency of teaching assistants/instructors whose first language is not English; offers English as a second language instruction to prospective TAs; and monitors departmental compliance with the university policy on oral English proficiency.

How are students certified?
Students are certified either on the basis of their score on the Oral English Proficiency Test (OEPT), or on their performance in ENGL 620, "Classroom Communication in ESL for International Teaching Assistants," an English as a second language course in oral communication exclusively for non-native speaking TAs. Students may also be certified via the Test of Spoken English (TSE), TOEFL iBT, or IELTS. See the chart below for the scores that can be accepted for certification.

ENGL 620 is a 5 credit hour course. However, because the grade for this course is either S (satisfactory) or U (unsatisfactory), these credits do not count towards a plan of study or factor in to a student's GPA. These credits are counted towards the minimum credit hours required of international graduate students per semester.

Students on an F-1 Visa with teaching assistantships or research assistantships are required by the Office of International Students & Scholars (ISS) to take a minimum of 6 credit hours. Students without such funding are required to take 8 hours. Graduate students on a J-1 Visa are required to take a minimum of 6 hours if they have a teaching or research assistantship, and 10 hours if they do not have funding. Individual academic programs may have additional requirements, so students should always check with their graduate advisor or graduate studies office before registering. Links to more detailed information on requirements for international students can be found on the News for Current Students page of the ISS website.

Can TSE scores be used for certification? The IELTS? What about TOEFL or TWE scores?
The Test of Spoken English (TSE) can be used for certification purposes. The student must have achieved a score of 50 or higher, and the score can be no more than two years old. Departments using the TSE scores must send a copy of original TSE score report to the OEPP. The new TOEFL iBT features a speaking section, and a minimum speaking score of 27 is accepted for certification. Because the written or computer-based TOEFL and the TWE do not test for oral proficiency, they cannot be used for the oral English proficiency certification of potential teaching assistants. Purdue will also accept a score of 8 on the speaking section of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) for certification.

Test	Scores Accepted for Oral English Certification*
Oral English Proficiency Test (Prior to August 09)	5 or 6
Oral English Proficiency Test (August 09 and later)	50, 55, or 60
TOEFL iBT	27 or higher on the Speaking Section
IELTS	Speaking score of 8
TOEFL (Computer or paper-based test)	Not accepted for oral English certification
Test of Written English	Not accepted for oral English certification
SPEAK (from other institutions)	Not accepted for oral English certification

*Scores shown are for oral English certification only. Cut-off scores for admission have been established separately by the Graduate School and individual departments.

If a student was certified by Purdue's Math or Foreign Languages department, does this certify them to work in other Purdue departments?

No. The Math and FLL department have approved alternative departmental screening procedures that meet the unique needs of their departments. Therefore, students certified through these departments are certified only to be teaching assistants in the department conducting the screening. Students who wish to be TAs in other university departments must be certified by one of the methods shown on the chart above.

If a student has received a degree from an American college or university, do they still have to take the OEPT to be a TA?

Yes. A degree from an American college or university does not certify a student in oral English proficiency nor exempt them from the test.

What about students who are U.S. citizens or resident aliens, but grew up speaking a language other than English? Are they still required to take the OEPT in order to be a TA?

The University policy does not go by citizenship or resident status, but instead by native language. If the student did not grow up speaking English in the home as their first language, they are required to be certified before holding a TA position that involves the direct instruction of undergraduate students.

What is the Oral English Proficiency Test?
The OEPT is a computer based test used by the OEPP to screen potential TAs for language proficiency. While taking the test, candidates respond to a variety of questions, present information, and speak extemporaneously on a range of topics. The responses are recorded and evaluated by at least two trained raters. A score of 50 or higher is required for certification.

How do I sign up to take the OEPT?
If your department wishes to hire you as a teaching assistant, they should contact the OEPP secretary to schedule a time for you to take the test. Contact the graduate studies office of your department for more information. More information on test registration can be found on the OEPT schedule page.

It is very important for students to prepare for the OEPT by using the OEPT on-line tutorial and practice test. Students who are newly arrived on campus should be given at least 48 hours to rest and recover from jet lag prior to being scheduled for the test. If the student is unable to access the tutorial and practice test on their computer, they may take the practice test in the OEPP lab on the 8th floor of Young Hall.

What happens if a student is not certified by the screening?
Students who do not get a score of 50 or higher are placed on the waiting list to enroll in ENGL 620. At the end of the semester of instruction, reconsideration for certification is made on the basis of the student's performance in the course. Students who have not been certified are not allowed, by university policy, to hold positions involving the direct instruction of undergraduates.

How soon can a student take the OEPT again if they are not certified?
For students scoring 35 or 40, the test can be taken again after one year. Students who score 45 on the OEPT may retest after 6 months. Please see the OEPT Retest Policy page for more information.

How do students register for ENGL 620?
Space in ENGL 620 is limited, so the OEPP works with department liaisons to identify the students who most need to be enrolled in ENGL 620. Click here for complete registration instructions.

What other resources exist in the community for English instruction?
Visit our Community Resources page for more information. Students may also wish to consider private tutoring. The OEPP maintains a list of private tutors who offer ESL instruction for a fee.