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English Proficiency Requirement for Teaching Assistants

Exemptions

Students who have attended English-medium schools continuously since age 13 (or younger) in any of the following countries: Australia, Anglophone Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States (excluding Puerto Rico) are exempt from the English Proficiency Requirement for Teaching Assistants.

Students hired as Graders and have no oral interaction with students are also exempt from the English Proficiency Requirement for Teaching Assistants. However, those hired as Graders who will have oral interactions with students (e.g., through office hours) must demonstrate oral English proficiency.

English Proficiency Requirements for Teaching Assistantship Consideration

Students who wish to be considered for a Teaching Assistantship, and do not qualify for an exemption listed above, are required to submit the results of an accepted test as evidence of oral English proficiency. 

Official scores are required to be submitted directly from the testing agency. All scores must be dated within two years of the beginning of the proposed admission term. Acceptable tests and corresponding minimum scores are available below. 

English Proficiency Test

Minimum score required*

TOEFL iBT

speaking sub-section score: 24

IELTS (academic exam)

speaking sub-section score: 8

*Individual academic programs may require a higher score; contact your proposed program of study office for the minimum TOEFL iBT or IELTS requirement.

For more information about the English proficiency requirement for teaching assistants, please contact your program of study office or refer to the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CITL) website.

Test Information and Instructions for Requesting Official Scores

  • TOEFL iBT: Please review the TOEFL iBT Test Information page for more information about these tests. Applicants should send their official scores to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign using our institution code number 1836.

  • IELTS: The IELTS Academic Test is accepted for admission. Please review the IELTS Test Information page for more information about this test. Scores should be sent electronically via your testing center to the following account name: University of Illinois Urbana Champaign Graduate.