English Language Proficiency Guide

Graduate programs are at liberty to set higher minimums. Note: Ohio State does not accept IELTS One Skill Retake or My Best TOEFL Scores.

• TOEFL
  • 19 on each section of the paper-based TOEFL
  • 79 on the TOEFL iBT or TOEFL iBT Home Edition
• IELTS
  • 7.0 on the IELTS Academic test or IELTS Indicator
• Duolingo
  • 120 or higher
  • Some programs may choose not to accept this test; check with your program
    • Anthropology does NOT accept this test

If the international applicant is admitted, they must move on to the additional requirements detailed in the following sections. 

With few exceptions, international students (including those who were exempt from English proficiency testing during admissions) are required to sit for an Academic English Writing Assessment (formerly ESL Composition Placement Test) upon arrival. 

Depending on their score, students may be required to take 1-2 classes in Academic Writing for Multilingual Graduate Students. These courses must be completed during the first year.

Exemptions: 

• Those who score on the internet-based (iBT) TOEFL (obtained within the last two years)
  • 114 or higher, or
  • 101 or higher and a 28 on the Writing section
• Those who score on the IELTS (obtained within the last two years)
  • 9.0 or higher (Overall Band Score), or
  • 8.0 or higher (Overall Band Score) and 8.0 Academic Writing module
• Citizens of the following countries or regions: Australia, Belize, the British Caribbean and British West Indies, Canada (except Quebec), England, Ghana, Guyana, Ireland, Liberia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Singapore, Scotland, the United States, and Wales.
• Students who graduated from an academic program at The Ohio State University.
• Students who have received a bachelor’s degree or higher from a U.S. institution within 24 months of their matriculation into an Ohio State graduate program. A degree from universities outside the U.S. does not meet this exemption.

Graduate students for whom English is not the first language must certify their proficiency in spoken English before assuming Graduate Teaching Associate (GTA) duties. They may become certified through the following scores:

• TOEFL iBT Speaking 28 or higher
• IELTS Speaking 8.5 or higher
• Oral Proficiency Assessment (OPA) 4.0 or higher

Exception: Students who have completed both high school and a bachelor’s degree in the U.S. and who have been living in the U.S. for at least 8 years must provide their high school transcript and a timeline of their stay in the U.S. by emailing SEP-Assessment@osu.edu to schedule a meeting to determine whether or not the OPA can be waived. 

If a student does not meet the TOEFL or IELTS scores and does not qualify for the exception above, they must take the OPA. The OPA is administered by Ohio State (specifically, the Intercultural English Language Program in the Department of Teaching and Learning).  

The OPA is used to determine a student’s level of oral proficiency in English. Based on the result of the OPA, a student may be certified to serve as a GTA or be placed into a spoken English course. Students can perform various GTA duties depending on their OPA score. 

Students can take the OPA upon matriculation. OPAs are offered in one cycle during each autumn and spring semester. Two or three cycles may be offered during the summer semester. Upcoming days/times, the payment deadline of each cycle, and instructions for signing up to take the test are available on the Intercultural English Language Program (IELP) website. 

• Students should take the OPA in the Spring or Summer before the first semester.  
• The Anthropology department requires Instructors of Record and 2200 lab instructors to score at least a 4.0. 

Below is an explanation of the scoring system and the English classes associated with each placement

Code: NC1 - not certified
Scores: 0-1.75
Courses: 5040
This TA is able to grade papers or handle duties that do not require direct contact with students

Code: NC2 - not certified borderline
Scores: 2-2.75
Courses: 5040
This TA is able to conduct 1 on 1 meetings, NOT in a group setting such as a lab or classroom

Code: CC3 - conditionally certified
Scores:3-3.75
Courses:5050
This TA is able to assist in a lab or supervides recitation (concurrent with ESL).  ESL not required to teach only foreign language class (not taugh tin English)

Code: C4 - certified
Scores:4-4.75
Courses: electives
score 4: This TA is able to teach a course independently (Departments may choose to provide no or minimal supervision)
score 4.25-4.75: This TA may teach a course independently and serve as the sole course instructor.

Code: C5 - highly certified
Scores: 5
This TA is able to teach a course independently and serve as the sole course instructor.

What if a grad student does not pass the OPA on the first try? 

• Ideally, applicants will be proficient at spoken English prior to matriculation and have the TOEFL or IELTS scores needed for an exemption. However, students have the opportunity to retake the test if needed.
• Fellowship recipients do not need to get certified to teach right away and can retake the test after completion of the English class(es) in which they are placed.  
• Graduate students still working toward certification and not receiving fellowship support will be assigned to work alongside a faculty member as a TA (assuming they have a CC3 score).   

If a student is placed in EDUTL 5040 (rare- admitted students typically score in the CC3/5050 category or above), the final exam will be in the form of an Exit Interview, which will determine if they are qualified to move onto EDUTL 5050. 

Students will retake the OPA after the completion of necessary courses. The retaken test is referred to as the OPCA (Oral Proficiency Certification Assessment). It’s basically the same as the OPA, but the OPCA is held in person. 

If students who completed EDUTL 5050 are placed in the CC3/5050 category again, they should enroll in EDUTL 5055. They may also have the opportunity for one-on-one tutoring through EDUTL 5060. At the conclusion of these classes, they can retake the OPCA. 

Testing is no longer required after reaching a score of 4.0 (level C4 certification). 

Contact for questions

Yu-Chen Tina Lin, PhD

Assessment Coordinator | Intercultural English Language Programs (IELP)

Department of Teaching and Learning

College of Education & Human Ecology

(614) 292-9434