Graduate Council policy states that prospective GSIs who do not speak English as a native language must satisfy the oral English proficiency requirement before they may be appointed to teach. Students can satisfy the oral English proficiency requirement in one of the following ways:
- Complete all of their undergraduate education (with the exception of a study abroad year) and receive an undergraduate degree from a college or university in the U.S. or another country in which English is the sole language of instruction (with the exception of instruction in foreign language departments) and located where English is the primary spoken language of the community. Students in this situation must submit the Language Proficiency Questionnaire and receive confirmation of their teaching eligibility before being appointed as a GSI.
- Achieve a passing Speaking section score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) iBT or iBT Home Edition taken within the last two years. We accept the internet based (iBT) and iBT Home Edition. We do not accept the TOEFL ITP. See table below for scores.
- Achieve a passing Speaking section score on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or IELTS Online taken within the last two years. See table below for scores.
- Take and pass the Oral Proficiency Test (OPT).
Applicants to graduate programs who take the TOEFL or IELTS should have their official score report sent directly to UC Berkeley. Prospective GSIs who wish to submit new scores for the purposes of teaching eligibility alone may upload their official score report to the Language Proficiency Questionnaire.
How to Interpret TOEFL and IELTS Scores
| TOEFL Speaking Score (taken before 1/21/26) | TOEFL Speaking Score (taken on or after 1/21/26) | IELTS Speaking Score | Eligible to Teach? | What your score indicates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 or above | 6 | 8 or above | Yes | You have satisfied the requirement and no further testing is needed. |
| 23-25 | 5.5 and below | 7-7.5 | No | You must take and pass the OPT to be able to teach. If you do not pass the OPT, you will be eligible to take the Lan Pro 380 course before retesting. |
| 21-22 | – | 6.5 | No | You may take the OPT or enroll in the Lan Pro 380 course and be tested at the end of the semester. You need to pass the OPT to be able to teach. |
| 20 or below | – | 6 | No | You need to complete the Lan Pro 380 course and take the OPT at the end of the semester. You need to pass the OPT to be able to teach. |
How to Fulfill the Requirement
- Consult these Key Deadlines for Students and Departments and submit the Language Proficiency Questionnaire. Once your responses are reviewed, you and your department will be contacted with any next steps needed to fulfill the requirement. We encourage you to submit the questionnaire as early as possible in your program to allow adequate time for the screening, guidance and support needed to prepare for teaching.
- Refer to these Oral English Proficiency Guidelines for Departments and Prospective GSIs for assistance in interpreting language test scores and setting realistic goals for teaching readiness.