What is the OPT?
When should I take the OPT?
How do I get an appointment to take the OPT?
What will my OPT results mean?
What should I do if I do not pass the OPT?
Can I enroll in Lan Pro 380 and take the OPT during the semester?
Summary of the Rating Scale for the OPT at UC Berkeley*

What is the OPT?
The Oral Proficiency Test (OPT) is a recorded oral English proficiency test administered on an individual basis to qualifying students who have not satisfied the oral English proficiency requirement for GSI appointments. During the OPT, test takers perform the following activities:

• Meet two or more UCB undergraduate students who will play the role of students in a discussion section or lab class.
• Present prepared materials from their disciplines; answer questions posed by the undergraduates.
• Respond to questions posed by the test administrator.

Once you have passed the OPT, you may complete your application for a GSI appointment.

When should I take the OPT?
Incoming students who anticipate teaching in their first semester at Berkeley must complete the Language Proficiency Questionnaire no later than June 1 and be tested in July or August before the fall semester begins.

Continuing students must be tested no later than the semester before they start teaching. For summer or fall semester appointments, continuing students must submit the Language Proficiency Questionnaire by March 1. For a spring semester appointment, the deadline to submit the Questionnaire is October 1. Please consult the list of key deadlines in the testing program.

How do I get an appointment to take the OPT?

If, based on your responses to the Language Proficiency Questionnaire, we determine that you need to take the OPT, you will receive an email message with instructions for registering for the OPT.

Please note: Because scheduling an OPT appointment depends upon the availability of the test administrator, undergraduate testing assistants, and test raters, your test appointment time cannot be changed. Departmental staff are aware that your schedule should be cleared of other obligations in order to take the test. If the OPT appointment time offered to you presents a time conflict with a class or another department activity, you should ask for permission to be excused. Rescheduling a test appointment may result in a considerable delay in going forward with your application to be appointed as a GSI.

What will my OPT results mean?
Oral Proficiency Tests administered at UC Berkeley are evaluated by professional English language specialists. The rating scale for the OPT is based on nationally recognized standards on oral English proficiency and goes from 0 (low) to 4 (high). Each test is evaluated in the areas of pronunciation, speech flow, grammar, vocabulary, organization, listening comprehension, and question handling. According to University policy, students must have a score of 3- or above in each of the following three categories to be eligible for a GSI appointment at UC Berkeley: 1) Pronunciation, 2) Question Handling, and 3) Final Score.

What should I do if I do not pass the OPT?
If you do not receive a passing score on the OPT, you should enroll in Lan Pro 380 (Language Proficiency Workshop) to improve your oral English skills before you take the test again. Students enrolled in Lan Pro 380 will be scheduled to retake the OPT at the end of the semester.

If you do not take Lan Pro 380, you must wait a minimum of six months to take the OPT again.

Can I enroll in Lan Pro 380 and take the OPT during the semester?
Students who enroll in the class must complete the course before taking the OPT at the end of the semester. Students who have the option of either enrolling in Lan Pro 380 or taking the OPT must choose one or the other option.

Summary of the Rating Scale for the OPT at UC Berkeley*

0	Speaking is unintelligible. The test takers cannot sustain conversations because of very poor listening comprehension, extremely limited control of grammar and vocabulary, and severe weaknesses in pronunciation and fluency. They are not able to handle questions or demonstrate strategies to clarify misunderstandings. Any attempts at explanations are impossible to follow.
1	Speaking is often unintelligible. The test takers frequently make major errors in pronunciation and grammar. Their range of grammar structures is extremely limited, and they lack the vocabulary necessary to perform specific tasks. Speech is very slow and halting except for routine expressions. Listening comprehension is very weak; misunderstanding continues with frequent breakdowns in communication despite clarification and repetition. The overall structure of explanations is not clear. The sequence and development of ideas is very difficult to follow. The test takers often seem confused by questions and respond inappropriately or illogically.
2	Speaking is sometimes unintelligible. Test takers may make major pronunciation errors, including errors with stress and linking. Rhythm, and intonation are distracting. Speech flow interferes with communication; the test takers might speak too fast, or in a very slow, halting manner, with unexpected phrasing patterns. The test takers can convey meaning accurately in simple sentences, but make major errors using complex grammar, or they avoid using complex structures. They have sufficient vocabulary to speak simply, but they struggle when performing specific tasks and make inappropriate word choices. Explanations are often minimal, or they may be overly repetitive or rambling. Appropriate patterns of organization are missing or misused. During interactions the test takers have trouble understanding other speakers and are unable to clarify questions successfully, or they respond to questions immediately, but their responses do not correspond to the task or topic appropriately.
3	Speaking is intelligible with some listener effort required. There may be consistent minor errors in pronunciation, but they do not impede understanding. They speak with a slightly distracting rhythm and intonation, but this rarely interferes with communication. Speech may be slightly fast or slow, with slightly distracting phrasing patterns. In addition to using a full range of basic grammar structures, they are able to use complex structures. Minor grammar errors do not impede comprehension. Test takers have the vocabulary to handle specific tasks satisfactorily; they may make occasional errors with non-critical vocabulary. They can paraphrase easily. They explain clearly, providing sufficient detail. They are not overly redundant or repetitive or rambling. Test takers can follow most speech; occasionally they may need clarification or repetition to understand. They can clarify misunderstandings successfully. They respond clearly to most questions, elaborating as needed.
4	Speaking is consistently intelligible. Test takers demonstrate a high degree of facility in speaking with good control of pronunciation, stress, rhythm, intonation patterns, and speed. Their vocabulary is extensive, appropriate, and sophisticated. They use high-level complex structures accurately and give well-organized, fully-developed, logical explanations without relying heavily on jargon. They can communicate easily on a variety of topics and respond to questions with clear, well-developed, appropriate answers.

*These ratings are derived from UCLA’s Oral Proficiency Test and are used with permission.