Frequently Asked Questions for Students

Can I take the OEAI remotely and/or from outside the US?

Yes! The OEAI is currently only offered online over video-conferencing software. You can take the online OEAI as long as you take it in a private room and have a stable internet connection, computer, web-camera, and microphone.

Can I register myself for the OEAI?

No, you cannot register yourself for the OEAI. You can only be registered through your department on your behalf. Requests for and inquiries about registration, scheduling, and rescheduling should be ONLY directed to your department, not to the OEAI Testing Office. The testing office may not respond to inquiries about these issues from students.

What should I do to prepare for the OEAI?

Start EARLY, at least one semester (3-4 months) before you plan to take the OEAI, especially if this is your first semester in the US. If your most recent TOEFL iBT speaking score was 20 or below, consider taking an ESL oral skills course before you take the OEAI for the first time. Or you may hire a tutor to help you identify areas you may need to work on.

In general you should practice the types of speaking needed for face-to-face communication with students: giving definitions, elaborating on topics, answer questions in a way that is relevant to your listener.

You can find more ITA-focused language resources on this page.

The department of linguistics also holds workshops during the Fall and Spring semesters. Workshop information is typically shared with departmental contacts and ESL course instructors at the beginning of the semester. Please note that these workshops are for your preparation purposes only, and these do not count as English improvement activities required for retakers.

Who is going to interview me?

The OEAI interviewers are ESL teachers and practitioners who are trained to conduct and evaluate interviews. They have extensive experience working with international teaching assistants, and many of our interviewers are ITAs themselves.

Will misunderstanding the interviewer or asking questions affect my score?

If you arenʼt sure what the interviewer is asking you, then it is appropriate to ask for clarification or to restate what you heard for verification. Just because you misheard something, it does not mean you have poor language skills, as long as you demonstrate strategies for repairing communication. Your final OEAI score is based on how you perform throughout the entire interview. If you frequently give answers that are not relevant to the question, or you frequently show lack of comprehension of the interviewer, then your final score may be affected.

During the interview, how much time do I have to prepare my responses? How long should my responses be?

There is no specific preparation time given for any responses. Since the interview is conducted like a conversation, impromptu responses are expected. You may take a few seconds before responding to a question, but in general you should answer questions as soon as you are asked, much like in normal conversation.

When responding to interview questions, rather than focusing on the length of your answers, focus on whether you are adequately answering the question. Also consider: Are you elaborating on and supporting your ideas? Are you providing an example, if appropriate, to help show what you mean? You are encouraged to say as much as you can about a topic. It is possible, though, that the interviewer may interrupt you in order to complete other required parts of the interview.

Can I dispute or appeal my score?

All scores are final. Please note that scores are only reported after multiple evaluators have confirmed them, and disputing or appealing scores is not accepted.

Frequently Asked Questions for Departments

Do all prospective TAs need to provide proof of English proficiency?

Yes, although most students do this via claiming English as a first language and having English-language schooling experience from childhood up to and including high school. Additionally, prospective TAs from the following countries do NOT need to take the OEAI: Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Canada, Dominica, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, New Zealand, Nigeria, Philippines, Scotland, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, St. Kitts, Trinidad & Tobago, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, and Zimbabwe. 

TAs that will only be hired as graders are also not required to provide proof of English proficiency.

All other international TAs will need to provide proof of English proficiency.

How long are TOEFL, IELTS, or OEAI scores valid?

TOEFL iBT and IELTS scores must be less than two years old from the first day of class at the proposed term of graduate program entry in order to be valid. Scores must be officially reported to the university.

OEAI scores remain valid as long as the student is continuously enrolled as a graduate student at Illinois, even if they switch programs or assistantships.

If a TA had valid TOEFL or IELTS scores as an undergraduate at UIUC, are they still exempt?

Passing scores received prior to undergraduate admission are expired and no longer valid. Scores must be less than two years old from the first day of class at the proposed term of graduate program entry in order to be valid for TA eligibility.
Students with expired passing TOEFL iBT or IELTS speaking scores must retake the TOEFL iBT or IELTS or take the OEAI.

What happens if a student misses their interview?

If a student misses their interview without contacting the office with a valid reason for missing the scheduled interview, this will count as an attempt at the OEAI. In cases involving an emergency, if contact is made with the OEAI office prior to the interview, it is possible to reschedule the interview, but it is likely that the interview will be pushed to later in the semester.

Can students with a Conditional Pass retake the OEAI?

No, students with a Conditional Pass cannot retake the OEAI. The tutoring or coursework required to prepare for a second attempt would constitute more learning hours than what is completed in ESL 508.