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English Tests

TOEFL

Non-native English speakers are required to take the TOEFL exam or an equivalent exam such as the IELTS. As with the GRE scores, there is no cut-off based on your TOEFL score. Instead we try to judge your ability to communicate in English using the TOEFL, the essay portion of the GRE, your statement of purpose, and sometimes a phone or videoconference interview.

Indiana English Proficiency Examination

In addition, all graduate students are required to take a perfunctory English test to show they can learn in an English-speaking environment. This is the Indiana English Proficiency Examination and is fairly easy. If a graduate student's performance on this examination is not satisfactory, that student will be required to take remedial courses in English in addition to their regular course load. Details on this examination will be available the week of registration, and you will need to sign up for a time slot during international student orientation and registration.

TEPAIC

Students who are awarded a teaching assistantship (called Associate Instructor or AI) are required to pass a more intensive written and speaking test before they are allowed to perform teaching duties. This Test of English Proficiency for International Associate Instructor Candidates (TEPAIC) exam is a university-wide special test which all AIs, not just those in CS, must take and pass. The TEPAIC has both a written and oral part. Graduate students successfully passing this test are hired as a teaching assistant; if not, they become graduate assistants. A graduate assistant may grade papers and develop course materials but may not have direct contact with students. When the TEPAIC is successfully passed the title becomes AI, in which case the assignment may include classroom and laboratory instruction and consulting with students, as well as grading and course preparation. International students who fail the TEPAIC are required to take it each time it is offered; failure to pass it during the first year can lead to the assistantship contract being abrogated.

The TEPAIC format consists of two examiners from the Linguistics Department meeting with you in a classroom. They may play a tape-recorded conversation for you to listen to and explain. They will try to engage you in conversation; typical questions include

Could you talk about yourself?
What are you studying?
Why have you come to the States? Why did you choose Indiana Univ.?
What's your impression of the IU campus? Where have you been in the past two weeks?
Tell us something about China/Chennai/your home town.
What's your plan in 5 years?
How did you get to Lindley Hall (the CS building) yesterday?

Some helpful tips garnered by students over the years are:

Indian students: use a lower baud rate than normal. Enunciate as if speaking to a child. Midwesterners speak more slowly than most other English speakers, and you'll be expected to use a similar pace.
Chinese students: speak loudly and clearly. Hesitancy is not valued, and part of the test is to see if you can be heard at the back of a classroom when speaking at the front of the room.
For everyone: for each question, keep talking until they stop you. Part of the exam is to see if you can carry on a conversation, rather than just responding monosyllabically to questions.
This test is not concerned with large or complex vocabulary, perfect pronunciation, or details of grammar. It is alright to make mistakes, the examination is to determine how well you communicate in English.

Return to international applicant information page.

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Page Owner: Amr Sabry
Last Modified: Nov 5, 2007 2:08pm

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