Academic Services

English as a Second Language (ESL) Requirements

There are two language examinations concerning international students whose first language is not English.

English Language Placement Exam (ELPE)

• All incoming international graduate students and permanent residents whose first language is not English must take the English Language Placement Examination (ELPE) at the beginning of their first quarter of enrollment.
• This required exam is conducted by faculty of the English as a Second Language (ESL) Program.
• For graduate students, the ELPE includes both a written and an oral examination. After the writing exam, students make individual appointments through their department to take the oral exam on a different day.
• The results of the ELPE are communicated to each department by the ESL Program.
• As a result of the student's performance on the ELPE, the student will either (1) be placed in an ESL course or (2) be exempted from ESL courses.
• Students are advised to complete the ESL course progression within three quarters.
• Testing dates, times, and locations are available through the ESL Program, the Office of International Students and Scholars, and the Schedule of Classes.

• Please note: International students whose first language is not English but were exempt from the TOEFL or IELTS requirement must still take the ELPE.
• Students visiting UCSB under the Education Abroad Program and other non-degree reciprocity statuses are exempt from taking the ELPE. If they later apply for admission to a graduate program to seek a graduate degree, they must take the ELPE at the beginning of their first quarter of enrollment.

Teaching Assistant Language Evaluations

Graduate Council policy requires all prospective teaching assistants (TAs) whose first language is not English to take the TA Language Evaluation prior to being  certified to hold sole classroom teaching or laboratory responsibilities.

• Students slated to be teaching assistants (TAs) at any time during their graduate career must take the TA Language Evaluation.
• The TA Language Evaluation simulates instruction in an undergraduate discussion section. It involves a faculty representative from the student’s department and a faculty member from ESL. The exam is a 10 minute oral presentation during which the prospective TA teaches a basic, non-technical concept assigned by the department to the examining committee. Additionally, the prospective TA is asked questions by the evaluators who play the role of undergraduates.
• Students not certified for sole classroom responsibilities during the TA Language Evaluation are required to complete ESL coursework to improve their spoken English. After completion of the assigned ESL coursework, the student is re-evaluated for certification by a committee of ESL faculty at the end of the quarter.
• TAs who fail the Language Evaluation are assigned to alternate, non-teaching responsibilities determined by the department until the student passes the exam.
• Graduate Division and/or ESL will schedule a TA Language Evaluation only for students whose department requests one. Students cannot self-nominate to take a Language Evaluation. The Graduate Division will need the names of each prospective TA and the faculty member who will serve as the faculty representative, as well as any dates that represent scheduling conflicts from the department prior to the beginning of the quarter.
• Once determined, scheduling information will be sent to each department. In turn, the department is asked to convey this information to the prospective TA along with the presentation topic.

Further pre-instructional information and activities are outlined in the Schedule of Classes available through the Office of the Registrar.