Metadata
Title
Department Resources
Category
international
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806268f450b9418c929c6f7e565e5252
Source URL
https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center/about/department-resources
Parent URL
https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center
Crawl Time
2026-03-16T04:30:53+00:00
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# Department Resources

**Source**: https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center/about/department-resources
**Parent**: https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center

## International Teaching Assistants (ITA)

- In order to be eligible for a TA or AI appointment at UT, non-native speakers of English must receive ITA English Certification, with specific exemptions.
- The goal of ITA English Certification is to assess and certify the English language skills ITAs need to be effective educators in the classroom.
- Prospective ITAs must clear any speaking [J-Hold](https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center/resources/j-hold "J-Hold") before they may complete an ITA screening.
- Visit the [International Teaching Assistants webpage](https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center/resources/international-teaching-assistants "ITA webpage") for more information.

#### Cost

- The cost for the assessment is $100 per screening.
- This fee is charged to the department only if the department contact has provided IDT billing information to our office. Otherwise, students are billed for the screening fee through What I Owe.

### Resources for ITA Appointment

- [TA Appointments](#)

  Students may be appointed to TA positions based on their ITA certification status:

  - **Certified:** Students who have been ITA certified may be appointed in any TA position with no restrictions.
  - **Conditionally Certified:** Students who have conditionally certified status for a specific semester are eligible to be appointed in any TA role (with or without student contact) for that semester. Students in this status will have a required ESL course during the semester. Students who do not fulfill the requirements for this status will lose their eligibility.
  - **Not Certified:** Students who did not pass the ITA screening or who have not completed an ITA screening may only be appointed in the TA - No Student Contact (NSC) role. Students appointed in this role are not permitted student contact as part of their position to comply with Texas law.
    - House Bill 638, enacted by the Texas Legislature in 1989, requires all public universities in the state to ensure that faculty whose primary language is not English are proficient in the language for teaching purposes.
    - The bill added Section 51.917 to the Texas Education Code, which defines "faculty member" to include teaching assistants and mandates that universities use a proficiency test, such as the Test of Spoken English or a similar assessment, to evaluate these instructors.
    - This law is still in effect, and compliance is managed by individual universities through their own policies and procedures.
- [Registration Instructions](#)

  Departments should submit students for an ITA Screening using the [ITA Screening or Exemption Request Form](https://forms.office.com/r/Su6kXbvmA8) (UT EID log-in required).

  - Check the [Graduate TA/AI English Assessment (GS80) webpage in UT Direct](https://utdirect.utexas.edu/apps/gs/gs_student/grs/grs_list "GS80 webpage") to see if student is already certified or exempted before submitting the form. All graduate coordinators should have access to this screen.
    - ITA status can also be seen in mainframe \*GSADM, screen GS80. For access to GSADM, contact the [Graduate School](mailto:mbroadway@austin.utexas.edu).
  - Access the [ITA Screening or Exemption Request Form](https://forms.office.com/r/Su6kXbvmA8) using your UT EID and password. Please email [txglobal-ita@austin.utexas.edu](mailto:txglobal-ita@austin.utexas.edu) to be added to the list of authorized users.
  - Fill in the required student and departmental information on the form.
  - When you have finished entering all required information, submit the form by clicking on the "Submit" button.
  - The ITA Screening and Certification Team will contact prospective ITAs to schedule their screening appointment.
- [Status Verification Instructions](#)

  Departments can see the ITA status of individual students by

  - Checking [Graduate TA/AI English Assessment (GS80) webpage in UT Direct](https://utdirect.utexas.edu/apps/gs/gs_student/grs/grs_list "GS80 webpage")
  - Checking UT mainframe (\*GSADM, screen GS80)
  - Emailing [txglobal-ita@austin.utexas.edu](mailto:txglobal-ita@austin.utexas.edu) (include student's EID)
- [Interpreting English Test Scores for ITA](#)

  *See the* [*ETS Performance Descriptors for the TOEFL iBT Test*](https://www.ets.org/pdfs/toefl/toefl-ibt-performance-descriptors.pdf "Performance Descriptors for the TOEFL iBT") *and/or* [*IELTS Speaking Band Descriptors and sample speaking band video recordings*](https://ielts.org/organisations/ielts-for-organisations/understanding-ielts-scoring/resources-for-setting-your-ielts-scores#speaking "IELTS Speaking") *for more detailed explanations of proficiency levels.*

  #### Speaking TOEFL iBT scores 25-30 or IELTS scores 7.5-9.0: Advanced

  - Students have advanced oral English proficiency and are exempted from the ITA screening requirement.
  - They are typically able to communicate fluently and effectively on a wide range of topics with little difficulty.
  - Students interested in refining their skills can enroll in [ESL 389S: Advanced Oral Communication](https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center/programs/ut-students/graduate).

  #### Speaking TOEFL iBT scores 20-24 or IELTS scores 6.5-7.0: High Intermediate

  - Students have high-intermediate oral English proficiency and often can earn a conditional pass result on the ITA screening; students who earn a conditional pass result should enroll in [ESL 389T: Oral Communication](https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center/programs/ut-students/graduate).
  - They are typically able to communicate effectively on most general or familiar topics and to make themselves understood when discussing more complex or academic topics, but they will often struggle in an ITA assignment.
  - The English Language Center offers an [online ITA preparation course](https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center/programs/academic-english/summer) each summer that will help these students work on their proficiency skills.
  - Newly admitted students with TOEFL iBT speaking/writing scores below 22 or IELTS speaking/writing scores below 6.5 will have a [J-Hold](https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center/resources/j-hold) on their record. Prospective ITAs must clear any speaking J-Hold before they may complete an ITA Screening.

  #### Speaking TOEFL iBT scores 16-19 or IELTS scores 5.5-6.0: Low Intermediate

  - Students have low-intermediate oral English proficiency and are highly unlikely to achieve a conditional pass result on the ITA screening. Departments should consider appointing these students in non student contact positions their first semester or year of study.
  - Students are typically able to talk about general or familiar topics with relative ease but will have difficulty coping with the English-language demands of their program and require English language support.
  - All newly admitted students with this score will have a [J-Hold](https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center/resources/j-hold) on their record and are required to take [ESL 388S: Oral Communication](https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center/programs/ut-students/graduate) in their first year of study. Prospective ITAs must clear any speaking J-Hold before they may complete an ITA Screening.
- [Best Practices](#)

  - Newly admitted graduate students may have a [J-Hold](https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center/resources/j-hold) for speaking and/or writing on their record. Prospective ITAs must clear any speaking J-Holds before they may complete an ITA Screening.
  - Students with iBT TOEFL speaking scores less than 20 or IELTS speaking scores less than 6 are unlikely to achieve a conditional pass score. Departments should consider appointing these students in non student contact positions their first semester of study. We offer an [online ITA preparation course](https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center/programs/academic-english/summer) each summer that will help these students work on their proficiency skills.
  - Notify prospective ITAs of English Certification [requirements and procedures](https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center/resources/international-teaching-assistants) well before the semester of their potential appointment.
  - Give ITAs a description of what duties and responsibilities a TA appointment in your department entails.
  - Avoid putting newly arrived ITAs in freshman sections (rookies with rookies).
  - When possible, give conditionally certified ITAs a semester to work on communication skills, adjust to the culture, and observe undergraduate classes before appointing them to positions with student contact.
  - If conditionally certified ITAs are given student contact positions, assign them a more experienced TA as a mentor or provide an upper-division undergraduate as a consultant.
  - Any graduate student who may eventually teach should be encouraged to take the ITA Screening; please let your faculty and students know that English Certification is not just for those with pending appointments.
  - Have a pool of certified ITAs to make last-minute staffing easier.
- [Exemptions](#)

  **The following students should be automatically exempt from the ITA English Certification process:**

  - Native speakers of English from a country where English is the primary language, such as English-Speaking Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S.
  - High school diploma or undergraduate university degree from a U.S. institution
  - English-medium schooling from elementary school through university (all subjects taught in English). Most students from India are exempt based on this criteria.
  - A score of 25 or higher in the Speaking section of the TOEFL iBT
  - A score of 7.5 or higher on the Speaking section of the IELTs

  These cases **DO NOT** require the hiring department to complete the ITA Screening or Exemption Request Form. These exemptions should be made automatically in the mainframe and can be checked in GSADM on the screen GS80. For access to GSADM, contact the [Graduate School](mailto:mbroadway@austin.utexas.edu).

  **The following students are NOT automatically exempt from the ITA English Certification process:**

  - A score of 55 or higher on the TSE (Test of Spoken English)
  - Foreign Language TA - Foreign language TAs are exempt from the ITA Screening; however, foreign language AIs are not exempt and must complete the ITA Screening.

  These cases **DO** require the hiring department to complete the [ITA Screening or Exemption Request Form](https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=peLXMdi9TkGel76pmOvf4UsCTholtqVPreB_vtTLIddUQ1RPRzZNMVE3MENBMlZJTkJMMkgwMkMzUy4u).

  Other exemption requests submitted by the Graduate Advisor or Department Chair will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

---

## J-Hold

*The J-Hold screening is different from the ITA screening. Prospective ITAs must clear any speaking J-Hold before they may complete an ITA screening.*

Newly admitted graduate students may have a [J-Hold](https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center/resources/j-hold) for speaking and/or writing on their record. It is placed on anyone with an iBT TOEFL speaking and/or writing section score below 22. For students with IELTS scores, the hold is placed on anyone with a speaking and/or writing score below 6.5. Students who do not submit English language test scores at the time of admission are also given a J-Hold.

[Visit the J-Hold page to learn more](https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center/resources/j-hold).

#### Expectations

Students with iBT TOEFL speaking/writing scores less than 20 or IELTS speaking/writing scores less than 6.0 are unlikely to pass the J-hold screening and will need [additional English support classes](https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center/programs/ut-students/graduate "graduate ESL support courses") during their first semester or year of study. See the sections on Interpreting English Test Scores for J-Hold below.

## Interpreting English Test Scores for J-Hold

### Total Scores

TOEFL iBT scores 90-120 or IELTS scores 7.0-9.0: Advanced
:   - Students have advanced English proficiency and typically don't need English-language support courses upon arrival to campus unless one of their subsection scores requires a [J-Hold](https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center/resources/j-hold).
    - Some may benefit from advanced academic writing courses like [ESL 389W: Advanced Academic Writing](https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center/programs/ut-students/graduate).

TOEFL iBT scores 70-89 or IELTS score 6.5: High Intermediate
:   - Students have high-intermediate English proficiency and might need English-language support courses upon arrival to campus, especially for specific skills with weak subsection scores and programs with high English language demands.
    - Some students have a [J-Hold](https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center/resources/j-hold) on their record due to low speaking and/or writing subsection scores.
    - Many of these students would benefit from English language support courses before their UT program begins in the fall semester. The English Language Center offers [Summer Academic English Programs](https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center/programs/academic-english/summer) aimed at newly admitted graduate students.
    - In their first semester or year of study, some students would benefit from enrolling in [ESL 388S: Oral Communication](https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center/programs/ut-students/graduate) or [ESL 388W: Academic Writing](https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center/programs/ut-students/graduate) (look at subsection scores for areas of weakness).

TOEFL iBT scores 60-69 or IELTS score 6.0: Intermediate
:   - Students need a substantial amount of English-language support upon arrival to campus and will have difficulty coping with the English-language demands of their program.
    - They often have a [J-Hold](https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center/resources/j-hold) on their record due to low speaking and/or writing subsection scores.
    - All students would benefit from English language support courses before their UT program begins in the fall semester. The English Language Center offers [Summer Academic English Programs](https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center/programs/academic-english/summer) aimed at newly admitted graduate students.
    - In their first semester of study, students would benefit from enrolling in [ESL 388S: Oral Communication](https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center/programs/ut-students/graduate) or [ESL 388W: Academic Writing](https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center/programs/ut-students/graduate) (look at subsection scores for areas of weakness).

TOEFL iBT scores below 60 or IELTS scores below 6.0: Beginner to Low Intermediate
:   - Students are unlikely to be able to cope with the English language demands of their courses.
    - A year or more of full-time, intensive English language classes is typically needed.
    - The English Language Center offers the [Academic English Program (AEP)](https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center/programs/academic-english) designed specifically for international students preparing to pursue a graduate degree in the United States.

### Speaking Section Scores

*See the* [*ETS Performance Descriptors for the TOEFL iBT Test*](https://www.ets.org/pdfs/toefl/toefl-ibt-performance-descriptors.pdf "Performance Descriptors for the TOEFL iBT") *and/or* [*IELTS Speaking Band Descriptors and sample speaking band video recordings*](https://ielts.org/organisations/ielts-for-organisations/understanding-ielts-scoring/resources-for-setting-your-ielts-scores#speaking "IELTS Speaking") *for more detailed explanations of proficiency levels*

TOEFL iBT scores 25-30 or IELTS scores 7.5-9.0: Advanced
:   - Students have advanced oral English proficiency and are typically able to communicate fluently and effectively on a wide range of topics with little difficulty.
    - Students interested in refining their skills can enroll in [ESL 389S: Advanced Oral Communication](https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center/programs/ut-students/graduate).

TOEFL iBT scores 20-24 or IELTS scores 6.5-7.0: High Intermediate
:   - Students have high-intermediate oral English proficiency and are typically able to communicate effectively on most general or familiar topics, and to make themselves understood when discussing more complex or academic topics, but some students will struggle in programs with high English language demands.
    - Many of these students would benefit from English language support courses before their UT program begins in the fall semester. The English Language Center offers [Summer Academic English Programs](https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center/programs/academic-english/summer) aimed at newly admitted graduate students.
    - Many of these students would benefit from [ESL 388S: Oral Communication](https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center/programs/ut-students/graduate) in their first year of study.
    - Students with TOEFL iBT scores below 22 or IELTS scores below 6.5 will have a [J-Hold](https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center/resources/j-hold) on their record.

TOEFL iBT scores 16-19 or IELTS scores 5.5-6.0: Low Intermediate
:   - Students have low-intermediate oral English proficiency and are typically able to talk about general or familiar topics with relative ease but will have difficulty coping with the English-language demands of their program and require English language support.
    - All of these students will have a [J-Hold](https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center/resources/j-hold) on their record and are unlikely to pass the speaking screening. Most students will be required to take [ESL 388S: Oral Communication](https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center/programs/ut-students/graduate) in their first year of study.
    - All students would benefit from English language support courses before their UT program begins in the fall semester. The English Language Center offers [Summer Academic English Programs](https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center/programs/academic-english/summer) aimed at newly admitted graduate students.

### Writing Section Scores

*See the* [*ETS Performance Descriptors for the TOEFL iBT Test*](https://www.ets.org/pdfs/toefl/toefl-ibt-performance-descriptors.pdf "Performance Descriptors for the TOEFL iBT") *and/or the* [*IELTS Writing Tasks Band Descriptors*](https://cdn.craft.cloud/9ae18b84-7059-4607-bb49-f7ab93975801/assets/Guides/ielts-writing-band-descriptors.pdf "IELTS Writing Tasks Band Descriptors") *for more detailed explanations of proficiency levels.*

TOEFL iBT scores 24-30 or IELTS scores 7.0-9.0: Advanced
:   - Students have advanced written English proficiency and are typically able to write in English on a wide range of academic and nonacademic topics with confidence and clarity.
    - Students interested in refining their skills can enroll in [ESL 389W: Advanced Academic Writing](https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center/programs/ut-students/graduate).

TOEFL iBT scores 17-23 or IELTS scores 6.5-7.0: High Intermediate
:   - Students have high-intermediate written English proficiency and are typically able to write in English well on general or familiar topics, and when writing about complex ideas or ideas on academic topics, they can convey most of the main ideas. Some students will struggle in programs with high written English language demands.
    - Many of these students would benefit from English language support courses before their UT program begins in the fall semester. The English Language Center offers [Summer Academic English Programs](https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center/programs/academic-english/summer) aimed at newly admitted graduate students.
    - Many of these students would benefit from [ESL 388W: Academic Writing](https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center/programs/ut-students/graduate) in their first year of study.
    - Students with TOEFL iBT scores below 22 or IELTS scores below 6.5 will have a [J-Hold](https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center/resources/j-hold) on their record.

TOEFL iBT scores 13-16 or IELTS scores 5.0-6.0: Low Intermediate
:   - Students have low-intermediate written English proficiency and are typically able to produce simple written texts in English on general or familiar topics but will have difficulty coping with the English-language demands of their program and require English language support.
    - All of these students will have a [J-Hold](https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center/resources/j-hold) on their record and are unlikely to pass the writing screening. Most students will be required to take [ESL 388W: Academic Writing](https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center/programs/ut-students/graduate) in their first year of study.
    - All students would benefit from English language support courses before their UT program begins in the fall semester. The English Language Center offers [Summer Academic English Programs](https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center/programs/academic-english/summer) aimed at newly admitted graduate students.

---

## Additional English Support

The English Language Center offers courses in fall and spring for admitted graduate international students to enhance their English skills for academic success. Current course offerings can be viewed on the [ELC Courses for UT Graduate Students webpage](https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center/programs/ut-students/graduate "ESL courses for graduate students").

We also offer [summer academic English courses](https://global.utexas.edu/english-language-center/programs/academic-english/summer "summer academic English classes") to help students gain proficiency prior to the start of their degree program.

Contact Us

ITA Screening & Certification\
[txglobal-ita@austin.utexas.edu](mailto:txglobal-ita@austin.utexas.edu)

J-Hold Screening \
[txglobal-jbar@austin.utexas.edu](mailto:txglobal-jbar@austin.utexas.edu)

512-471-2480