Enhancing Teaching at Carnegie Mellon contact us
Intercultural Communication Center Language Tests and Evaluations Offered
 
Assessment and Placement
  Evaluation Type When Available Purpose
  Language Support
Check-in


(a 30-minute orientation session)
   

Most days during the two weeks before classes begin in August, and weekly for the first two months of each semester.

See current dates for Language Support Check-ins.

   

To recommend appropriate ICC work and to add students to the ICC contact-list for email announcements before the start of each class, workshop or seminar.

Students need to bring their TOEFL scores, including sub-scores (an official copy is not required).

Note: students who plan to work as TAs are strongly advised to have a check-in at the start of their first semester on campus
 

Screening Tests
  Evaluation Type When Available Purpose  
     

International Teaching Assistant (ITA) Test

Each test takes 30 minutes with four instructor/raters, followed by a 30 minute feedback appointment with one instructor.

Required by Carnegie Mellon University policy and state law before nonnative English speakers (NNES), both graduate and undergraduate, can work as teaching assistants. The test is required for TAs working in any CMU program, including those outside of Pittsburgh.

Offered three times a year: November, April, August (incoming students only). For a $100 fee, departments can request the test at other times (depending on rater availability). Often unavailable during peak ICC teaching weeks.

See current dates for testing, preparation, and registration.

Evaluates whether students have the robust academic fluency to communicate effectively in the U.S. classroom. The test is a teaching simulation in front of a jury of raters, and is a rigorous test given that the level of fluency needed to teach students is much higher than that needed to be a student or to give prepared talks.

Given the resources required, only students who have a definite chance of getting a TA job should take the test (Masters students should check with their departments to determine eligibility for test) .
 

TOP

Warner Hall 308
5000 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh PA 15213-3890
Office: (412) 268-4979
email:
eslhelp@andrew.cmu.edu