English Language Proficiency Pathways

For Incoming Graduate Students

English Oral Proficiency
by TOEFL iBT Scores

You HAVE demonstrated English oral proficiency:

  • If you have received and can document your completion of a BA/BS degree from an English medium higher education institution or
  • If your TOEFL iBT oral score is 26 or higher:

The Graduate School should waive you from completing any further English language requirements. However, the ELP strongly recommends that you enroll in the Professional Communication Strategies,  Academic Writing, and other high-level elective courses offered by the English Language Program. 

You HAVE NOT demonstrated English proficiency if your TOEFL iBT oral score is less than 26.

  • If your TOEFL iBT oral score is 24, we strongly recommend that you take:
    • Fall: Teaching in the American Classroom which includes the OPA.

If your TOEFL iBT oral score is 23, we strongly recommend that you take:

  • Fall: Speaking Fluently 2 and
  • Spring: Teaching in the American Classroom which includes the OPA.

If your TOEFL iBT oral score is 22 or lower, we strongly recommend that you take:

  • Fall: Speaking Fluently 1 and
  • Spring: Speaking Fluently 2 and
  • Fall: Teaching in the American Classroom which includes the OPA.
  • You MAY NOT take the OPA in your first year.

For Visiting Scholars and Non-matriculated Students ONLY

We strongly recommend that you enroll in the electives offered by the English Language Program.

For Matriculated Graduate Students

English Oral Proficiency

If you score 50 or higher on the OPA, you have met the Yale English Oral Proficiency requirement. However, we strongly recommend that you enroll in the Professional Communication Strategies course.

If you DO NOT score 50 or higher on the OPA, we strongly recommend that you take ELP courses based upon the following criteria:

If your OPA score was 45, we strongly recommend that you take:

  • Fall: Teaching in the American Classroom, which includes the OPA, AND retake the OPA on the next available testing date.

If your OPA score was 40 or lower, we strongly recommend that you take:

  • Fall: Speaking Fluently 2
  • Spring: Teaching in the American Classroom, which includes the OPA, AND retake the OPA on the next available testing date.