Frequently Asked Questions
TEPAIC making your head spin? Take a look below!
- What is the TEPAIC?
- The TEPAIC is an exam IU requires all prospective International ESL AIs to take. This is done to ensure that all AIs have a level of Oral-English proficiency that would allow undergraduate students to understand course materials and lectures without issue.
- Can I be an AI Without a TEPAIC Score?
- No. The TEPAIC is a prerequisite for AI employment.
- When Should I Take It?
- As soon as possible! The TEPAIC is only held a limited number of times each year which provides limited opportunities to re-take. So make sure to consider this in the event you don't receive the score you need to become an AI.
- I won't be in the United States during the posted exam time. What now?
- Not in the U.S.A. yet? No problem! The TEPAIC is conducted 100% remotely via Zoom and we do our best to accommodate for any time zone differences.
- How much does the TEPAIC Cost?
- Nothing! The TEPAIC is offered for free as a service conducted by the Department of Second Language Studies.
- Are there any exemptions?
- Unfortunately there are a limited number of exceptions to the TEPIAC requirement*. All international students who learned English as a second language must take the TEPAIC regardless of proficiency or background. This is to ensure that all ESL AIs have been vetted and approved according to university standards.
*Traditionally Anglophobic countries, such as the UK, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, are exempt. US Territories including but not limited to Puerto Rico and Guam are also included in the exemption. That being said, departments are encouraged to use their best judgment when deciding if a candidate needs testing.
- What If My Home Country Has English as an Official Language?
- Though many countries do have English listed as the/one of the official national languages, this does not guarantee that all residents of said countries can speak English with the proficiency required for Associate Instructors (AIs). Due to this, there are no countries of origin that can exempt a candidate from the TEPAIC.
- I'm deferring my AI appointment, do I need to re-take?
- Nope! TEPAIC scores follow you for the duration of your enrolment at IU. So don't worry about taking the TEPAIC again if you need to defer your appointment.
- My Hiring Department Hasn't Mentioned TEPAIC. What do I do?
- If your department hasn't discussed the TEPAIC with you during discussions on your AI position, please contact them immediately. The TEPAIC is an important requirement that you must meet in order to qualify for employment as an AI.
- I failed the TEPAIC. Do I need new TOEFL/IELTs/English Exam scores before I can re-take?
- Nope! TOEFL, IELTS and all the other English proficiency exams' scores are all valid for up to 2 years after they have been received. During those two years, you can re-use your scores to sign up for the TEPAIC as many times as you need.
- Are there limits to how many times I can take the TEPAIC?
- While there are no official limits on how many times a candidate can take the TEPAIC, we do recommend taking time between attempts to improve your proficiency before re-attempting. Many students take SLST-T502, which is a course the Department of Second Language Studies offers specifically for students wanting to develop their English for the purposes of becoming an AI here at IU. The added bonus is that a TEPAIC exam is the final exam for this class. Should you pass, it will be treated the same as if you passed any other TEPAIC exam!
The College of Arts