In order to take full advantage of the graduate and professional education that Princeton University offers, graduate students must demonstrate a level of oral proficiency in the English language sufficient to enable successful participation in the various activities that comprise graduate education, including formal class work, research, teaching, and informal academic interactions with fellow students, faculty, and staff. The
English Language Program determines students’ English language needs, and provides instruction and support to non-native English speakers.
Accordingly, the Graduate School requires that all non-native speakers of English who have not earned their undergraduate degree in a U.S. college or university, have their oral English proficiency evaluated by the English Language Program staff. The diagnostic instrument used for incoming students is the
SPEAK (Speaking Proficiency English Assessment Kit) test. At the recommendation of a University committee, the Graduate School has established that passing either the SPEAK test at a level of 50 or above or the
Princeton Oral Proficiency Test (POPT) attests to the student’s proficiency in spoken English and, for example qualifies a graduate student to be appointed as an assistant in instruction (AI).
