USC American Language Institute
  • International Teaching Assistants
  • International Teaching Assistant (ITA) Exam
  • ITA Exam Instructions

ITA Exam Instructions

  • The ITA Exam consists of a 10-15 minute oral interview.
  • You will receive an email at your USC email address with your assigned exam time, Zoom link, and two terms from your department’s term list a day before your exam. You can learn more about the terms here: https://ali.usc.edu/ita-terms/.
  • Have your USC ID or passport ready to show for identification.
  • Be available for up to 90 minutes on your exam day.
  • Sign in to your USC Zoom account at zoom.us. If you enter the Zoom room and see “Waiting for the host”, please stay in the Zoom meeting. Do not leave the meeting room while you are waiting as your examiners will join you as soon as they are available.

The ITA Exam measures your spoken English and your readiness to teach. You are not being tested on your technology skills. The exam has two parts:

Part 1: Interview (3–5 minutes)

You will answer questions about:

  • Your educational background
  • Your graduate studies at USC
  • Your interest in teaching

Part 2: Teaching Presentation (about 7 minutes)

You will explain the term you selected. You may use ONE of these presentation tools:

  • Up to 2 PowerPoint slides
  • A physical whiteboard or blackboard
  • A Zoom Whiteboard or Smart Board

The examiners will act as students and may ask questions about your presentation.

In addition to providing a definition and explaining the importance of your term, it is recommended that your presentation includes one or more of the following:

  • Examples
  • Comparisons or contrasts
  • Analogies
  • Word origins (prefixes, suffixes, or roots)
  • Drawings or diagrams

Please follow these guidelines during your exam:

  • Keep your webcam on during the entire exam.
  • Your face must always be clearly visible.
  • Stay at your computer throughout the exam.
  • Turn off and put away all other devices, including phones, tablets, and second computers.
  • Remove all books, notes, and other materials from your desk.
  • Do not use AI tools or any outside materials during the exam.
  • Follow all instructions from the examiners.

Please follow all exam instructions and complete the exam on your own. Any form of academic dishonesty may result in your exam being invalidated and other consequences under university policy.