Graduate Teaching Assistant Test

George Mason international students with pending graduate teaching assistant or graduate lecturer offers are required to complete an English language teaching assessment.

The Gateway Learning Resource Center (LRC) administers the Classroom English Language Teaching Demonstration (CELTD) assessment for international students who have pending offers as international graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) or graduate lecturers at George Mason. This assessment is required by the Provost’s Office as part of the GTA hiring process (see the Graduate Student Hiring Rules and Procedures for more details). 

CELTD assessments are conducted remotely year-round, and students are strongly encouraged to complete the test as soon as possible after receiving an offer and at least 6-8 weeks prior to the start of the semester.

CELTD Assessment

The CELTD is a 10-15 minute classroom lecture with Q&A, in which students present on a topic related to their proposed GTA assignment. The assessment is scored based on: 

  • Pronunciation accuracy 

  • Grammar and vocabulary range 

  • Overall effectiveness of communication 

CELTD assessments are video recorded, and test results are typically available within 1-3 business days. Hiring departments will also be notified of results. 

Students whose oral English proficiency is deemed  insufficient  are required to complete English language instruction provided by the LRC. The CELTD Instructional Program consists of  synchronous meetings and online modules, targeted to individual language needs. The LRC tracks and reports students’ progress to hiring units. 
 

Register and Prepare for the CELTD

1. Schedule a Testing Session

  1. Go to WCONLINE to schedule a test session. 

  2. If you don’t have an account, select Click here to register to create one. 

  3. Log in and select LRC Assessments in the drop-down menu. 

  4. Choose any available white block to reserve a test time. 

  5. Follow the instructions in the confirmation email to register and access the online session. 

Note: GTAs should complete the assessment  as soon as possible after receiving an offer to allow time for required tutoring and potential retesting.

2. Complete the CELTD Registration Form

Before taking the test, you must complete the CELTD Registration form. Be prepared to upload: 

  • A valid photo ID (George Mason ID, passport, or driver’s license) 

  • A copy of your offer letter or email from your hiring unit 

Note:  You will NOT be eligible to take the CELTD assessment without completing this form.

3. Prepare for Your Testing Session

  • Your CELTD assessment requires you to deliver a 10-15 minute teaching demonstration. Choose a topic related to your proposed GTA duties, such as: 

    • A  course overview and class assignment explanation 

    • A  basic introductory lesson 

    • A  detailed explanation of a key concept in your field 

  • The presentation should be clear and simplified enough for someone outside your field to understand. 

  • You may use slides—have the file ready when joining the session. 

  • Evaluators will provide guidance on uploading/sharing presentation documents before the assessment. 

  • During and after your presentation, evaluators will ask follow-up questions about your material. 
     

4. Join the Online Testing Session

  • Click on your appointment block in WCONLINE, which will direct you to the online  Microsoft Teams session. 

  • Arrive 5 minutes early to check that your microphone and camera are working. 

  • Have any presentation slides ready to share.  

Note: Your assessment will be video recorded for additional review if needed.

5. View Your Test Results

  • CELTD scores are recorded in a score report, which is available within 1-3 business days.

  • Students can check their results in  Canvas  under the Grades  tab.

  • You will need to self-enroll in the GTA Testing and Tutoring  course in Canvas to view your results (Note: Make sure you are already logged into Canvas before trying to self-enroll).

  • Click CELTD Assessment_Results  to access your scored. Hiring units will be able to view all test results for GTAs in their units via Teams. 

6. Complete the MasonLEAPS Verification

  • Log on to  MasonLEAPS  and complete the one-question International GTA Oral English Assessment Verification (Note: It will be linked on the welcome page, under My Action Items). 

  • Enter the date you completed the CELTD assessment. 

Note: If follow-up tutoring is required, instructions for scheduling sessions will be provided.


Contact Us

If you have questions about the CELTD assessment, email the Learning Resource Center to visit us in Room 1305 of the Global Center on the Fairfax Campus.