PhD programs typically require the same overall band as competitive graduate admission generally — commonly 4.5 to 5.0 — but frequently add a separate, often higher Speaking-specific minimum tied to teaching assistantship eligibility, which is worth checking independently of the general admission requirement.
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Many PhD programs fund students through teaching assistantships, and leading a discussion section or lab requires a level of spoken fluency the general admissions bar doesn't necessarily guarantee. Programs commonly set a distinct Speaking minimum — sometimes with an additional internal spoken-English screening — specifically for TA eligibility, separate from and sometimes higher than what's needed for admission alone. If assistantship funding is part of your financial plan, confirm this requirement early.
STEM PhD programs sometimes set a somewhat lower overall admission bar, reflecting the more quantitative nature of the coursework, while humanities and social science PhD programs — which involve more extensive academic writing and discussion-based seminars — often expect a higher overall band. Regardless of field, the TA-specific Speaking requirement tends to apply fairly uniformly, since teaching duties require similar communication skills across disciplines.
Missing a program's TA-specific Speaking requirement doesn't necessarily mean losing admission — but it can mean losing that specific funding path unless you meet it on a retake or through an alternative internal screening the program offers. If teaching-based funding is central to your financial plan for a PhD, treat the Speaking-specific minimum as seriously as the overall admissions requirement, not as a secondary detail.
See where you stand on Speaking with a free diagnostic before applying for TA funding.