International Student Placement Exams

In addition to all required, major-specific placement exams, incoming international students are assessed on their proficiency in English. Assessment is based on their total TOEFL score and combined writing and speaking TOEFL sub-scores, as well as IELTS, SAT, and ACT scores. If some or all scores are missing, or if the scores do not meet an adequate proficiency level for us to determine placement, a placement exam will be required. During the placement exam, international students will be asked to respond to several questions in a paragraph format.

Performance will be individually reviewed and evaluated to determine the right placement:

• Students who demonstrate high proficiency in English are placed into ENGL 101 in the fall.
• Students who demonstrate mid-to-low proficiency in English are placed into ENGL 111 in the fall. This course, equivalent to ENGL 101, is designed for non-native English speakers.
• Students who demonstrate low proficiency in English are placed into ESL 110 in the fall with the opportunity to take ESL 110 in the winter. For more information on ESL 110, please visit the English Learning Center's (ELC) website.