Placement & Proficiency
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Placement and Proficiency
Room 247 Armory
(217) 244-4437
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English as a Second Language Placement

Cutoff Scores and Placement Messages for 2017-2018

Placement into the ESL Composition courses is based on the Written portion of the ESL Placement Test ("the EPT"). The Oral Interview portion of the EPT is being given only to students who do not have a TOEFL Speaking or an IELTS Speaking score. Students who do have these scores are placed into (or exempted from) the ESL Oral Communication course based on the highest TOEFL Speaking score or highest IELTS Speaking score. Cutoff scores and placement messages are derived in collaboration with the Linguistics Department and are reviewed annually. The policies below apply to all students entering Illinois in Summer 2017, Fall 2017, or Spring 2018.

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions determines whether an incoming student must take the EPT or not. If the test is required, the student MUST enroll in the composition course that he or she places into. If the test is not required, a student may still take the EPT and enroll in ESL courses if he or she wishes to do so. Successful completion of the ESL 111-112 sequence or ESL 115 fulfills the General Education 'Composition I' requirement.

The EPT does not award proficiency credit. Click here to learn more about the test.

Questions? Contact "Placement & Proficiency" staff by emailing pnp@illinois.edu or by calling 217-244-4437 during business hours.


Oral Interview Test Score

TOEFL Speaking Score

IELTS Speaking Score

Placement Message
1 1 - 14 0 - 4.5 ESL 110 is required based on your highest TOEFL or IELTS Speaking score.
2 15 - 18 5 - 6 ESL 110 is strongly recommended based on your highest TOEFL or IELTS Speaking score.
3 19 - 24 6.5 - 7 ESL 110 is recommended based on your highest TOEFL or IELTS Speaking score.
4 25 - 28 7.5 - 8 You are exempt from ESL 110 based on your highest TOEFL or IELTS Speaking score; May enroll in ESL 110 only if all students scoring 1, 2, and 3 have been accommodated.
5 29 - 30 8.5 - 9 You are exempt from ESL 110 based on your highest TOEFL or IELTS Speaking score.

 


Written Test Score

Placement Message
1 Must enroll in ESL 111 for Fall 2017; Supplemental tutoring is strongly recommended. Successful completion of the ESL 111-112 sequence fulfills the Composition I requirement.
2 Must enroll in ESL 111 for Fall 2017; Successful completion of the ESL 111-112 sequence fulfills the Composition I requirement.
3 Placed into ESL 115; Must enroll in Fall 2017 if UIN ends in an even number; Must enroll in Spring 2018 if UIN ends in an odd number; Successful completion fulfills the Composition I requirement.
4 Placed into ESL 115 or RHET 105; Must enroll in Fall 2017 if your UIN ends in an even number; Must enroll in Spring 2018 if your UIN ends in an odd number; Other options are ESL 111-112 or CMN 111-112; Successful completion of any of these fulfills the Composition 1 requirement.