Placement & Proficiency
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Placement and Proficiency
Room 247 Armory
(217) 244-4437
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ESL Placement

Cutoff Scores and Placement Messages for 2024-2025

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions will inform you whether you must take the English Placement test ("EPT"). 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 the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in Summer 2024, Fall 2024, or Spring 2025.

The EPT consists of two parts:

  • The Written EPT places a student into an academic research-and-writing course that will fulfill the General Education 'Composition I' requirement. All undergraduate students must complete the 'Comp I' requirement.
  • The Oral EPT places a student into an oral communication course. If you do not already have a TOEFL Speaking score or IELTS Speaking score, then you must take the Oral EPT. Duolingo English Test (DET) scores cannot be used for exemption from the Oral EPT.

Please see the EPT website for information about exemption from the Written EPT and Oral EPT.

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




Written Test Score

Placement Message

1Must enroll in ESL 111 for Fall; Supplemental tutoring is strongly recommended. Successful completion of the ESL 111-112 sequence fulfills the Composition I requirement.
2Must enroll in ESL 111 for Fall. Successful completion of the ESL 111-112 sequence fulfills the Composition I requirement.
3Placed into ESL 115. Must enroll in Fall if UIN ends in an even number; Must enroll in Spring if UIN ends in an odd number. Successful completion fulfills the Composition I requirement.
4Placed into either ESL 115 or RHET 105 (discuss with your advisor which course is appropriate for you).  Must enroll in Fall if your UIN ends in an even number. Must enroll in Spring if your UIN ends in an odd number. ESL 111-112 or CMN 111-112 are other options. Successful completion of any of these fulfills the Composition 1 requirement.
5Placed into either ESL 115 or RHET 105 (discuss with your advisor which course in appropriate for you). RHET 105 is likely the best fit. Must enroll in Fall if UIN ends in an even number. Must enroll in Spring if UIN ends in an odd number. ESL 111-112 or CMN 111-112 are other options but not recommended. Successful completion of any of these fulfills the Composition 1 requirement.

Oral Test Score

Highest TOEFL Speaking Score

Highest IELTS Speaking Score

Placement Message

11 - 140 - 4.5ESL 110 is required.
215 - 185 - 6ESL 110 is strongly recommended.
319 - 246.5 - 7ESL 110 is recommended.
425 - 287.5 - 8You are exempt from ESL 110. You may enroll in ESL 110 only if all students scoring 1, 2, and 3 have been accommodated.
529 - 308.5 - 9You are exempt from ESL 110.