THE ESL PLACEMENT TEST

Before beginning their studies at UIUC, international students must demonstrate their level of proficiency in the English language, for example by submitting test scores from the TOEFL or IELTS exam. International students who meet the minimum proficiency requirements for admission but who would also benefit from additional English study may need to take the English as a Second Language Placement Test after arriving on campus (the ESL Placement Test is also known as "the EPT").

If your "Notice of Admission" states that you must take the EPT, then you MUST register for and take this exam. The EPT will be offered in August 2008. You will need to know your UIN in order to register and, if you took the TOEFL exam, you will need to know when you last took it and what your TOEFL scores were. Online registration will open around mid-July.

The results of the EPT will indicate whether you should enroll in an ESL course or whether you are exempt from ESL courses. Some ESL courses focus on academic writing, others on pronunciation, while others address both oral and written communication. Your score report will recommend a particular course for you.

Please note that the General Education requirement for “Composition I” may be fulfilled by taking either ESL 114-115 or by taking the appropriate Rhetoric course(s). If you place into ESL but you think you would prefer to take Rhetoric, please discuss this with your academic advisor.