Verification of English Proficiency
International students graduating from a U.S. high school are not required to submit English verification documents.
All applicants with F-1 visas and/or foreign academic credentials whose first language is not English must demonstrate adequate English language proficiency in advance of admission.
There are four ways to verify English proficiency:
- Earned a degree from a primarily English-speaking country
- Standardized test
- Successful completion of SIUE's Intensive English Pathway program
- Academic record
Earned a Degree from a Primarily English-Speaking Country
In concordance with SIUE’s Admission Policy students who have a high school diploma or university/college degree from an accredited school from the following countries may qualify for a waiver of the English language proficiency requirement:
- Africa: Eswatini, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia
- Americas: Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Barbuda, English-speaking Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Europe: Ireland, UK
- Oceania: Australia, New Zealand
If you do not have academic credentials from any of the countries listed above, you will need to satisfy the English Language Proficiency required for admission via a standardized test or your academic record.
Standardized Test
International applications are required to summit scores from one of the following standardized tests taken within the last two years in order to demonstrate English proficiency. Official test score reports must be sent directly from the Testing Service (ETS/IELTS) to the Office of Graduate and International Admissions.
The institutional code for SIUE is 001759. No departmental code is needed. Copies of score reports are not accepted.
Graduate Examination
- International English Language Testing Systems - (IELTS)
- Score: 6.5
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
- Score: 79
- Pearson Test in English (PTE)
- Score: 53
- Duolingo
- Score: 120
- Michigan English Test (MET)
- Score: 60
Undergraduate Examination
- International English Language Testing Systems - (IELTS)
- Score: 6.0 (no component score below 5.5)
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
- Score: 72
- Pearson Test in English (PTE)
- Score: 50
- Duolingo
-
Score: 110
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- Michigan English Test (MET)
- Score: 53
Intensive English Pathway
Program Qualification
- International English Language Testing Systems - (IELTS)
- Score: 5.0 (no component score below 4.5)
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
- Score: 45
- Duolingo
- Score: 80
- Michigan English Test (MET)
- Score:41
Undergraduate Only Examination
- ACT: 21*
- SAT Prior to March 2016: 480*
- SAT After March 2016: 530**
* For Both the Reading and Writing Sub-scores
** Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (ERW)
All official test score reports (undergraduate and graduate) must be sent directly from the testing service (ETS/IELTS) to SIUE, Office of Admissions. SIUE's institutional code is 001759. No departmental code is needed.
Academic Record
- Receiving a diploma/degree from a high school or university/college in the U.S. or any of the countries listed above
- Certificate/documentation from an authorized Intensive English Language Program (IELP) indicating a proficiency level equivalent to a minimum of a 79 IBT TOEFL score
- Must verify the English proficiency equivalent to a minimum score of 79 IBT
Completed Courses Equivalent
Undergraduate Students: Completed a total of six semester hours in English 101 (English Composition I) and English 102 (English Composition II) with a grade of C or better from a regionally accredited university/college in the United States.
Graduate Students: The English proficiency requirement can be satisfied if you have successfully completed at least 12 graduate-level credits with a grade of B or better in each course. Only colleges/universities in the U.S. or any of the AACRAO recommended English-speaking countries listed above are eligible.
