ISS Home> New Students > ELPE

English Language Proficiency Examination

 

This page was created to provide international students with detailed, up-to-date information about English Language Proficiency Examination (ELPE). You can download English Skills Assessment for International Students for further information about the tests. The Measurement & Research Services administers the ELPE. For the schedule of the ELPE, please check the Calendar page of the International Student Services web site.

 

Texas A&M University requires students from other countries to demonstrate the ability to speak, write, and understand the English language.

The ELPE is given at Texas A&M. New students take it upon their arrival approximately one and a half weeks before classes start. This provides time for the test to be scored before students have to register for classes. The ELPE contains 6 segments:

• Oral Skills Assessment
• Writing Skills Assessment
• Reading Comprehension
• Grammar
• Vocabulary
• Listening Comprehension

A passing score for graduate students is 80% on each of the six proficiency areas. For undergraduate students, a score of 70% is the passing score for each area. You can download English Skills Assessment For International Students for examples of test questions used on the ELPE.

 

Graduate International Students

Graduate students who score below 550 on the TOEFL (or have not submitted official TOEFL scores to TAMU) and have not obtained English Proficiency Certification by other means (GRE(400)/GMAT(22) scores, U.S. Baccalaureate, or Office of Graduate Studies waiver) must take the English Language Proficiency Examination (ELPE) prior to registering for TAMU courses in their first semester.

Students who will be serving as Graduate Assistants-Teaching (GAT) must complete the English Language Proficiency Examination if they are not able to show that they have completed an equivalent English proficiency verification program at another U.S. institution. Students who have graduated with a Bachelor's degree following four years of study at a U.S. institution are also eligible to serve as GATs.

Undergraduate International Students

Undergraduate international students whose native language is not English (as defined by the Office of Admissions and Records ) must take the English Language Proficiency Examination (ELPE) prior to their initial registration at TAMU if they cannot meet one of the following requirements:

• Achieve a TOEFL score of at least 600. Students must supply official scores to the University to meet this requirement. OR
• Transfer from an accredited U.S. institution with a minimum of 30 semester credit hours and have satisfactorily completed the equivalent of TAMU English 104 with a grade of "C" or better. OR
• Attend grades nine through twelve of their secondary education in the United States and graduate from a U.S. high school and achieve a TOEFL score of at least 550 or an SAT Verbal score of at least 480 or an ACT English score of at least 19.

Non-Degree Status International Students

International students admitted under non-degree status are not exempt from the English Language Proficiency requirements. Therefore, undergraduate non- degree status students must meet the undergraduate English Language Proficiency requirements and post baccalaureate non-degree status students must meet the graduate English Language Proficiency requirements.

There are several exceptions to the English Proficiency requirements. For further information, you can download English Skills Assessment For International Students .

 

Undergraduate International Students

Undergraduate international students need to enroll in the English Language Institute (ELI) classes for those areas not passed. Following the test, your test scores and ratings on the essay and interview will be submitted to the International Student Placement Committee (ISPC). This committee, which includes representatives from the colleges, reviews the results and determines which courses you will be required to take at the ELI. In general, undergraduates are required to take ELI courses in all areas they do not pass. At the end of the ELI class, a score of 70% is the passing score in each area. Students can also demonstrate proficiency through superior performance in ELI courses.

Graduate Students

Your test scores and ratings on the essay and interview are forwarded to your graduate department. The Departmental Graduate Advisor makes placement decisions on the basis of the scores, departmental policy, and consultation with the English Language Institute. Graduate advisors may also interview the students themselves. The Departmental Graduate Advisors are responsible for making all placements of graduate students in ELI courses. If you score below 550 on the TOEFL you may be allowed to postpone some or all of your English Proficiency requirements for one semester and re-take the ELPE at that time. You must begin to take ELI courses (in at least one of the areas not yet passed) no later than your second semester enrolled at TAMU. Students may take a combination of TAMU and ELI courses up to a total of 15 hours in fall or spring semesters and up to a total of 12 hours for a ten week summer session. At the end of any ELI classes, the passing score for graduate students on another ELPE test is 80% for each of the proficiency requirements. Graduate students may also demonstrate proficiency through superior performance in ELI courses.

 

There are some reference materials in the Sterling C. Evans Library at Texas A&M. Some books are held on reserve at the Reserve Desk, and audio tapes may be checked out in the Learning Resource Department. Except for the oral interview and composition segments of the ELPE, students may prepare ahead of time by studying for the Michigan Test Battery, since this standardized test makes up a large part of the ELPE.

 

Modified July 23, 2007