Demonstration of Proficiency

In order to be admitted to the college, all non-native speakers of English must demonstrate sufficient English language proficiency to pursue college level work.

Students from non-English speaking countries who are applying for an F-1 student visa must take the TOEFL and have a minimum score of 450 (paper-based) or 133 (computer-based) to be admitted to the college. The General Certificate of Education (GCE) may be used in place of TOEFL. The GCE must have five passes, including English. TOEFL requirements may be waived for international students already residing in the United States. Students who score above 550 (paper-based) or 213 (computer-based) on the TOEFL will not be required to take ESOL placement testing and will not be required to take ESOL courses.

Non-native speakers of English, who have not taken the TOEFL or those who score below 550 (paper-based) or 213 (computer-based) on the TOEFL, will be required to take placement testing. Two exams are used at TC3 depending on the individual student's situation: the Accuplacer Levels of English Language Proficiency (LOEP) and the Comprehensive English Language Test (CELT). The Accuplacer LOEP is a computer-based test and includes four sub-tests: listening, reading, vocabulary and grammar. Information about Accuplacer and sample questions can be found in the online Student Guide. The CELT is a paper-based test and includes listening, grammar and vocabulary skills. In some cases, students may also be asked to do a writing sample or take a speaking test. The placement tests are administered throughout the year. There is no fee to take the placement test. Contact Colleen Armstrong, our International Student Admission Coordinator, to schedule an appointment to take the placement test.