English Proficiency Evaluation
All
incoming international students, as well as all U.S. citizens and
permanent residents whose first language is not English, are required
to take an English Proficiency Evaluation unless they meet
any of the exceptions listed below. A $30 fee for the test will be added to the first University bill.
This
requirement assures
that incoming students know English well enough to study, understand
lectures, and participate in class discussions without being hindered
by a language
barrier. There are additional requirements for graduate students who
plan to become teaching assistants, listed below.
How
the English Proficiency Evaluation is used
The results of the English Proficiency Evaluation will determine whether admitted
students will be:
Exceptions
International and other applicants whose first language is not English
do not need to take the English Proficiency Evaluation if they have:
- An
ACT English subscore of 21 or above,
- A
combined SAT Critical Reading score of 540
or above, or
- A
score of 600 and above on the paper-based Test
of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL),
or 250 and above on the computer-based test, or 100 and above on the Internet-based test.
Requirements for teaching assistants
Graduate students with teaching assistantships at Iowa are required
to complete
the "Speaking Proficiently in English Assessment Kit," also
known as the SPEAK test, to assess their command of spoken
English. Students who perform
at an acceptable level on the SPEAK test are also required
to take the English Language Performance Test, or ELPT, in
which
a
presentation is made to
an audience. The SPEAK
test and the ELPT are separate from the English Proficiency Evaluation,
which also may be required. Affected students will receive more information
about these exams from their academic departments. Research assistants
are not required to take these tests.
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