/Institutions/City-University-of-Seattle/json/2023-2024/2023-2024-Catalog-local.json

/Institutions/City-University-of-Seattle/json/2023-2024/2023-2024-Catalog.json

2023-2024 Catalog > Admissions > English Proficiency

English Proficiency

Because all courses at CityU are taught in English, all incoming students must demonstrate proficiency in English prior to enrollment, in addition to any other admission requirements of their prospective program.  English proficiency policy is overseen by the Office of Academic Affairs.  Exceptions to this policy may be granted by the director of English Language Programs or the appropriate school dean. The dean has final authority.  Rare exceptions may be granted when a prospective student can demonstrate that they have met the English language proficiency standard that will allow for academic success.   

Students who attest that English is their native language or who submit official transcripts from a school or program where the primary language of instruction was English need not demonstrate further proof of English proficiency. If the registrar’s office cannot verify the primary language of instruction, students will be required to demonstrate proficiency by submitting official transcripts in English accompanied by a formal statement from the issuing school that the primary language of instruction was English or meet English Proficiency through testing or transfer credit. 

English placement test scores are valid for 24 months only.  CityU’s Institutional Placement and Proficiency will be measured by the iTEP (International TEST of English Proficiency).  Scores for all other tests taken outside of CityU must be authenticated by the test publisher.  Please refer to our list of recognized standardized tests in Table 1.0.

Below is an equivalency chart for all CityU recognized measurements of proficiency:

Standardized Test Score	Language Assisted Undergraduate Programs	Undergraduate Programs, Language Assisted Graduate Programs, & ELP Level 7	Graduate and Doctoral Programs
Cambridge English	N/A	Cambridge English First (FCE)	Cambridge English Advanced (CAE)
CEFR	N/A	B2	N/A
CELPIP (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program)	N/A	7	8
DuoLingo	100	100	110
IELTS (International English Language Testing System)	Band 6.0	Band 6.0	Band 6.5
iTEP Academic Plus	3.5	4.0	4.5
PTE (Pearson Test of English)	46	51	59
TOEFL iBT	65	76	87

Table 1.0

City University of Seattle's Institutional English Language Proficiency Test

CityU has adopted the TOEFL and iTEP [International Test of English Proficiency] as its institutional measure of English proficiency.  It is used to determine both proficiency and placement into its ELP Program.  Students who do not meet the required minimum iTEP score may be retested once within a two-week period, but not on the same day that the first examination was taken.  After the initial testing, students may take the iTEP once every 70-90 days.  The minimum average iTEP score must be earned in a single testing session.  Students may not use a combination of test scores from different testing dates to place in a higher level. 

iTEP Placement and Proficiency Measurement

CityU Level Placement	*iTEP Academic Plus	TOEFL iBT Internet-Based	TOEFL PBT International TOEFL
Graduate Programs	4.5 or above	87	65
Assisted Graduate Programs Undergraduate Programs	4.0	76	56
Level 8	4.3	80	57
Level 7	4.0	76	55
Level 6	3.5	64	48
Level 5	3.0	55	40
Level 4	2.5	46	34
Level 3	2.0	37	27
Level 2	1.5	20	14
Level 1	1.0	Below 20	Below 14
Novice	0.5 - 0.9	Below 20	Below 14

Table 2.0 * the iTEP Plus is administered for students for level placement at the start of a new session/quarter. For time-sensitive placements, the iTEP Core+, an in-house writing and speaking test, may be administered.

Undergraduate Degree or Certificate Programs (Language-Assisted)

College-level English proficiency for language-assisted undergraduate degree or certificate programs must be demonstrated prior to enrollment by submitting proof of one of the following:

1. An iTEP score of at least 3.5 or an equivalent (refer to Table 1.0 for the iTEP English Proficiency measurements).
2. Completion of Level 5 of CityU’s English language program or the appropriate level of a CityU-recognized English language program.
3. Completion of at least 30 quarter degree credits (or 20 semester degree credits) at an accredited or CityU-recognized institution where the language of instruction was English, with satisfactory academic progress (cumulative GPA 2.0 or better). 
4. Completion of at least 30 quarter degree credits (or 20 semester degree credits) in American Council on Education (ACE)-recommended courses with the U.S. Armed Forces.  

Undergraduate Degree or Certificate Programs (Non-Assisted)

College-level English proficiency for undergraduate degree or certificate programs must be demonstrated prior to enrollment by submitting proof of one of the following:

1. Completion of Level 6 of the CityU English language program or the equivalent level of a CityU-recognized English language program.
2. An iTEP score of at least 4.0 or an equivalent (refer to Table 1.0 for the iTEP English Proficiency measurements).
3. Graduation from a high school in an English-speaking country where the language of instruction was English.
4. Completion of at least 45 quarter degree credits (or 30 semester degree credits) at an accredited or CityU-recognized institution where the language of instruction was English, with satisfactory academic progress (cumulative GPA 2.0 or better).
1. Completion of at least 45 quarter degree credits (or 30 semester degree credits) in American Council on Education (ACE)-recommended courses with the U.S. Armed Forces.  
2. An undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited or CityU-recognized institution where the language of instruction was English.

Graduate Degree or Certificate Programs (Language-Assisted)

College-level English proficiency for language-assisted graduate degree or certificate programs must be demonstrated prior to enrollment by submitting proof of one of the following:

1. iTEP score of at least 4.0 or the equivalent level of a CityU-recognized English language program.
2. Completion of Level 6 of CityU’s English language program or the appropriate level of a CityU-recognized English language program.
3. Completion of at least 45 quarter degree credits (or 30 semester degree credits) at an accredited or CityU-recognized institution where the language of instruction was English, with satisfactory academic progress (cumulative GPA 2.0 or better). 
4. Completion of at least 45 quarter degree credits (or 30 semester degree credits) in American Council on Education (ACE)-recommended courses with the U.S. Armed Forces. 

Graduate Degree or Certificate Programs (Non-Assisted)

College-level English proficiency for graduate degree or certificate programs must be demonstrated prior to enrollment by submitting proof of one of the following:

1. An iTEP score of at least 4.5 or the equivalent level of a CityU-recognized English language program.
2. Completion of Level 8 of CityU’s English language program or the appropriate level of a CityU-recognized English language program.
3. An undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited or CityU-recognized institution where the language of instruction was English.

(Policy #2200.11)