English Language Proficiency Policy (Policy 9)

1. At least one (1) of the following three (3) items must be satisfied: 
   1. Applicants must attain a minimum acceptable score on a test of English as a foreign language. Test scores must be no more than two (2) years old at the time of application. 
   2. Applicants must have completed a minimum proficiency level of 112 through ELS Education Services Inc.’s Language Centers, or 
   3. Applicants must have completed GovState’s Intensive ESL Program as outlined in V. 

2. For the TOEFL, minimum acceptable scores are as follows (see TOEFL web site for explanation of scoring procedures):

   Undergraduate Level Applicants 

   Type of TOEFL Exam	Paper	Computer	Internet (iBT)
   Total Score	500	173	68
   Reading	53	20	19
   Writing	54	21	16
   Listening	53	19	18
   Speaking			15

    

    

   Master Level Applicants

   Type of TOEFL Exam	Paper	Computer	Internet (iBT)
   Total Score	550	213	80
   Reading	54	21	20
   Writing	58	24	20
   Listening	55	21	20
   Speaking			20

    

    

   Doctoral Level Applicants

   Type of TOEFL Exam	Paper	Computer	Internet (iBT)
   Total Score	577	233	91
   Reading	54	22	20
   Writing	61	26	24
   Listening	55	21	21
   Speaking			26

3. For the IELTS, minimum acceptable score for all applications is 6.0 (academic version).
4. Complete Level 4 of the IEP satisfactorily with a grade of 4 of 5 or better, within two (2) academic years, and get a written recommendation from IEP faculty.

5. For the Pearson Test of English Academic, minimum acceptable scores are as follows:

   Undergraduate Level Applicants	Total score: 47
   Listening	48
   Speaking	40
   Reading	51
   Writing	43

    

   Master Level Applicants	Total score: 53
   Listening	53
   Speaking	53
   Reading	53
   Writing	53

    

   Doctoral Level Applicants	Total score: 62
   Listening	56
   Speaking	70
   Reading	54
   Writing	64

Conditional Admission

Conditional admission is intended to facilitate admission of fully academically qualified, degree-seeking international students who have not satisfied the minimum English language requirement, yet are being considered for admission by a program. 

1. The program must obtain approval from the Provost for their candidates to be allowed conditional admission.
2. In order to be considered for conditional admission, international applicants must meet the following criteria: an iBT TOEFL score of 43 or higher for undergraduate students, or 55 or higher for graduate students, but lower than the required TOEFL score, a PTE Academic score of 38 or higher for undergraduate students, or 42 and higher for graduate students, but lower than the required PTE Academic score, or an IELTS score of 5.0 or higher, but lower than 6.0, and formal recommendation of the conditional admission from the program. 
3. Students who are conditionally admitted under these criteria will attend Governors State University’s Intensive ESL Program (IEP). Students are not permitted to hold graduate assistant appointments while attending IEP. 
4. Students who are granted conditional admission will enroll in the IEP and will receive an I-20, or related official student visa documents, for IEP. They will also receive a letter of admission specifying their conditions for entry into full-time study in their admitted programs. Based upon an assessment with the students, students may enroll in one or two courses in their major while attending the IEP, based upon their English language ability and course availability. 
5. Conditionally admitted students must: 
   1. study in GovState’s IEP for a period of at least one semester; 
   2. complete Level 4 of the IEP satisfactorily with a grade of 4 out of 5 or better; and 
   3. demonstrate proficiency on the basis of an approved standardized test or written recommendation of IEP faculty. 
6. Following attainment of the required proficiency certification, the student will then enroll in the admitting degree program not later than the second semester after starting in IEP. For those conditionally-admitted applicants who do not fulfill their language proficiency requirement during the specified period, the conditional admission is revoked. Such students may choose to continue studying in the IEP or elsewhere and reapply for regular admission at a later time. 
7. The Office of Admissions will work with the Office of International Services, the program, and the IEP Program, process conditional admission