English Language Proficiency Requirement

English is the language of instruction at UFV. UFV recognizes that applicants must have a level of English sufficient to participate and be successful in the learning process. Applicants to all post-secondary level programs, and students registering for post-secondary courses, are expected to be able to demonstrate language proficiency. Meeting the English language proficiency requirement meets the language requirements for most post-secondary courses, except for English and communications courses which have specific requirements.

All applicants to post-secondary programs will be checked to ensure the English language proficiency requirement has been met prior to being admitted. Applicants unable to meet the English language entrance requirement will be given the opportunity to meet the English requirement through Adult Basic Education, English as a Second Language, and/or the University Foundation certificate.

For further details, see UFV's English Language Proficiency Requirement policy (99).

English language proficiency standards

The English Language Proficiency Requirement policy (99) and the English language proficiency standards were recently revised with implementation beginning in Winter 2017. For Fall 2016, there are no changes to the existing standards (see Fall 2016, below). For Winter 2017, changes that expand options for students will be implemented (see Winter 2017, below). All other changes will take effect for Fall 2017 (see Fall 2017, below).

To determine the standards that apply, check the level of proficiency required for your program in this calendar, then check below, for the semester in which you will start.

Fall 2016 admission language proficiency standards

Someone who meets one or more of the criteria listed here meets the UFV English language proficiency requirement (for both Entry-level and Degree/diploma-level proficiency):

1. Applicants whose first language is English (see Note).
2. Applicants who have studied for at least two years in and have graduated from a secondary school in which English is the language of instruction (see Note).
3. Graduation from a degree or two-year diploma program, or successful completion of two years of study at the university level with a 2.0 CGPA, at a post-secondary institution recognized by UFV in which English is the primary language of instruction (see Note).
4. TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) – score of at least 570 (or 230 if computer-based score), plus a minimum TWE (essay) score of 4.0, or IBT score of 88 with no section below 20.
5. IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Academic format – score of at least 6.5., with no band score less than 6.0.
6. UFV CPT (Composition Placement Test) – score of 48 or higher.
7. MELAB (Michigan English Language Assessment Battery) – score of at least 85.
8. CAEL (Canadian Academic English Language) – score of at least 70.
9. CanTEST – overall score of 4.5 in Listening and Reading, and 4.0 in Writing.
10. Cambridge Proficiency Examination – competence level of C.
11. LPI (Language Proficiency Index) – essay score of 30 (level 5).
12. UFV English as a Second Language Assessment results equivalent to completion of the 80-level, of UFVs ESL writing and grammar.
13. English 12 (or equivalent course) with a minimum grade of C+. The following courses are considered equivalent to English 12: English Literature 12, English 12 First Peoples, International baccalaureate English A (standard level or higher level), Advanced Placement English.
14. Completion of any course or test score with grades that meet the prerequisites for ENGL 105, ENGL 120, CMNS 125, or CMNS 155.
15. A minimum grade of C- for a course transcripted at UFV as first-year English or Communications.
16. ENGL 099 or CMNS 099 with a C or better.
17. ENGL 081 or ENGL 091 with a C+ or better.
18. ESL WG84 with a C+ or better.
19. Accuplacer Reading comprehension score of 80 or better, together with Accuplacer WritePlacer score of 6 or better on the 8-point scale (see Note).

Note: #1, #2, #3, and #19 do not meet the prerequisites for ENGL 105, CMNS 125, or CMNS 155.

Winter 2017 and Summer 2017 admission language proficiency standards

Entry-level post-secondary English language proficiency standards

This level of proficiency allows entry into some programs to begin post-secondary studies at UFV, but upgrading in English will be required to take first year English or CMNS courses and to enter many UFV programs. For admission to programs such as bachelor degrees, associate degrees, diplomas, post-baccalaureate programs, and graduate level programs, see the Degree/diploma level section below.

Test scores are accepted up to two years after the test date.

Someone who meets one or more of the criteria listed below meets UFV English language Entry-level proficiency requirement for Winter 2017 and Summer 2017 admission (see below for Fall 2017 requirements):

1. Applicants whose first language is English.
2. Applicants who have studied for at least two years in and have graduated from a secondary school in which English is the language of instruction.
3. Graduation from a degree or two-year diploma program, or successful completion of two years of study at the university level with a 2.0 CGPA, at a post-secondary institution recognized by UFV in which English is the primary language of instruction.
4. Successful completion of three consecutive full-time years of high school and/or post-secondary education taught in the English language in a country where English is the principal language (see list of countries below). Education must include the equivalent of B.C. high school graduation or completion of first year post-secondary (minimum 30 post-secondary credits recognized by UFV) with a minimum CGPA of 2.00 (or C average). Full-time study is defined as successful completion of at least three non-ESL courses per semester and six non-ESL courses per academic year.
5. Accuplacer Reading comprehension 80 or better, with Accuplacer WritePlacer 6 or better on the 8-point scale.
6. TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) – IBT score of 80 with no section below 19, or paper-based score of 550 with TWE score of 4.0 or higher.
7. IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Academic format – score of at least 6.0, with no band score less than 5.5.
8. UFV CPT (Composition Placement Test) – score of 41 or higher.
9. MELAB (Michigan English Language Assessment Battery) – score of at least 80.
10. CAEL (Canadian Academic English Language) – score of at least 60.
11. CanTEST – overall score of 4.0 in Listening, Reading, and Writing.
12. Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English: (CAE) – grade C or higher.
13. Cambridge First Certificate in English (FCE) – grade A.
14. LPI (Language Proficiency Index) – essay score of 24 (level 4).
15. UFV English as a Second Language Assessment results equivalent to completion of the 70-level of UFV’s ESL writing and grammar.
16. Pearson Test of English (PTE) academic – score of 56 with a minimum score of 52 in Writing.
17. EIKEN (Test in Practical English Proficiency) – grade Pre-1.
18. Canadian Language Benchmark placement test (CLBPT) – 8 overall, with no skill less than 7.
19. English 12 (or equivalent course). The following courses are considered equivalent to English 12: English Literature 12, English 12 First Peoples, International Baccalaureate English A (standard level or higher level), Advanced Placement English.
20. A passing grade in a course taken at or transferrable to UFV as first-year English or Communications.
21. ENGL 099.
22. ENGL 081 or ENGL 091.
23. ESL WG74 with a C+ or better or ESL WG84.

Degree/diploma level English language proficiency standards

This level of proficiency is required for admission to many university-level programs such as bachelor degrees, associate degrees, diplomas, post-baccalaureate programs, and graduate level programs. Note that only the scores and course grades listed from #5 - #22 meet the prerequisites for ENGL 105 and CMNS 155.

Test scores are accepted up to two years after the test date.

Someone who meets one or more of the criteria listed below meets the UFV Degree/diploma language proficiency requirement for Winter 2017 and Summer 2017 (see below for Fall 2017 requirements):

1. Applicants whose first language is English (see Note).
2. Applicants who have studied for at least two years in and have graduated from a secondary school in which English is the language of instruction (see Note).
3. Graduation from a degree or two-year diploma program, or successful completion of two years of study at the university level with a 2.0 CGPA, at a post-secondary institution recognized by UFV in which English is the primary language of instruction (see Note).
4. Accuplacer Reading comprehension 80 or better, with Accuplacer WritePlacer 6 or better on the 8-point scale (see Note).
5. TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) – score of at least 570 (or 230 if computer-based score), plus a minimum TWE (essay) score of 4.0, or IBT score of 88 with no section below 20.
6. IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Academic format – score of at least 6.5., with no band score less than 6.0.
7. UFV CPT (Composition Placement Test) – score of 48 or higher.
8. MELAB (Michigan English Language Assessment Battery) – score of at least 85.
9. CAEL (Canadian Academic English Language) – score of at least 70.
10. CanTEST – overall score of 4.5 in Listening and Reading, and 4.0 in Writing.
11. Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency (CPE) – grade of C or higher.
12. Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English – grade A.
13. LPI (Language Proficiency Index) – essay score of 30 (level 5).
14. UFV English as a Second Language Assessment results equivalent to completion of the 80-level of UFVs ESL writing and grammar.
15. Pearson Test of English (PTE) academic score of 61 with a minimum score of 60 in Writing.
16. EIKEN (Test in Practical English Proficiency) – grade 1.
17. Canadian Language Benchmark placement test (CLBPT) – 9 overall, with no skill less than 8.
18. English 12 (or equivalent course) with a minimum grade of C+. The following courses are considered equivalent to English 12: English Literature 12, English 12 First Peoples, International baccalaureate English A (standard level or higher level), Advanced Placement English.
19. A minimum grade of C- for a course taken at or transferable to UFV as first-year English or Communications.
20. ENGL 099 with a C or better.
21. ENGL 081 or ENGL 091 with a C+ or better.
22. ESL WG84 with a C+ or better.

Note: #1, #2, #3, and #4 do not meet prerequisites for courses such as ENGL 105 or CMNS 155, and will not be accepted for Degree/diploma proficiency after the Summer 2017 intake.

Fall 2017 admission and beyond language proficiency standards

Entry-level post-secondary English language proficiency standards

This level of proficiency allows entry into some programs to begin post-secondary studies at UFV, but upgrading in English will be required to take first year English or CMNS courses and to enter many UFV programs. For admission to programs such as bachelor degrees, associate degrees, diplomas, post-baccalaureate programs, and graduate level programs, see the Degree/diploma level section below.

Test scores are accepted up to two years after the test date.

This level may be met by one or more of the following:

1. Successful completion of three consecutive full-time years of high school and/or post-secondary education taught in the English language in a country where English is the principal language (see list of countries below). Education must include the equivalent of B.C. high school graduation or completion of first year post-secondary (minimum 30 post-secondary credits recognized by UFV) with a minimum CGPA of 2.00 (or C average). Full-time study is defined as successful completion of at least three non-ESL courses per semester and six non-ESL courses per academic year.
2. TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) – IBT score of 80 with no section below 19, or paper-based score of 550 with TWE score of 4.0 or higher.
3. IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Academic format – score of at least 6.0, with no band score less than 5.5.
4. UFV CPT (Composition Placement Test) – score of 41 or higher.
5. MELAB (Michigan English Language Assessment Battery) – score of at least 80.
6. CAEL (Canadian Academic English Language) – score of at least 60.
7. CanTEST – overall score of 4.0 in Listening, Reading, and Writing.
8. Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English: (CAE) – grade C or higher.
9. Cambridge First Certificate in English (FCE) – grade A.
10. LPI (Language Proficiency Index) – essay score of 24 (level 4).
11. UFV English as a Second Language Assessment results equivalent to completion of the 70-level of UFV’s ESL writing and grammar.
12. Pearson Test of English (PTE) academic – score of 56 with a minimum score of 52 in Writing.
13. EIKEN (Test in Practical English Proficiency) – grade Pre-1.
14. Canadian Language Benchmark placement test (CLBPT) – 8 overall, with no skill less than 7.
15. Accuplacer Reading comprehension 80 or better, with Accuplacer WritePlacer 6 or better on the 8-point scale.
16. English 12 (or equivalent course). The following courses are considered equivalent to English 12: English Literature 12, English 12 First Peoples, International Baccalaureate English A (standard level or higher level), Advanced Placement English.
17. A passing grade in a course taken at, or transferrable to UFV as first-year English or one of CMNS 125, 145, 155, 175, or 251.
18. ENGL 099.
19. ENGL 081 or ENGL 091.
20. ESL WG74 with a C+ or better or ESL WG84.

Degree/diploma level English language proficiency standards

This level of proficiency is required for admission to many university-level programs such as bachelor degrees, associate degrees, diplomas, post-baccalaureate programs and graduate level programs. The scores and grades listed below also meet the prerequisites for ENGL 105 and CMNS 155.

Test scores are accepted up to two years after the test date.

This level of proficiency may be met by one or more of the following scores:

1. TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) – IBT score of 88 with no section below 20, or paper-based score of 570 with a TWE (essay) score of 4.5 or higher.
2. IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Academic format– score of at least 6.5., with no band score less than 6.0.
3. UFV CPT (Composition Placement Test) – score of 48 or higher.
4. MELAB (Michigan English Language Assessment Battery) – score of at least 85.
5. CAEL (Canadian Academic English Language) – score of at least 70.
6. CanTEST – overall score of 4.5 in Listening and Reading, and 4.0 in Writing.
7. Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency (CPE) – grade of C or higher.
8. Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English – grade A.
9. LPI (Language Proficiency Index) – essay score of 30 (level 5).
10. UFV English as a Second Language Assessment results equivalent to completion of the 80-level of UFVs ESL writing and grammar.
11. Pearson Test of English (PTE) academic score of 61 with a minimum score of 60 in Writing.
12. EIKEN (Test in Practical English Proficiency) – grade 1.
13. Canadian Language Benchmark placement test (CLBPT) – 9 overall, with no skill less than 8.
14. English 12 (or equivalent course) with a minimum grade of C+. The following courses are considered equivalent to English 12: English Literature 12, English 12 First Peoples, International baccalaureate English A (standard level or higher level), Advanced Placement English.
15. A minimum grade of C- for a course taken at or transferable to UFV as first-year English or one of CMNS 125, 145, 155, 175, or 251.
16. ENGL 099 with a C or better.
17. ENGL 081 or ENGL 091 with a C+ or better.
18. ESL WG84 with a C+ or better.
    

Exceptions for language proficiency requirements

Individual exceptions may be considered by the Undergraduate Education Committee (UEC) Admissions subcommittee when a student can show strong evidence of English language proficiency. Test scores not included on the above list that are equated to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) English level B2 for Entry-level or level C1 or C2 for Degree/diploma level will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Students must submit requests, along with official test scores or other evidence of language proficiency, to the Office of the Registrar.

English language proficiency and a student's record

To help students recognize their compliance with the UFV English Language policies, UFV will determine and record an "English Language Policy value" in "test scores" on the student's academic record. The ELP value should be interpreted as follows:

• 100 or higher: Student has met the prerequisite for ENGL 105 or CMNS 155.
• 080 or higher: Student has met English language proficiency requirement.
• 070: Student has met University Foundations Level 2 entrance requirements.
• 060: Student has met University Foundations Level 1 entrance requirements.
• Missing ELP values, or values less than 060, may mean that insufficient data has been received from the student.

Countries from which education in English is accepted

This list applies for Entry-level proficiency, Winter 2017 and beyond:

• American Samoa
• Anguilla
• Antigua & Barbuda
• Australia
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Bermuda
• Belize
• Botswana
• British Virgin Islands
• Canada (including Quebec)
• Cayman Islands
• Dominica
• Falkland Islands
• Fiji
• Gambia
• Ghana
• Gibraltar
• Grenada
• Guam
• Guyana
• Ireland
• Jamaica
• Kenya
• Lesotho
• Liberia
• Malta
• Mauritius
• Montserrat
• New Zealand
• Nigeria
• Seychelles
• Sierra Leone
• Singapore
• South Africa
• St. Helena
• St. Kitts & Nevis
• St. Lucia
• St. Vincent & the Grenadines
• Trinidad & Tobago
• Tanzania
• Turks & Caicos Islands
• Uganda
• United Kingdom
• U.S.A.
• U.S. Virgin Islands
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe