The ESL Requirement & ESL Placement Exam (ESLPE) Guide
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
In order for students to enroll in an ESL course to satisfy their ESL requirement, they must first take the English as a Second Language Placement Exam (ESLPE). The exam is a one-hour essay exam in which students respond to a prompt about a topic of general academic interest. It tests students’ proficiency in written English. The results of the ESLPE are used to determine placement into the required sequence of ESL courses or exemption from the ESL requirement.
Who must take the ESLPE?
The only undergraduate students who may be required to take the ESLPE are junior transfer students, not freshmen. Transfer students have typically satisfied the Writing 1 requirement at their transfer institution (and therefore have also satisfied the Entry Level Writing Requirement). However, some transfer students may be held for an ESL requirement and are required to sit for the English as a Second Language Placement Exam (ESLPE). Transfer students who are required to sit for the ESLPE include 1) those who have not satisfied IGETC and 2) those held at the discretion of UCLA Undergraduate Admissions. If students have questions regarding why they are held for the ESL requirement, they must contact the Undergraduate Admissions office directly: (310) 825-3101 1-4pm or Murphy 1147.
All undergraduate students must satisfy their ESL requirement during their first year of study. Failure to do so will result in a hold on the students’ records.
How often is the ESLPE offered?
The ESLPE is offered once every quarter during the academic year. If a student fails to register for the scheduled exam, they must wait until the next exam is offered as the department does not administer individual exams.
How do students register for the ESLPE?
Information regarding test dates and registration is found at the Writing Programs department website at www.wp.ucla.edu (under "Exams"). Students must register for the ESLPE via the website before the date of the exam.
How many times can an undergraduate student take the ESLPE?
Students may only take the ESLPE once. Unauthorized retakes of the exam will be invalid.
Can undergraduate students take ESL courses on a Pass/No Pass (P/NP) basis?
No. Undergraduate Students must take all ESL courses for a letter grade and receive a C or better.
What classes are students required to take if placed into ESL courses?
Depending on the results of the ESLPE, transfer students may be held for as many as three English Composition courses in order to satisfy their ESL requirement (independent of any Writing I or II requirements): English Composition 1A, English Composition 1B, and English Composition 1C. Students must take classes in order (i.e. if a student is placed in English Composition 1B, they must pass the course with a letter grade of C before taking EC 1C). The lowest level course,
*ESL 1A is offered every academic year during the Fall quarter. Students placed into this course must take it during their first quarter at UCLA. The ESL requirement must be completed during the first year of residency at UCLA.
Can students take ESL courses at another institution to satisfy their requirement?
No. When students take the ESLPE and are placed into an ESL course in order to satisfy their ESL requirement, all required courses must be taken at UCLA either during the academic year or summer. Students must complete all ESL courses in sequence and must satisfy the ESL requirement in order to graduate .
Who is the contact for the ESL requirement and ESLPE?
Name: Tara Contreras, Administrative Coordinator Location: Humanities 146 Phone: (310) 206-1145 Email: tara@humnet.ucla.edu
Name: Marissa Martinez, Student Affairs Officer Location: Humanities 146A Phone: (310) 206-1145 Email: marissa@humnet.ucla.edu
GRADUATE STUDENTS
Who must take the ESLPE?
The ESLPE (English as a Second Language Placement Examination) is required of all entering UCLA graduate students whose first language is not English and who have not otherwise satisfied the ESL requirement. Sometimes Graduate Division holds students for the test for other reasons. The “Graduate Admissions Checklist” that comes with the acceptance letter gives a link to information on whether a student needs to take the exam or contains a paragraph telling the student to take the exam.
Who is exempt from taking the ESLPE?
Graduate students whose native language is not English are EXEMPT from the ESLPE if they hold a bachelor’s or higher degree from a university in a country where the official language is English and in which English is the spoken tongue and the medium of instruction.
Effective Fall 2015, incoming students who scored 100 or above on the TOEFL-IBT, or 7.5 on the IELTS, will be exempt from taking the ESLPE.
Questions regarding why a student is held for the ESLPE should be directed to the Graduate Division. Susan Smith, (310) 825-4450, ssmith@gdnet.ucla.edu
Graduate students, if applicable, must satisfy their ESL requirement during their first year of residency.
When is the ESLPEs offered and how do students register?
The ESLPE is offered ONCE every quarter during the academic year only. In Fall it is offered four times.
Students must register at the Writing Programs website at www.wp.ucla.edu (under "Exams” then “ESLPE”). Students must make note of the time for which they register.
*Students who fail to register for the scheduled exam must wait until the next exam is offered. The department does not administer individual exams.
How many times can graduate students take the exam?
Students may take the ESLPE once only.
What classes are students required to take if placed into ESL courses?
If students do not receive an ‘exempt’ score on the exam, they will be required to take up to two graduate academic writing courses: ESL 300* and ESL 301. Students must take classes in sequence (i.e. if a student is placed in ESL 300, they must pass the course with a letter grade before taking ESL 301).
Students are required to complete these courses as early as possible in their first year of study. Failure to do so will result in a hold on their records.
Can students take ESL courses at another institution to satisfy their requirement?
No. When students take the ESLPE and are placed into an ESL course in order to satisfy their ESL requirement, all required courses must be taken at UCLA. Students must complete all ESL courses in sequence and must satisfy the ESL requirement in order to graduate.
What is the format of the ESLPE?
The exam is one hour long and students respond to a prompt by writing their opinions about a topic of general interest such as one that might be in a newspaper. The department does not provide samples of the test. Students should bring a picture ID to the exam.
Who is the contact for the ESL requirement and ESLPE?
Name: Tara Contreras, Student Affairs Officer Location: Humanities 146 Phone: (310) 206-1145 Email: tara@humnet.ucla.edu
Name: Marissa Martinez, Student Affairs Officer Location: Humanities 146A Phone: (310) 206-1145 Email: marissa@humnet.ucla.edu