English Language Proficiency Requirement
Note: By action of the Faculty Council on Academic Standards, the English Language Proficiency Requirement (ELPR) is suspended for new freshmen and transfer students admitted for Summer 2021 or later. Students admitted as freshmen or transfer students prior to Summer 2021 are still subject to the ELPR.
Information for undergraduate students admitted prior to Summer 2021
All new freshmen and transfer students admitted prior to Summer 2021 must satisfy an English language proficiency requirement (ELPR) upon enrolling at the University of Washington Seattle campus.
Students who entered the UW with one of the following qualifying tests or programs satisfied the ELP requirement:
- A minimum score on one of several qualifying standardized tests
- Completion of a qualifying associate degree from a Washington community college
- Successful completion of the UW Intensive English Program
Qualifying Standardized Test Scores
| Minimum Score |
Standardized Test | Expiration Date |
|---|---|---|
| 490 | SAT: Critical Reading (SAT CR) or SAT: Writing (SAT W) (test dates prior to March 2016) |
None |
| 550 | SAT: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (SAT RW) (test dates beginning March 2016) |
None |
| 28 | SAT: Writing & Language (SAT WL) (test dates beginning March 2016) |
None |
| 27 | SAT: Reading (SAT R) (test dates beginning March 2016) |
None |
| 21 | ACT: Combined English/Writing (ACT E/W) | None |
| 21 | ACT: English (ACT E) | None |
| 7.0 | IELTS (total of reading, writing, listening, and speaking scores) | Valid for 2 years |
| 92 | TOEFL iBT (internet version) (total of reading, writing, listening, and speaking scores) |
Valid for 2 years |
| 237 | TOEFL CBT (computer version) | Valid for 2 years |
| 580 | TOEFL PBT (paper version) | Valid for 2 years |
Qualifying Washington Associate Degrees
An approved academic associate degree from a Washington community college is defined as the sending institution’s direct transfer agreement associate degree (DTA). Qualifying degrees (often titled as an Associate of Arts or an Associate of Arts and Sciences) are those that are recorded on an official community college transcript with a designation of “DTA.” The associate of science transfer degree is also a qualifying degree. The degree must be conferred prior to enrolling at the UW.
English Language Proficiency Requirement (ELPR)
Students who do not enter the UW with qualifying standardized test scores or program completion as described above, and who are not native English language speakers will be required to complete one or more required courses through the Academic English Program (AEP). Students with AEP course requirements must continue to register for these courses each succeeding quarter until the prescribed sequence of courses is completed. Contact AEP for additional information.
Academic English Program
Continuation Policy
For those students who enter the Academic English Program (AEP), it is imperative that the courses they test into be completed satisfactorily early in the student’s academic career. An undergraduate student may repeat an English 102, 103 or 104 course once. If the student fails the course a second time, a hold will be placed on the student’s registration and the student will do one of the following:
- Take an approved commercial test for placement into the next level of AEP or to satisfy the requirement completely;
- Stop out for a quarter and take an approved commercial after a time away that places them into the next level of AEP or satisfies the requirement completely.
Review the AEP Placement for details.