Graduate Studies - Language Requirements

Q: What is the minimum TOEFL score required to be considered for admission and financial aid?
A: All applicants whose native language is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Applicants should make testing arrangements with the TOEFL Application Office, P.O. Box 6155, Princeton, NJ 08541-6155 or http://www.toefl.org/. An applicant may be exempt from the TOEFL test if they have completed at least two years of full-time study in a country where English is the primary language and in a school where English is the primary language of instruction. While the University requires a minimum score of 550 on the paper-based TOEFL test (213 on the computer-based test), the Agricultural and Biological Engineering Graduate Program requires a minimum score of 570 (230 in computer scores, or 88 in iBT) to be considered for admission. A TOEFL concordance table for converting computer scores to paper scores is shown in Appendix B of the Graduate Handbook. A TOEFL score of 570 (230, 88) or higher is required to be considered for assistantship support if the applicant has not previously received a degree from a U.S. institution. A student whose native language is not English must achieve a minimum TOEFL score of 607 (253, 101) or the English Placement Test is required. The English Placement Test is given on campus by the Department of English and determines the appropriate English as a Second Language (ESL) course(s) that will be required. Upon successful completion of the recommended ESL courses, the student will have met the TOEFL requirement and will be eligible to be taken off Limited Status. Students cannot receive a degree while on Limited Status.

Applicants with TOEFL Scores below 590 (Paper-based), 243 (Computer-based), or 97 (iBT) cannot be considered for admission. TOEFL scores below 610 (Paper-based), 253 (Computer-based), or 102 (iBT) indicate the need for further English study. This consists of enrollment in English as a Second Language (ESL) courses based on an ESL Placement Test (EPT) taken upon arrival at the University.

The University of Illinois now accepts IELTS scores in place of TOEFL. Applicants with scores below a 6.5 overall or below a 6.0 on any subsection cannot be considered for admission. Students who score below a 7 overall will need to enroll in ESL courses basd on an ESL Placement Test.

Q: If I have an M.S. degree from an institution in the United States, do I still have to take the TOEFL?
A: No, if your most previous degree is from an English speaking university you do not need to take the TOEFL.

Q: How long are TOEFL Scores accepted?
A: The TOEFL must be taken within two years of the proposed term of entry; older scores are no longer valid.

Q: Who receives the GRE and TOEFL score reports sent by the Educational Testing Service?
A: GRE and TOEFL scores must be coded 1836-University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and "0000" or "00" for the Department in order to be accepted. The Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department staff has access to these scores through the Graduate College.

TSE OR SPEAK TEST

Q: What is TSE and what is the minimum TSE acceptable score?
A: All students whose native language is not English are required to take the Test of Spoken English (TSE) or the SPEAK test either prior to or within their first year of enrollment. The SPEAK test is a University of Illinois standardized version of the TSE test and is given at no charge to the student. The minimum passing score is 50 for either test. Illinois State Law Senate Bill 1516 requires a score of 50 for students whose native language is not English to be allowed to provide classroom instruction. If a score of 50 is attained, you will be eligible to attend the next available 2-day International Teaching Assistant's Orientation (Given in August or January once each semester) followed by the 2-day all campus orientation for new teaching assistants.

The SPEAK test is administered by the Center for Teaching Excellence at no additional fee. The Test of Spoken English (TSE) is administered by the Educational Testing Service, the same company that administers the GRE.

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