ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE PROGRAM

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ESL PLACEMENT TEST

ESL Placement Test Dates

Test Description

ESL Placement Test Fee

ESL Midterm, Final/Exit Exams

Am I tested on theology in the ESL tests?

How does an ESL student pass the program?

What happens if I do not pass the ESL Exit Exam?

ESL PLACEMENT TEST DATES

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TEST DESCRIPTION

Incoming international student applicants, who scored between 533 (200 computer, 72 iBT) and 583 (237 computer, 94 iBT) on the TOEFL or 5.5 and 6.0 on the IELTS, take a 2 1/2 hour ESL Placement Test offered during Orientation of each quarter.  Students cannot study for this test.  Unlike the TOEFL, this test assesses a student's proficiency in the language tasks typical of graduate work in seminary.

The Placement Test includes four sections: reading, listening, speaking, and writing.

• Specifically, the Reading Test measures the ability to comprehend academic reading passages typical in seminary.  In 40 minutes, students read three passages and answer various questions about the texts.

• The Listening Test assesses aural comprehension and note taking skills; here, students listen to a taped lecture from a Fuller professor, take notes, and answer an overall comprehension question in 30 minutes.

• The Speaking Test evaluates verbal fluency in terms of content, organization and accuracy. Students prepare a speech on a topic from a list and deliver a brief speech.

• Finally, the Writing Test evaluates written fluency in terms of content, organization, language use, vocabulary, and mechanics.  Students choose one essay question based on a passage and write a complete essay in 50 minutes.

Based on the results of the Placement Test, applicants are immersed in full-time, academic Intermediate or Advanced ESL training that practices the language skills used in seminary course work.

ESL PLACEMENT TEST FEE

The ESL Placement Test Fee is $100 and will be charged to the student's Fuller account.  If the student enters the ESL program, the discounted ESL Placement Test Fee is $40 (instead of $100).  Upon registering for the Placement Test, each student fills out a registration payment form that has this information in the ESL office.

ESL MIDTERM, FINAL/EXIT EXAMS

During the quarter, ESL students take midterm, final/exit exams.  Like the placement test, these exams have four sections: reading, listening, speaking, and writing.  While the format and evaluation process parallel the placement test, the content varies.

Am I tested on theology in the ESL tests?

No.  Students are tested on academic English language skills.  While the topics of the ESL Tests discuss theology and missions, particular subject knowledge is not necesssary.  ESL measures:

1. Students' academic English language skills for graduate work at seminary, NOT theology AND
2. Students' English skills to determine what ESL classes, if any, will best equip students to succeed at Fuller.

How does an ESL student pass the ESL Program?

Three ESL instructors assess each student's language proficiency based on 1) the ESL Exit Exam and 2) performance in the ESL classes.  A student who passes the ESL program must function competently in academic English for graduate coursework in the ESL classes and receive 80% on all four sections of the ESL Exit Exam.

What happens if I do not pass the ESL Exit Exam?

ESL students who do not pass the ESL Exit Exam (receives a score under 80%) in all of the language tests cannot pass out of the ESL program.  Intermediate students who do not pass the Exit Exam would move to the Advanced level. 

If Advanced students:

1. Do not pass all of the language skills tests in the ESL Exit Exam, they may repeat the Advanced level (the Advanced level can only be repeated twice)
2. Do not pass one or two language skill tests in the ESL Exit Exam, they will be considered by the ESL staff to take one or two independent directed studies or ESL classes specifically geared for those language skills that need further assistance WHILE simultaneously taking one or two regular Fuller courses.  At the end of the quarter, ESL will assess the student's language proficiency through ESL language skill tests. 
3. Do not pass the ESL Exit Exam, they may opt to study at an adult language school to raise their TOEFL or IELTS score to the minimum requirement.