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English Proficiency Required Testing and Placement

If you are  outside of the United States, you are required to take a standardized exam to demonstrate your level of English proficiency. 

You are required to meet the minimum English level to qualify for a Montgomery College form I-20.

  • If you score at the minimum levels, you  will be tested again upon arrival at the College to be placed into the correct English classes.
  • If you plan to apply in the ESL non-credit program ONLY (English as a Second Language), you MUST write number 724 on the box (page 2) for the major code on the MC admission application form. 

Once you have received the test results, please contact us to check that we have also received the test result. It is your responsibility to check with us if we have received the test result.

Standardized Examinations Accepted by MC 

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT or Paper-based only)

  • The TOEFL is administered in many countries.
  • There are two common versions of this test.  The minimum scores for admission are:
    • The minimum score for admission to ESL non-credit program ONLY is 385 paper-based exam.
    • The minimum score for admission to College (ELAP) program is 420 paper-based exam.  For details about the ELAP program please visit ELAP program.
    • The minimum score for admission to ESL non-credit program ONLY is 28 internet-based exam.  For more details about the ESL non-credit program please visit American Pre-Academic and Professional ESL Program.
    • The minimum score for admission to College (ELAP) program is 36 internet-based exam.  For details about the ELAP program please visit English Language for Academic Purposes.
  • If you score over 575 (paper-based exam) and 90 (internet-based exam), you may be placed directly into College English without additional testing upon arrival at Montgomery College.
  • Please see ETS TOEFLnew window to arrange testing. 
  • Send test scores to your campus; campus codes are: Germantown 5393, Rockville 5440, Takoma Park/Silver Spring 5414.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

  • IELTS is administered by the British Council and is often offered more frequently than TOEFL.
  • You must take the Academic version.
  • The minimum score for admission to College (ELAP) program is an overall 5.0.  For details about the ELAP program please visit English Language for Academic Purposes.
  • The minimum score for admission to ESL non-credit program ONLY is an overall 3.5. For more details about the ESL non-credit program please visit American Pre-Academic and Professional ESL Program.
  • If you score over 6.5 overall, you may be placed directly into College English without additional testing upon arrival at Montgomery College.
  • Please see IELTSnew window to arrange testing.
  • Send test scores to your campus; see the IELTS website for test score reporting instructions.  

Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)

  • The SAT is administered in some countries. 
  • The minimum score for admission to College (ELAP) program is 400 on each of the English sections, Verbal and Reading. For details about the ELAP program please visit English Language for Academic Purposes. 
  • If you score over 500, you may be placed directly into College English without additional testing upon arrival at Montgomery College.
  • Please see College Boardnew window to arrange testing.
  • Send test scores to your campus; campus codes are: Germantown 5393, Rockville 5440, Takoma Park/Silver Spring 5414.

Cambridge (CEFR)

  • The Council of Europe’s Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is a series of descriptions of abilities which can be applied to any language, in this case, to English.
  • The exam is administered in many countries.
  • The minimum score for admission to College (ELAP) program is B2.  For details about the ELAP program please visit  English Language for Academic Purposes.
  • The minimum score for admission to ESL non-credit program ONLY is B1. For more details about the ESL non-credit program please visit American Pre-Academic and Professional ESL Program. 
  • If you score over C1, you may be placed directly into College English without additional testing upon arrival at Montgomery College.
  • Please see  Cambridge Englishnew window to arrange testing.
  • Send test scores to your campus; see the Cambridge website for test score reporting instructions.

Students who must take additional testing upon arrival should see the College's Assessment Centers and Testing page for more information.

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