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⇒ Student & Scholar Advising ⇒ Students ⇒ Orientation ⇒ Indiana English Proficiency Exam

Indiana English Proficiency Exam

Updated July 8, 2008

This page provides information about the English Proficiency Exam, which most of you will need to take upon your arrival at Indiana University.

Who must take the exam?

All undergraduate, freshmen and transfer, non-native speakers of English entering Indiana University are required to take the examination before beginning studies.  Graduate students will also be required to take the exam unless their graduate department waives them from this requirement.  If your native language is English, you do not have to take the test.

Why must new students at IU take this examination?

Indiana University is committed to helping all our students succeed in the programs of study they pursue here.  We know that English language proficiency is a critical component of that success for students whose first language is not English.  By giving this exam to incoming students, we can identify specific areas in which an individual student may need additional English language study in order to be successful.

I already took the TOEFL and was admitted to a program at IU.  Part of this exam sounds much like the TOEFL.  Why should I be tested again?

Although the TOEFL is available around the world and is a very useful indicator for screening applications to IU and other universities, the university recognizes that all standard exams have margins of error.  The IU test takes into account the specific coursework demands at IU.  In addition, IU instructors familiar with these demands actually grade the test.  Lastly, the exam takes place immediately before you begin your studies at IU and therefore assesses your most current skills, whereas the TOEFL may have been taken 6 months or more in the past.

What will the exam be like?

Four hours are allotted for taking the exam, which includes the following components:

• Essay:

  Students choose to write on one of three essay topics and write a formal, academic essay for 45 minutes.  The essay is evaluated on linguistic control (grammar, vocabulary, spelling, and punctuation) and content development (clarity, thoughtful development and elaboration of ideas).  There is a total of 40 points possible on this subtest.

• Listening Comprehension:

  Students listen to short conversations, longer talks, and a simulated academic lecture.  Approximately 30 minutes is assigned for students to listen to and answer the 36 given multiple-choice questions.

• Reading Comprehension:

  Students read various passages and answer 40 multiple-choice questions in about 60 minutes.

• Integrated Language Task:

  Students read two texts in which two different perspectives are presented regarding a given topic and then write a response to these readings by providing their own views in relation to each of the perspectives found in these texts.  Thirty (30) minutes is allotted for this task.

• Oral interview:

  The IEPE oral interview is designed to determine if students are required to take, or are exempted from taking an ESL pronunciation/speaking course (T101 for undergraduates and T501 for graduate students).  The IEPE oral interview is administered individually and requires at most about 5–7 minutes, excluding waiting time.  All oral interviewers will be trained to administer the oral interview and calibrated before the administration of the test.  The oral interview appointment for each student will be provided and each student should go to the oral interview at the scheduled time.

Students may leave test site once they finish all five sections of the exam.

When will I find out my exam score?

You will be taking the exam at the same time as many other incoming students.  You will not be notified immediately of the results.  Your department will be notified approximately one day after you have taken the exam.

General Instructions:

1. You will be assigned a time and place to take the exam when you check in for orientation.  You cannot register for the exam ahead of time.
2. Arrive at the test site at least fifteen minutes before your test time.
3. No dictionaries are allowed.
4. Bring a pencil and a photo ID!
5. The test room can sometimes be a little bit chilly.  You may want to bring a sweater or light jacket.
6. If you have questions about the exam, you may contact Dr. Linda Abe (abels@indiana.edu).

If you have any other questions, please contact the Office of International Services!