All incoming international students whose first language is not English, are required to take an on-campus English Proficiency Evaluation upon arrival unless they meet any of the exceptions listed below. A $120 fee for the evaluation will be added to the first university bill.
This requirement assures that incoming students know English well enough to study, understand lectures, and participate in class discussions without being hindered by a language barrier. There are additional requirements for graduate students who plan to become teaching assistants, listed below.
More Information about the English Proficiency Evaluation
How the English Proficiency Evaluation is Used
The results of the English Proficiency Evaluation will determine whether admitted students will be:
- Allowed to take a full academic course load (excluding any English as a Second Language courses),
- Required to enroll in credit-bearing English as a Second Language (ESL) courses in addition to regular academic courses.
Exceptions
International and other applicants whose first language is not English do not need to take the English Proficiency Evaluation if they have a score of:
- 600 or higher on the paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or
- 100 or higher on the Internet-based test
- 8.0 or higher overall score on IELTS
English Requirements for Teaching Assistants
Graduate students with teaching assistantships at Iowa are required to complete the Spoken Proficiency of English in the Classroom (SPEC) test to assess their command of spoken English. The SPEC test will assess how well test takers use English to perform a variety of functions related to classroom activities. Additional information can be found on the website for the SPEC test.
The SPEC test is separate from the English Placement Evaluation, which also may be required. Affected students will receive more information about these exams from their academic departments. Research assistants are not required to take these tests.