What Do I Bring With Me to the Assessment?
You need to have documentation to confirm your identity and your enrollment as a student at Illinois Tech in order to enter the assessment lab. The following documents are acceptable:
- Your Illinois Tech Student ID card
- Your passport and admissions letter with your CWID (A#) if you have not received your student identification card
What are the assessment guidelines?
All test-takers must review the Assessment Test Guidelines, below, before arriving to take the test. This information will help you prepare for your assessment test appointment. These instructions will NOT be covered on the day of your test, so you MUST read them completely in order to understand all of the policies before coming to the assessment.
What Happens After I Complete the English Language Assessment Test?
Undergraduate and graduate students will receive an email two business days after their assessment confirming which PESL courses are beneficial based on their assessment scores. If the assessment was required for you and you placed into courses, you are required to take those courses. If you have a registration hold, it will be removed from your student account within 24 to 48 hours after all assessments are completed. A placeholder course on your schedule—PESL 001 at the undergraduate level and PESL 000 at the graduate level—will be converted to the course you need. If you choose to take the English Language Assessment because you are interested (not required) in taking PESL courses, you decide if you take courses and which courses you will take.
Intensive English Program and IFY/IGY Pathway Program students will receive placement at orientation after they have taken the test. You will register yourself for courses during orientation.
Can I Fail the Assessment?
No, it is not possible to fail the assessment. The assessments are not graded as pass or fail tests. After you assess, you are provided a list of PESL courses at your level that will be beneficial. If the English Assessment was required for you and you place into the courses, you are required to take those courses. If you choose to take the English Assessment because you are interested (not required) in taking PESL courses, you decide if you take courses and which courses you will take.
If I Score Very High on the Test, Can I Waive Out of a Course?
Yes, if you score high on a test proving proficiency in that area, you can waive out of a course and you will not need to take that course. If you waived out, but you still would like to take a course, please email els@iit.edu to find out your options.
Am I Required to Take English Courses?
If the English Language Assessment was required for you and you place into PESL courses, you are required to take those courses. You cannot register yourself for the PESL courses. Registration is automatic and will be completed for you by English Language Services and the Office of Registrar.
For undergraduate students, you will be registered for all required courses according to your placement results. PESL courses begin one week later than other courses. You should check your schedule on MyIIT daily to find out which courses to attend.
For graduate students, if you are required to take multiple English courses, you will only be registered for one course per semester. We will determine the sequence of courses you will take and choose a course section for you that complements your schedule. PESL courses begin one week later than other courses.
If you choose to take the English Language Assessment because you are interested (not required) in taking PESL courses, you decide if you take courses and which courses you will take. Email els@iit.edu to request registration if you are choosing to opt in.
I Am a Transfer Student; Do I Need to Take the English Language Assessment?
Policies differ for international students transferring in from other United States institutions. Please view the following pages for more information on English language assessment or course requirements:
- For undergraduates, please visit the Admission Requirements page and view the International Student English Proficiency Requirement (TOEFL Requirements) entry.
- For graduates, please visit the Application Requirements and Checklist page and view the English Proficiency Requirements entry in the Application Checklist.
Can I Submit New Higher TOEFL/IELTS/PTE Scores to Waive the English Language Assessment or Courses?
Assessment requirements are determined by the test scores at the time of your admittance. Any test scores submitted after your admittance will not be considered in order to waive the ESL assessment hold or waive an English language course requirement.
Can I Retake the Assessment?
Yes, continuing students may email els@iit.edu to request to retake assessments in a subsequent semester. There is a $100 fee to reassess, and you must retest during the assessment period listed. Students may only retest once a semester. Continuing students cannot retake assessments after Illinois Tech courses have begun. Continuing students may not retest in a skill relative to a course they have failed.