Academic English Program Placement FAQs
Why am I required to take (an) AEP course(s)?
You haven't satisfied the UW English Language Proficiency Requirement (ELPR). (Learn more about the requirement for undergraduate students and graduate students.) If you submitted results from one of the approved tests during application, the overall test score satisfied admission requirements but didn't satisfy the ELPR. You've already been placed into the AEP based on the test(s) subscores. To challenge your placement, you can take the same test again, or you can take one of the other approved tests.
Why are you no longer offering the online AEP placement test through Canvas?
The test we created using Canvas and Proctorio was a temporary solution during the COVID-19 pandemic and switch to remote instruction. Many students, particularly new admits and transfers, weren't familiar with Canvas and reported problems with Canvas and/or Proctorio. Some of the commercial tests provide a more convenient and reliable alternative.
Why is there no in-person test?
The UW Testing Center closed in early October 2020. We're unable to offer in-person testing at this time. Many students prefer the convenience of taking one of the approved tests, some of which can be taken from home and scheduled at a preferred time.
Which test should I take?
The choice is yours. If you're not familiar with the approved English language proficiency exams, we suggest you take some time to review each: Duolingo English Test (DET), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), TOEFL iBT or TOEFL iBT Home Edition.
Can I take more than one of the approved tests?
Yes. For placement purposes, we'll use your best test scores (subscores).
Can I use subscores from two tests for different parts of AEP placement: Reading/Writing and Communication?
Yes. If one test provides a more advantageous placement in one area, we'll use scores from two different tests (e.g., IELTS scores for speaking and DET scores for reading/writing).
Are the commercial tests more expensive than the old AEP Placement Test?
Some are, but one of the tests (Duolingo English Test) is actually less expensive.
Is using these tests an accurate way of determining my placement into AEP courses?
Yes. We've been using most of these tests for placement for many years. We consider the results of the language tests to be secure, objective and reliable for AEP placement.
Will you accept the new TOEFL Essentials test?
TOEFL Essentials is a new online test scheduled to start in the latter part of 2021. Once we have more information from ETS regarding the exam and how its subscores correlate to TOEFL iBT, we'll most likely adopt it for placement. However, please check again before deciding to take that test.