Evidence of English Proficiency
Applicants whose native language is not English must present satisfactory scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL, our institution code is 6866) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The University defines a satisfactory score on TOEFL as 550 (paper- based)/213 (computer-based)/80 (internet-based) or above, or 6.5 on the IELTS or above for admission and the test must have been taken within two years immediately preceding the requested semester of admission and be valid at the time of enrollment. No other measures of English proficiency are accepted by the University of Arkansas for the purpose of gaining admission. In addition to the English Proficiency requirement, applicants seeking admission to the B.Sc. program in Electrical Engineering or Computer Science Engineering are required to submit a score of 26 or higher on the speaking portion of the internet-based TOEFL or 7.0 on the speaking portion of the IELTS.
Graduate applicants who have completed requirements for a Master's degree from an accredited U.S. university are not required to submit a TOEFL or IELTS score. However, if deemed appropriate, individual departments may require a TOEFL or IELTS score or other verification of English proficiency.
Graduate students who wish to apply for a teaching assistantship must submit a score of 26 or higher on the speaking portion of the internet-based TOEFL (iBT) or 7 on the speaking portion of the IELTS before any request for such an appointment will be considered. Information concerning location, dates, and application materials may be obtained by connecting to the TOEFL web site. Information concerning location, dates, and application materials my be obtained by connecting to the IELTS website. IELTS is owned, developed and delivered through the partnership of the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations.
Intensive English Program
Applicants who meet the academic and financial requirements for admission into a degree program but who do not have the required English proficiency will be offered conditional admission to the University and admission to the Spring International Language Center (SILC) for intensive English language training. Intensive English classes at SILC focus on all language skills: grammar, reading, writing, and listening/speaking, in addition to special electives from which students can choose each term, such as TOEFL Preparation, Conversation, Vocabulary Building, Business English, and so on. Five nine-week terms are offered throughout the year to enable students to quickly complete their English study. For further information, you may contact:
Spring International Language Center
300 Hotz Hall
1 University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701
Telephone: 1-479-575-7600
Fax (501)575-7673
e-mail: silc@uark.edu
web site: http://www.uark.edu/silc
TOEFL / IELTS Alternative for Graduate Applicants
If a conditionally admitted graduate student has spent at least one 9-week term enrolled in the Spring International Language Center, has reached level 6 with grades of a B or above and has the recommendation of the Director of Spring International, that student can proceed to full-time graduate enrollment upon Graduate School approval.
TOEFL / IELTS Alternative for Undergraduate Applicants
If a conditionally admitted undergraduate student has spent at least one 9-week term enrolled in the Spring International Language Center, has reached level 5 or 6 with a B average and has the recommendation of the Director of Spring International, that student can proceed to academic enrollment in the next available term.
Both graduate and undergraduate students recommended for admission by alternative or Committee petition must enroll in any EASL (English As aSecond Language) courses recommended/required.
Writing Score Requirements for UNDERGRADUATES
Non-native speakers of English that are admitted as undergraduates to the University of Arkansas are required to submit an acceptable score on one of the following tests:
- TOEFL iBT Writing
- TOEFL Test of Written English – TWE
- International English Language Testing System – IELTS (writing)
- UofA English Language Placement Test –ELPT (writing) – administered upon arrival during International Student Orientation
Students who score 28 or above on the TOEFL iBT (writing), 5 or above on the TWE, 6.5 or above on the IELTS (writing), or 81 on the ELPT will not be required to take additional language instruction. Students with lower scores will be required to successfully complete one or more of the following courses as shown below or will be required to undergo evaluation for possible intensive language preparation. If students take two different tests, the highest score will determine the requirement. Students may not present scores earned more than two years previous to the time of application to the University.
English Language Writing Score Requirements for Undergraduates
| TOEFL iBT Writing |
TOEFL TWE |
IELTS Writing |
ELPT Writing |
EASL Requirements |
| 28 - 30 | 5.0 | 6.5 | 81 | No Requirements |
| 26 - 27 | 4.5 | 6.0 | 75 - 80 | EASL0033 Reading and Writing II |
| 20-25 | 3.5 - 4.0 | 5.0 - 5.5 | 65 - 74 | EASL0023 Reading & Writing I and EASL0021 English Grammar |
| 0 - 19 | 1.0 - 3.0 | 0 - 4.5 | 0 - 64 | IEP Evaluation |
This requirement is waived for students whose native language is English; have completed grades 10 thru 12 and graduated from an U.S. high school and have obtained an ACT English section score of 19 or above or a SAT I verbal score of 460.
There is a $10.00 charge for the ELPT which is given during New Student Orientation.
Writing Score Requirements for GRADUATE STUDENTS
Non-native speakers of English that are admitted as graduate students to the University of Arkansas are required to submit an acceptable score on one of the following tests:
- TOEFL iBT Writing
- TOEFL Test of Written English – TWE
- International English Language Testing System – IELTS (writing)
- GRE Analytical Writing
- GMAT Analytical Writing
- UofA English Language Placement Test – ELPT (writing) – administered upon arrival during International Student Orientation
Students who score 29 or above on the TOEFL iBT (writing), 5 or above on the TWE, 7.0 or above on the IELTS (writing), 4.5 on the GRE or GMAT Analytical Writing, or 81 on the ELPT will not be required to take additional language instruction. Students with lower scores will be required to successfully complete one or more of the following courses as shown below or will be required to undergo evaluation for possible intensive language preparation. If students take two different tests, the highest score will determine the requirement. Students may not present scores earned more than two years previous to the time of application to the University.
English Language Writing Score Requirements
for Graduate Students
| TOEFL iBT Writing |
TOEFL TWE |
IELTS Writing |
GRE Analytical Writing |
GMAT Analytical Writing |
ELPT Writing |
EASL Requirements |
| 29 - 30 | 5.0 | 7.0 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 81 | No Requirements |
| 26 - 28 | 4.5 | 6.0 - 6.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 75 -80 | EASL0033 Reading & Writing II |
| 23 - 25 | 4.0 | 5.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 70 - 74 | EASL0033 Reading & Writing II and EASL0021 English Grammar |
| 20 - 22 | 3.5 | 5.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 65 - 70 | Semester I: EASL0023& EASL0021 Semester II: EASL 0033 |
| 0 - 19 | 1.0 - 3.0 | 0 - 4.5 | 0 - 2.5 | 0 - 2.5 | 0 - 64 | IEP Evaluation |
This requirement is waived for students whose native language is English or who have obtained an U.S. master’s degree from an accredited institution.
There is a $10.00 charge for the ELPT which is
given during New Student Orientation.