ESLC Placement Information

All incoming international students including transfer students write an ESL composition placement test which is evaluated by trained English as a Second Language teachers at the Ohio State University. The test is an essay exam designed to assess the student's writing proficiency in academic English. Students who need extra instructional support in writing may be placed in one of three levels corresponding to courses in the ESL Composition Program. The Office of Admissions notifies those international students who are required to take a placement test. The Office of International Education (OIE) informs new students about the date and time of the test.

International transfer students who have credit for English 110 or other English courses are not exempt from this requirement and therefore still need to take the placement test.

The Process: Students write a one-hour placement composition which is evaluated by trained ESL staff members. Students are placed in one of three levels corresponding to our courses: EDU T&L 106 , 107, or 108.01 (for undergraduates), EDU T&L 106G,107G,108.02 (for graduate students). Some students are Qualified on the basis of the placement composition; these students are not required to take any ESL composition courses.

Students who meet or exceed the following test scores (obtained within the past two years) are exempt from taking the ESL Composition Placement Test: TOEFL 650, or TOEFL 610 and TWE 5; TOEFL Computer Based Test 280, or TOEFL Computer Based Test 253 and TOEFL Essay 5; MELAB Overall 95, or MELAB 90 and Composition Component 90. See additional exemption categories.

Note: This test is not the same as the placement test administered by the English Department. Questions about that test may be directed to the English Department or the Writing Workshop at (614) 292-8134.

Undergraduates: placement test scores are entered into the Admissions Test Screen (A2TS) on MARX within 48 hours after the student has taken the test. The ESLCP category is the ESL Composition placement test. Scores correspond to the EDU T&L course level placement (in other words students are assigned a 106, 107, 108.01, or Q). College advising central offices also receive copies of the students' scores. Students should be registered into the appropriate course level as soon as possible. (Advisors, please do not override course number limitations as we do not allow more than 18 students in a class to keep the courses managable). Undergraduates who do not have English 110 transfer credit must also complete English 110 following this course sequence.

Graduates: graduate students can come in to the ESL Composition office in 79 Arps Hall 2 days after taking the placement test to receive their scores. Scores correspond to course level placement (in other words students are assigned a 106G, 107G, 108.02, or Q). Graduate students who place into our program are required to finish the sequence within their first year at OSU. Questions about this time limitation can be directed to the Graduate School. Graduate students must register for these courses via BRUTUS or the web registration system as they would for any course.

Although the ESL Composition Placement Test can not be retaken, students enrolled in any of the EDU T&L composition courses do write an in-class diagnostic composition during the first week of each quarter. This diagnostic essay serves two purposes. It insures that the student has been placed at the correct level in the ESL Composition Program, and it provides the course instructor with a sample of the student’s writing. If the in-class composition is substantially better than the placement composition, the student will be moved to a higher course or in the case of 108.01/108.02 may be "Qualified" out of the program.

The format of the in-class diagnostic essay is similar to that of the ESL Composition Placement Test. Students are given one class period to write on a general topic. Topics are general in nature (as on standard ESL writing tests such as the TOEFL Essay or the Michigan Test) to make them accessible to all students without preparation. The diagnostic composition is offered only once a quarter and can not be made up or repeated.

More information about the diagnostic is explained on the first day of class. Further questions can be directed to the ESL Composition office at 614-292-6360.