Bellevue College’s English Language Institute (ELI) offers an Intensive English/University Preparation (UP) program that prepares students to enter Bellevue College’s college-level programs.
To benefit from the program, students should have previous formal English study at a middle/high school, college, or English language school. New students whose English placement test scores fall below Level 1 will need to meet with the ELI Program Chair to find out if this is the right program. Students have the option of staying in the program provided they understand that they will be graded on their performance or request to transfer to another English school locally that allows them to start within the 30 days from their arrival date in the U.S.
Student must meet one of the following:
| Type of English Proficiency | Proof of English Proficiency |
|---|---|
| Duolingo | Overall score of ≥85 |
| IELTS | Overall score of ≥5.5 with all sub-scores ≥5.0 |
| Internet-based TOEFL (iBT) | Overall score of ≥58 |
| Paper-based TOEFL (PBT) | Overall score of ≥493 |
| Completion of Bellevue Colleges Intensive English Program | Level 5 Completion |
| Completion of a specified English language school level | Completion of Level B2-3 at EF International Language Schools High Intermediate level at Kaplan ALPS SIRWS 5 with a grade of 75% or higher AND a minimum score of 69 on the CaMLA EPT exit exam at ALPS Language School Intensive Level 109 at ELS Language Centers Highest level at an intensive English school (must submit a verification letter from the school official and considered on a case-by-case basis) Completion of the first-half of International House San Diego’s (IHSD) American Language Benchmark 7, equivalent to IELTS overall score of 5.0 Completion of Level 5 at California Language Academy Completion of the “Mid-intermediate” level at International House San Diego |
Student must meet one of the following:
- 95 with a Production Score of 75 or higher
- Incoming college-level students will receive automatic placement into either English 93 or English 101. Students must still enroll in their placement level class.
- More information about Duolingo English Test
- Overall score of 6.0 with all sub-scores 5.5 or higher
- More information about Academic IELTS
- 61 (iBT) or 500 (PBT)
- More information about TOEFL
- TOEFL has released a new scoring system as of January 21, 2026 and Bellevue College is currently in the process of creating our score equivalences. TOEFL test takers will receive two styles of scores when they receive their results: one from the new 1 to 6 scale, and one from the 0 to 120 scale. The former 1 to 120 scale will be included in TOEFL test results until January 21, 2028, and will continue to be the default scoring scale at Bellevue College until we determine the equivalency. Please reach out to ie@bellevuecollege.edu if you have any questions on the TOEFL scoring system or how to submit your new TOEFL scores to us.
- A grade of “A-” in Integrated Skills 5 and “B-” in all other courses taken that quarter
- More information about the BC’s Intensive English program – Level Description
With a grade of “C-“
A valid placement result from another college into the equivalent of BC’s English 101
- Successful completion of Advanced (C1) level at Kaplan.
- Successful completion of Level 6 at California Language Academy.
- Successful completion of Advanced (C1-1) level at EF International Language Schools, Inc.
- A “C” or higher in English
- More information about Cambridge IGCSE Subjects
- More information about Cambridge O-Level Subjects
- 3 (places into English 101 at BC(*))
- (*) Official exam result issued by the testing company is required for the placement into English 101.
- More information about AP English Language or Literature/Composition
- If SAT or ACT taken within the last five years or PSAT taken within the last two years
- SAT or PSAT Reading/Writing score of 480 or higher
- ACT Composite score of 22 or higher
- 3 (places into English 101 at BC(*))
- (*) Official exam result issued by the testing company is required for the placement into English 101.
- More information about Smarter Balanced ELA
- 4 (places into English 101 at BC(*))
- (*) Official exam result issued by the testing company is required for the placement into English 101.
- More information about the IB International Baccalaureate
Successful completion of the advance 5 with a passing grade (a verification letter from the school official is required) (reviewed on a case-by-case basis)
Two years of regular English courses (non-ESL) in a U.S. high school or international school with a cumulative 3.0 GPA or higher (reviewed on a case-by-case basis)
If your citizenship is from one of the countries listed below, please submit your passport to the “English Proficiency” section of the application in addition to the passport section.
1. Anguilla, 2. Antigua and Barbuda, 3. Australia, 4. Bahamas, 5. Barbados, 6. Belize, 7. Bermuda, 8. Botswana, 9. British Virgin Islands,10. Cameroon, 11. Canada (except Quebec), 12. Cayman Islands, 13. Dominica, 14. England, 15. Fiji, 16. The Gambia, 17. Ghana, 18. Gibraltar, 19. Grenada, 20. Guyana, 21. Ireland, Northern, 22. Ireland, Republic of, 23. Jamaica, 24. Kenya, 25. Lesotho, 26. Liberia, 27. Malawi, 28. Malta, 29. Mauritius, 30. Montserrat, 31. Namibia, 32. New Zealand, 33. Nigeria, 34. Papua New Guinea, 35. Scotland, 36. Seychelles, 37. Sierra Leone, 38. Singapore, 39. Solomon Islands, 40. South Africa, 41. St. Kitts and Nevis, 42. St. Lucia, 43. St. Vincent and the Grenadines, 44. Swaziland, 45. Tanzania, 46. Tonga, 47. Trinidad and Tobago, 48. Turks and Caicos Islands, 49. Uganda, 50. United Kingdom, 51. Vanuatu, 52. Wales, 53. Zambia, 54. Zimbabwe
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Last Updated March 4, 2026