MC ESL Placement Reminders - Spring 2026

 MC ESL Placement is primarily for students who speak a language other than English at home, and have not spent 10 years in the US education system.  The diversity of our student body sometimes indicates other reasons to choose ESL vs. ENGL placement processes. 

• If a student is referred to the wrong process, ESL or ENGL will refer the student to the correct process.

• Students should be advised to only complete one placement process for their English classes, ESL or ENGL.  BOTH can place students into ENGL101 (+011) if appropriate.

• Students can place into ENGL101 or ENGL101+011 based on these exam scores:
• TOEFL, IELTS, PTE Academic, (soon, Duolingo)
• ACT, SAT, GED, AP, IB
• APPE or APPG = 080

If students do not have scores from one of these exams, or one of the alternate placements, demonstrating readiness for college-level English, they need to complete the MC ESL Placement (or ENGL).

• MC ESL Placement places students into:
• ENGL101
• ENGL101+ENGL011
• ELAP
• ESL
• AELG

• ESL Placement scores do not transfer across institutions, nor does coursework from ESL or EAP program. Coursework from another institution, and internal placements from other institutions, do not constitute placements at MC, and students with ESL coursework from other institutions need to complete MC ESL Placement.

• Students should be referred to the Course Placement Guides on the MC website, which will lead them interactively through questions about their academic history, and lead them to the appropriate placement process.

• Once a student places into ELAP, we do not refer them back to the MC ESL Placement process.  We conduct diagnostic testing on the first day of every ELAP class, which can either confirm or change (i.e. advance) a student’s placement.

• We do not have resources to allow for repeated attempts at the ESL placement process (and repeats within a short period rarely change a person’s placement anyway).  If someone wants to appeal their placement, please remind them of the first-day tests.  Students may redo the placement process after a year, or after completing non-credit ESL coursework.

• If a student scores above a 90 on the TOEFL, they can advance to ENGL101.  However, TOEFL scores below 90 are not used to determine placement levels.

Preview Link – you’re welcome to take a look! 

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