UM English Proficiency Policy Change for Students Whose Native Language is not English

In previous years, students who indicated on a UM Transfer Application that their first language was not English were able to ask MC counselors to send UM a brief statement to confirm that they were in the process of graduating from MC during the semester that they were applying for Transfer Admission and UM granted those students a Waiver to the English Proficiency Test requirement.  This informal policy between MC and UM is no longer in effect.

 

Students whose native language is not English, regardless of citizenship, now need to review the UM English Language Proficiency Page https://admissions.umd.edu/apply/english-language-proficiency to determine whether they qualify for a Potential Waiver (shown below but you should also refer students directly to the Proficiency Page for the most accurate information):

 

UM Potential Waivers for English Proficiency Requirement

While a passing English proficiency test score is the only absolute way a student can meet the English language proficiency requirement, we may consider waiving the English proficiency test requirement, if a student has completed one of the following:

• Four years at a U.S. high school without English as a Second Language (ESL),

• Associate, bachelor’s or master’s degree earned from a regionally accredited U.S. institution,  [MC note:  by “earned”, this means that the degree must be stamped as completed on the institution’s transcript at the time of application]

• 55+ credits [showing as completed, not in progress] from a regionally accredited U.S. institution with coursework equivalent to English Compositions 1 and 2, or

• English is your primary language and you have a completed high school or university degree earned from one of the following countries or territories¹:

English-speaking countries
Antigua Australia Bahamas Barbados Belize Bermuda British Virgin Islands Cameroon2 Canada3 Cayman Islands Dominica	The Gambia Ghana Grenada Guyana Ireland Jamaica Kenya Lesotho Liberia Montserrat Namibia New Zealand Nigeria	Sierra Leone South Africa St. Lucia St. Vincent Swaziland Tanzania Trinidad and Tobago Turks and Caicos Islands U.S. Virgin Islands Uganda United Kingdom Zambia Zimbabwe

1. Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, but an official English proficiency score is required.
2. English proficiency test is required for the French system only.
3. English speaking provinces only.

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For students who do not qualify for a Potential Waiver, they must take one English Language Proficiency Test:

 

UM’s Accepted English Proficiency Tests

1. Duolingo English Test (DET)   [MC note:  cost is $59; test results are given in 2 days; Duolingo offers unlimited free practice tests] 
   UMD accepts official scores from the Duolingo English Test, which can be taken online and on-demand. UMD passing score: 120
2. International English Language Testing System (IELTS) [MC note:   The cost to take IELTS in the USA ranges between $245–255 USD]
   UMD accepts official IELTS and IELTS Indicator scores.  UMD passing score: 7
3. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)  [MC note:   The cost of the TOEFL iBT is $255]
   UMD accepts official TOEFL and TOEFL iBT (Home Edition) scores. At this time, we are not accepting TOEFL superscores known as MyBest Scores.  UMD passing score: 95

This is what UM’s Pre-Transfer Advisors Leslie Lindeman llindema@umd.edu and Yenti Sunarto yentigs@umd.edu say to students who ask about UM’s English Language Proficiency Requirement:

If English is not your native language, regardless of your citizenship, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions requires verification of your proficiency in English through one of the tests or potential waivers listed on this website: https://admissions.umd.edu/apply/english-language-proficiency. 

To determine if you are eligible for a waiver based on your situation, please contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions directly: ApplyMaryland@umd.edu.  Use the subject line "Transfer Student from Montgomery College English Proficiency".  Otherwise, plan to take one of the tests, such as Duolingo, before applying for transfer admission.

UM Pre-Transfer Advising Page specifically for MC Students:  https://sites.google.com/umd.edu/mc2umd/home

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Thank you to Jan Shapiro who alerted us to this permanent change in policy –

Anne Schleicher, Part-Time Counselor
Montgomery College Online Advising Services

UM English Proficiency - New Option

UM College Park English Language Proficiency Options for Transfer Students – New Duolingo English Proficiency Test (Cost $49, fully online and on-demand) added as an option to TOEFL & IELTS, see below - 

From the UM Website:  https://admissions.umd.edu/apply/admission-requirements/international-applicant-requirements/english-language-proficiency

Potential Waivers for English Proficiency Requirement

While a passing English proficiency test score (see below) is the only absolute way a student can meet the English language proficiency requirement, we may consider waiving the English proficiency test requirement if a student has completed one of the following:

·         Four years at a U.S. high school without English as a Second Language (ESL)

·         A.A., bachelor’s, or master’s degree earned from a regionally accredited U.S. institution (UM will accept an e-mail from an MC Counselor confirming that a student’s Application for Graduation is in progress during the semester that the student is applying for Transfer Admission (send e-mail to UM Admissions Counselor Jennifer Pham Jennifer Pham jhp@umd.edu , include the student’s full name, Date of Birth, and a screenshot of Banner SHADEGR to verify that the student’s Application for Graduation is in progress).

·         55+ credits from a regionally accredited U.S. institution with coursework equivalent to English Compositions 1 and 2

·         A completed high school or university degree earned from one of the following countries or territories¹:

Antigua Australia Bahamas Barbados Belize Bermuda British Virgin Islands Cameroon2 Canada3 Cayman Islands Dominica The Gambia Ghana

Grenada Guyana Ireland Jamaica Kenya Lesotho Liberia Montserrat Namibia New Zealand Nigeria Sierra Leone South Africa

St. Lucia St. Vincent Swaziland Tanzania Trinidad and Tobago Turks and Caicos Islands U.S. Virgin Islands Uganda United Kingdom Zambia Zimbabwe

1. Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, but an official English proficiency score is required.
2. English proficiency test is required for the French system only.
3. English speaking provinces only.

OR present passing scores from one of the following English Language Tests. 

Duolingo English Test | UMD accepts official scores from the Duolingo English Test, [MC note: Cost is $49, test is taken online and on-demand - one hour long and results are sent in two days]

·         UMD passing score: 120

·         Maryland English Institute score: 115 or lower 

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) | UMD accepts official IELTS and IELTS Indicator scores. 

·         UMD passing score: 7

·         Maryland English Institute score: 6.5 or lower

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) | UMD accepts official TOEFL and TOEFL Home Edition scores. At this time, we are not accepting TOEFL superscores known as MyBest Scores. 

·         UMD passing score: 95

·         Maryland English Institute score: 94 or lower

[MC note:  If a student does not have a passing score after taking one of the tests above, the student may be offered the option of taking the Maryland English Institute test after presenting a Duolingo or IELTS or TOEFL score report]

Submitted by Anne Schleicher

UMD - Confirmation of Graduation Date

This is what I have sent to Jennifer Pham at UM in the past to show that a student has applied for graduation and will be graduating, I include a PrintScreen shot of the SHADEGR page from Banner.

From: Schleicher, Anne D
To: 'jhp@umd.edu' <jhp@umd.edu>

Cc: Student
Subject: Fall Applicant Student Name

 Hello Jennifer,

 I am working with Montgomery College student XXX XXXX, DOB X-X-1999, who is in the process of applying for transfer admission to UM for Spring 2021.  Mr. XXX has been asked for verification that he will be graduating from Montgomery College to demonstrate his English proficiency; here is information from MC’s Student Information System (BANNER) that verifies that he will meet all of the requirements for graduation from Montgomery College upon completion of his classes this Fall 2020.  In the record below, you can see that his Graduation Status is marked “Pending” for 12/20/2020.

Thank you for your help in processing his application! 

Anne Schleicher, Counselor (Part-time) 

Montgomery College Online Advising Services

International Students and English Proficiency at UMD

Below is a follow up to inquiries regarding international students and English proficiency at UMD. Please share with students who are receiving the associates degree prior to transferring to UMD. Students who do not meet the conditions below will need to take the TOEFL (even if they completed EN101/EN102).

Best,

Andrea

From: Colleen M Tomlinson [mailto:ctomlin1@umd.edu]
Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2014 12:53 PM
To: Milo, Andrea
Cc: LaChelle Louise Stamps; Michael Anthony Robinson
Subject: TOEFL Question

Hello Andrea,

Regarding the requirements for proof of English proficiency, there are few factors that are considered to determine if applicants have met the requirements. But before I list the requirements, I want to address your specific question.  

Earning an associate degree is one way a student can be exempted from the proof of English requirement. Thus, a student who is completing courses to receive his/her degree (at the time of the application) and applying for admission to UMD can submit such a letter from MC. The letter indicates that the applicant is currently enrolled at MC and upon successful completion of the courses s/he will receive an associate degree. It also specifies the semester and the year of enrollment, in addition to the graduation date. Additionally, the letter is generated by the graduation coordinator at MC.

Other ways an applicant can be excused from showing TOEFL or IELTS test, is if s/he completed at least middle and high schools in the U.S. or from one of the English speaking countries (list is provided on website); moreover, UMD reserves the right to waive the proof of English requirements after employing an holistic review of the applicant’s file; and of course this is done on a case-by-case basis.