English Proficiency

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Proving Your English Proficiency

As part of the F-1 visa seeking process, students must prove they have a certain level of English proficiency to ensure they can communicate effectively and keep up with college-level coursework.

Each institution sets its own requirement levels for many of the popular standardized English language tests and determines other ways students can meet the proficiency requirements.

Cypress College utilizes the following popular standardized English language tests. To meet proficiency, please upload one of the following scores to your Form I-20 application. The score must be no older than 2 years from the date the application is submitted.

• Duolingo English Test – minimum score of 95
• IELTS Academic Test – minimum score of 5.5
• TOEFL iBT – minimum score 61
• iTEP – minimum score 3.5
• PTE Academic – minimum score 44

Additionally, Cypress College will waive an English language exam score, if the student applicant meets one of the following waiver reasons:

• The applicant is a citizen of a country where English is a recognized primary language. Please see list below.

• The applicant has been awarded a high school diploma or equivalent within the last two years, from a country where English is a recognized primary language (see list above), or where the language of instruction is English (must be indicated on submitted transcript, diploma, or via letter on institutional letterhead).
• The applicant has completed two college-level English composition courses with a grade of B or better from a college or university where the language of instruction is English (must be indicated on transcript, diploma, or via letter on institutional letterhead).

For applicants who believe they could benefit from focused English language study prior to academic study, Cypress College has partner with the following ESL schools in the region and will accept the posted minimum scores as proof of English Language proficiency.

American English College (AEC) 111 N. Atlantic Blvd., #112 Monterey Park, CA 91754 Phone: (626) 457-2800 Email: info@aec.edu Website: www.aec.edu Level of completion required: 6	American Language Institute (ALI) California State University, Long Beach 6300 State University Drive, Ste. 230 Long Beach, CA 90815 Phone: (562) 985-8424 Email: aliuces@csulb.edu Website: www.ccpe.csulb.edu/ali/ Level of completion required: 4
AOI College of Languages 4040 Barranca Parkway #290 Irvine, CA 92614 Phone: (949) 856-1700 Email: info@aoicollege.com Website: www.aoicollege.edu Level of completion required: 6	American Language and Culture Program (ALCP) California State University, Dominguez Hills 1000 East Victoria Street SAC 1143, Dept. WEB Carson, CA 90747 Phone: (310) 243-3830 Fax: (310) 516-4418 Email: alcp@csudh.edu Website: www.csudh.edu/ceie-alcp/ Level of completion Required: Level 5 Advanced
ELS/La Verne @ University of La Verne 1886 Third Street La Verne, CA 91750 Phone: (909) 593-5555 Email: lav@els.edu Website: https://www.els.edu/destinations/los-angeles-county Level of completion required: 109	Language Systems International (LSI) (including Torrance, Los Angeles & Alhambra) 750 S. Placentia Avenue Placentia, CA 92870 Phone: (714) 572-1771 Email: fullerton@languagesystems.com Website: https://languagesystems.edu Level of completion required: 7
Mentor Language Institute (MLI) 9744 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 445 Beverly Hills, CA 90212 Phone: (310) 887-0777 Email: mail@mentoresl.com Website: https://mliesl.edu/ Level of completion required: 6

Please note: The above-named English language schools require separate admission directly to the language school, and completion of program earning the minimum posted score is required to meet English language proficiency. Proof of completion must be submitted in your I-20 application to be considered.