English Proficiency

During the International Student Orientation, students may take an English language placement test to determine their starting point.

What if I have taken an English assessment test?

If you have demonstrated English proficiency (see below), you may be eligible to enroll directly into college-level English or be placed in advanced English language courses: English for Academic Purposes (EAP). While taking EAP courses, most students can also take regular college classes that do not have an English prerequisite. Students who are placed in EAP will take the English language test during the International Student Orientation to determine their placement within EAP.

If we do not receive a copy of your official score report or other demonstrated proficiency at the time of admission, you will be issued an I-20 for ESL. Upon completion of ESL or demonstrating English proficiency, you will be issued an Associate-level I-20.

What assessments can I use?

Internet-Based Test (iBT)

The following minimum scores guarantee placement into:

  • English 101: 61 overall, 20 writing
  • English for Academic Purposes (EAP): 46 overall, 14 writing

MyBest scores and TOEFL iBT Home Edition are accepted.

The following minimum scores guarantee placement into: 

  • English 101: 5.5 overall, 6.0 writing
  • English for Academic Purposes (EAP): 5.0 overall, 5.0 writing

(IELTS Online scores will be provisionally accepted for a limited time due to Covid-19.)

Superscoring possible: If you have taken the IELTS more than once within two years, submit all score reports; we will take your highest scores in each section.

The following Cambridge IGCSE, A & O Level scores guarantee placement into:

  • English 101: A, B, or C in English
  • English for Academic Purposes (EAP): D in English

B2 First, C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency

The following minimum scores guarantee placement into:

  • English 101: 162 overall, 169 writing
  • English for Academic Purposes (EAP): 154 overall, 154 writing

Washington State

GPA of 2.0 or higher in English 101 or its equivalent at a Washington State community or technical college guarantees placement into English 102

Other U.S. States

If you have a GPA of 2.0 or higher in English 101 or its equivalent at a college or university outside of Washington State, please submit your transcript for placement review

The following minimum scores guarantee placement into: 

  • English for Academic Purposes (EAP): Level 109 certificate

The following minimum scores guarantee placement into: 

  • English 101: 49 overall, 56 writing
  • English for Academic Purposes (EAP): 46 overall, 49 writing

The following minimum score guarantees placement into: 

  • English 101: 460 in Reading and Writing

The following minimum score guarantees placement into: 

English 101: 19 in Reading and English

The following minimum scores guarantee placement into: 

  • English 101: 95
  • English for Academic Purposes (EAP): 85

The following minimum score guarantees: 

  • Placement into English 101: English A Literature score of 5, 6, or 7
  • Placement into English 102: English A Language & Literature 5, 6, or 7

Students who have a score of 4 or 5 on either the English: Language & Composition or English: Literature and Composition AP exams will receive credit for English 101 and be placed in English 102

If you have completed two years at any U.S. high school within the last five years and earned a cumulative 2.5 GPA, you can enroll in English 101.

The following minimum scores guarantee placement into: 

  • English 101: 160 or higher
  • English for Academic Purposes (EAP): 145 - 159

The Smarter Balanced Assessment is a career and college readiness test administered in Washington State high schools during Junior year (11th grade).  You can use your Smarter Balanced assessment score for placement up to one year after your graduation date. Students must have a minimum score of 3, 4, "Pass," or "College Ready" to qualify for English 101.

International students who have been at institutions for at least 5 years in which English was the primary language across the curriculum are eligible for Directed Self Placement. This is the same assessment given to U.S. residents and citizens enrolling at Shoreline.

The following minimum score guarantees placement into: 

  • English 101: Pre-1st degree

Test scores below these levels will not be used in academic placement at Shoreline. All students who are not placed directly into college-level English will take Shoreline's English language placement test during orientation. Assessment tests marked with an asterisk (*) are valid for two years from the date the test was taken.

If you currently have a score report, email a copy to international@shoreline.edu.

If you choose to send an original document to our office, please use the address below. Original documents will not be returned. To have TOEFL scores sent to Shoreline, use our school code: 4738.

Shoreline Community College
International Education
16101 Greenwood Ave N
Shoreline, WA 98133
USA