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Testing and Level Placement

 

HOW DO WE PLACE YOU IN LEVELS?

 

When considering your placement, these are the GENERAL guidelines we use to make sure you are in the right level:

 

EPT SCORES

DAS 136

Level

DAS 138

Level>

DAS 140

Level

DAS 150

Level

DAS 152

Level

KSU Support Classes

Total Scores

50-115

116-135

136-150

150-174

175+

180+

Part Scores*

NA

28+

35+

42+

48+

50+

Essay

NA

20+

25+

30+

30+

33

*Grammar, Listening, and Reading

GENERAL GUIDLINES:

    1. The total score is the overall guiding factor.
    2. The part-scores listed are minimum scores that are desirable for that level.
    3. 152 could range up to 220 for high-level students coming to study English only and for high-level academic students who have weaknesses that would make them ineligible for academic work (ex. Total of 185 with a 45 listening score).
    4. New students will be placed according to the EPT guidelines.
    5. Except in special cases, students will be placed in full levels rather than assigned multiple levels.
    6. Returning students who earn their teachers' recommendations and who earn a grade of credit will be placed according to performance in English classes from the former semester (e.g. teacher recommendations).
    7. Returning students not earning credit or their teachers' recommendations will be placed by EPT score, even if that means they must repeat a level.

Sometimes students want to be in a higher level because they think they will finish English sooner. This idea is usually incorrect. We don't expect students to take every level. Good students often jump over a level if they make good progress.


Students will not make good progress if they are put in a level that is too high for them. They will not be able to understand the teacher well enough. They will feel unsuccessful because the homework and tests will be too difficult. In addition, it is not fair to the other students to put a lower level student in their class. They do not want to wait while the teacher gives extra help to the student who cannot understand the work.


Sometimes students transfer from other English programs in the U.S. We cannot judge your English using test scores from another program. We can judge only your performance on our test. If you have studied English for a long time, your ability should show on our test. You may be put in a level that uses a textbook that you have used before. If you really know and can use the material in that book, you should do well enough on the EPT to place in a higher level. A low EPT score tells us that you may have seen the material in the book but that you do not yet know it.


 

Initial Placement in the ELP

 

When you first come to Kansas State University you will be placed in a level of the ELP based on your English Proficiency Test (EPT) score. We have used this standardized test for many years. We know that it is a good measure of English.

During the first week of each semester your teachers will be conducting diagnostic tests in each class to be sure that you are in the right level. If you think that you should be in another level, it is very important for you to come to class every day, come on time, and do all your homework very carefully. Because the placement test is such a good measure of students' English, it is rare to move a student. However, sometimes we move a student if we see that the student will be able to do the work in the next level.

Placement of Returning Students

Returning students are placed in the appropriate level based on three criteria:

1.  EPT scores from the test taken at the end of the previous semester

2.  Achievement test scores given in every class at the end of every semester.  Returning students who get 80% or higher on the achievement test can expect to move up to the next level.  Students who score between 60-79% should expect to stay.  Students who score below 60% should expect to repeat the same level.

Sometimes a student has a high score in just one area, for example in structure.  This student may have to stay in the same level because his/her other scores are too weak.

3.  Positive teacher recommendations can help a student move up to a higher level.  Negative teacher recommendations can stop a student from moving up to a higher level.  So, it is very important for a student to go to class regularly, actively participate in class, do all the homework and do it well, and take all the required tests.

 

WHAT CAN I DO IF I THINK I AM IN THE WRONG LEVEL?


 If you are not happy with your placement, you can do the following things:

1. Go to the ELP Office in F205 and ask for a Change of Recommendation Form.

2.  Then fill out the change of recommendation form (the orange form).  

3.  Go to all your classes and take the diagnostic tests given throughout the first week of class.  You must take the diagnostic tests on the days that they are given in.

At the end of the first week, the ELP teachers, the assistant director and the director will meet to review all student placements.  The students whose placements have changed will be notified by email.  If you do not get email notification, it means that your placement has not changed.

We want you to make as much progress as you can. You can do this only if you are in the correct level.  Please do not tell your teachers all the time that you want to change level. We can not bargain about levels.

Also, please remember three things:

  1. Communicate! If you don't talk to us, we don't know there is a problem.
  2. Understand! Sometimes you may feel you can work at a higher level. Your teachers want to challenge you, but they also want you to be successful. They know about all of the classes and what the requirements are for each class. Try the class. You might be surprised at what you learn!
  3. Remember! We can talk only about you. We cannot discuss your friends' placement or scores. It's against the rules of the University. We will be happy to discuss YOUR situations.

 

WHEN CAN I GO ON TO UNIVERSITY WORK?

The teachers use the following criteria when deciding if a student is ready to begin university work:

A. Admission

You must be admitted to the University as an undergraduate or a graduate student to take classes. If you haven't applied to K-State, then you cannot enroll in university classes. If you want to apply to K-State as a student, make an appointment to see Beverley Earles. She will help you with the application procedure. There will also be several workshops held during the semester to help you with applying.

B. Teacher Recommendations

A teacher can recommend you to begin academic work even if you do not have a 550 TOEFL or a 220 EPT score. Teachers base their recommendations on the following:

    1. Attendance
    2. Homework
    3. Tests/Quizzes
    4. In-Class Work (projects, discussions, worksheets, presentations, essays etc.)
    5. Achievement tests at the end of the semester.

**THEREFORE, please understand that you are being judged every day of the semester. You must show your teachers that you have not only the language proficiency but also the maturity and self-discipline to do university work. Students who are lazy or careless in doing their work are judged on the basis of that work. Sometimes, at the end of the semester, students come to us and say, "Don't judge me by my work; I can really do much better." And we say, "We are sorry, but you must SHOW us, not TELL us what you can do. You have been showing us all semester long that you are not ready for university work."

C. Minimum Test Scores

 

Part-Time KSU

Full-Time KSU

TOEFL

   

Listening

50

55

Structure

50

55

Reading

50

55
 

Part-Time KSU

Full-Time KSU

EPT

   

Listening

50

60

Structure

50

60

Reading

50

60

Essay

33

40

Note: A 60 on the EPT is equivalent to a 55 on the TOEFL. We are not requiring you to a get a "higher" score on the English Proficiency Test.

 

D. Major

When we make recommendations, we consider your major. Some majors like business, economics, history, educations, etc. require more English that other majors like math, chemistry or physics. Some Graduate departments have higher standards than others; for example, Landscape Architecture requires a 600 TOEFL.

If you are planning to apply to a graduate program, you need to visit the Graduate Program Advisor in the department you are planning to apply to. Ask them what the TOEFL requirement is. Ask them if they will accept the EPT in place of the TOEFL. You can find the program advisor in two ways:

  1. Go to the department and ask.
  2. Visit the ELP counselor (Beverley Earles). She can help you identify the person you need to talk to.

 

E. Other

If you are in contact with your department and they have special conditions for you, please let us know. For example, maybe there are some undergraduate classes that you need to take before you begin your graduate work, or maybe your department has agreed to accept you with a lower TOEFL score.

If you have taken the TOEFL somewhere else, please bring us in a copy and we will put a copy in your file.

 

Pyramid : Information used to place students in levels and determine readiness to begin academic classes.

 

** Students who earn a grade of No Credit cannot be recommended to start University classes. To earn a recommendation, you must show good study habits as well as good English.