English Language Proficiency 2024-25 Academic Year
English Language Proficiency (ELP): The language of instruction and communication at Northwestern Polytechnic is English. Regardless of the country of origin or citizenship status, if an applicant's native language is not English, they must demonstrate proficiency in the English language before they will be considered for admission to any credit course or credit program. This includes online courses and part-time study.
NWP reserves the right to use discretion in determining language proficiency. Fulfillment of one of the listed requirements does not guarantee admission. Meeting ELP requirements for admission to NWP does not guarantee that a student meets the ELP requirements of other post-secondary institutions. Students are responsible for ensuring that they meet the ELP requirements for the institutions to which they intend to transfer. Applicants can satisfy ELP admission requirements in one of the following ways for most programs:
Achieve an acceptable score on an approved ELP test.
Test results are considered valid for two years from the date the test was taken. Test scores must be verifiable and valid within 30 days of the start of the program.
| Group A Programs | ||
|
IELTS Academic | Overall 6.0, no band less than 6.0 |
| TOEFL iBT | At least 80, no section score below 20 | |
| Duolingo | Overall 110, no sub-score less than 90. | |
| CAEL & CAEL Online | At least 60, no band less than 60 | |
| PTE Academic | Overall score of 55, with no less than 50 in each communicative skill. | |
| Group B Programs | ||
|
IELTS Academic | Overall 6.5, no band less than 6.0 |
| TOEFL iBT | At least 84, no section score below 21 | |
| Duolingo | Overall 115, no sub-score below 95. | |
| CAEL & CAEL Online | At least 70, no band less than 60 | |
| PTE Academic | Overall score of 60, with no less than 55 in each communicative skill. | |
| Health Sciences Programs | ||
|
IELTS Academic | Overall 7.0, Listening 7.0, Writing 6.5, Reading 6.5, Speaking 7 |
| CELBAN | Listening 9, Writing 7, Reading 8, Speaking 8 | |
|
IELTS Academic | Overall 6.0, no band less than 5.5 |
| TOEFL iBT | At least 71 | |
| CELPIP General | 7 general, with no section below 6 | |
| CLB Milestones Test | 7 in each strand | |
| Duolingo English Test | Overall 95, no sub-score below 95 | |
|
IELTS Academic | Listening 7.5, Reading 6.5, Writing 7.0, Speaking 7.0 |
| TOEFL iBT | Listening 23, Reading 21, Writing 25, Speaking 22 | |
Complete Certain Approved Courses with a minimum required grade
Transcripts must be official. Photocopies will not be accepted. In countries where alpha-grades are further defined by numerical grades, a minimum grade of 3 is required to meet ELP. For example: a grade of B3. Courses are valid to meet ELP if presented within 2 years of completion. Additional ELP may be required if courses are older than 2 years.
|
International Baccalaureate: English A: Literature or English A: Language and Literature |
A grade of 5 or better. School must offer IB Diploma Program and appear on the IB School list. |
|
International Baccalaureate: English B1, B2 |
A grade of 6 or better. School must offer IB Diploma Program and appear on the IB School list |
| Advanced Placement English | A grade of 4 or better on the AP English College Board examination |
|
O-level, AS-Level, A-Level, GCSE, IGCSE: English Language or Literature course |
A final grade of B or better |
|
All India Senior Secondary School Certificate (ISSC): Core English |
Score of 75% or better issued by the Central Board of Secondary Education |
|
All India Senior Secondary School Certificate (ISSC): Functional English |
Score of 80% or better issued by the Central Board of Secondary Education |
|
Indian School Certificate (ISC): English |
Score of 75% or better issued by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) |
Previous Education in English
Enrollment in English as a second language (ESL) courses or programs will not be included in the calculation of three years of full-time study. Enrollment must be in a regular high school or postsecondary for-credit program. Where students are registered in both ESL and regular programs, the ESL hours will be deducted from the total educational hours. Proof of three years of education must be submitted in the form of official transcripts, including details on course enrollment and hours of instruction. Failing grades/courses will not be counted when calculating full-time attendance. Only courses with passing grades will be considered.
| Three or more years of full-time education in English (excluding ESL) in a country where English is the principal language. | Education must be equivalent to Alberta Grade 12 and can be a combination of secondary and postsecondary training. |
| Completion of a minimum 2-year credential at a public, post-secondary institution in Canada. | Studies must be full-time, consecutive, with a minimum GPA of 1.7. The program must have been completed no more than 2 years ago. |
| Graduation from a degree program offered by an accredited university at which English is the primary language of instruction. | The institution must be located in a country where English is the primary language. |
| Successful completion of three years of full-time education at a school that is an accredited member of the Council of International Schools. | You must have completed the senior or grade 12 level English Language or Literature Course (non-ESL) with a passing grade. |
| Successful completion of three years of full-time study at a school with appropriate US regional accreditation. | You must complete the senior or Grade 12 level English Language or Literature course (non ESL) with a passing grade. |
ELP Exempt Countries:
Applicants from the following countries are recognized as having satisfied the English Language Proficiency requirement on the condition that they have been educated at a qualifying educational institution for a minimum of 3 years. Other conditions may apply.
| American Samoa | Malta |
| Anguilla | Mauritius: requires minimum grade of B in GCE O-level English |
| Antigua & Barbuda | Montserrat |
| Australia | New Zealand |
| Bahamas | Nigeria |
| Barbados | Northern Ireland |
| Belize | Pacific Island |
| Bermuda | Panama Canal Zone |
| Botswana | Puerto Rico (English Stream) |
| Brunei | Ryuku Islands |
| Cameroon: must also present GCE O and A-levels from Cameroon GCE Board (requires at least a grade of B in GCE O-level English Language or Literature) | Seychelles |
| Canada | Sierra Leone |
| Cayman Islands | Singapore |
| Dominica | South Africa: must also present National Senior Certificate (requires a passing grade in English Home Language |
| England | St. Helena |
| Falkland Islands | St. Kitts and Nevis |
| Fiji | St. Lucia |
| Gambia | St. Vincent and the Grenadines |
| Ghana | Scotland |
| Gibraltar | Tanzania |
| Grenada | Trinidad and Tobago |
| Guam | Turks and Caicos Island |
| Guyana | Uganda |
| India: must also present CBSE All India Senior Secondary School Certificate: (requires minimum 75% in one of Core English/Elective English/Elective English C or 80% in Functional English) or CISCE Indian School Certificate (requires minimum 75% in English)" | United States of America |
| Ireland (Republic of Eire) | Virgin Islands |
| Jamaica | Wales |
| Kenya | Zambia |
| Liberia | Zimbabwe |