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English Proficiency Requirements

All courses at Alexander College have minimum English proficiency requirements.

The following equivalencies can be used to determine a students English eligibility level (also referred to as ‘English level’) or ‘English placement’).

BC Course Grade Eligibility
BC English 12
2004 Program – English 12, Writing 12, or First Peoples 12
2018 Program – English 12 or First Peoples 12
60% (C) or higher ENGL 100
50-59% (C-) ENGL 099
BC Communications 12
2004 Program – Communications 12
2018 Program – None (Communications 12 discontinued)
73% (B) or higher ENGL 099
50-72% (C-/C/C+) ENGL 098

Note: The province of British Columbia does not distinguish grades of A+/A/A- or B+/B/B-. For the purposes of placement according to the above table, a grade of B- is considered a B.

Completion of Alexander College ENGL 099 – English Academic Preparation, with a grade of ‘C’ or higher.

Minimum Score Requirements:

Score Placement (Eligibility)
0 – 28 ENGL 068
29 – 43 ENGL 078
44 – 58 ENGL 088
59 – 73 ENGL 098
74 – 88 ENGL 099
89 – 100 ENGL 100
English for Academic Purposes Direct Entry (University Transfer or Associate Degree)
Test Type ENGL 098+ 2 University Courses ENGL 099+ 3 University Courses ENGL 100
IELTS-International English Language Testing System 5.0 overall, writing > 5.0, and no bands below 4.5 5.5 overall, writing > 5.5, and no bands below 5.0 6.0 and writing > 6.0
iBT TOEFL (Institution Code: 3317) 64 overall, and 15 in reading, 15 in writing, 14 in listening,14 in speaking 71 overall, and 17 in reading, 17 in writing, 16 in listening,16 in speaking 80 overall, and 19 in reading, 19 in writing, 18 in listening,18 in speaking
PTE-Pearson Test of English, Academic 50 overall, > 50 in writing 55 overall, > 55 in writing 60 overall, >60 in writing
CAEL-Canadian Academic English Language Test 40 overall, > 45 in writing 50 overall, > 50 in writing 60 overall, > 60 in writing
DET-Duolingo English Test 85 overall, literacy >80 100 overall, literacy >95 110 overall, literacy >105
Province English 12 Equivalent
British Columbia and Yukon Territory English Studies 12; or, English First Peoples 12
Former curriculum: English 12; or, Writing 12; or, Communications 12
Alberta, Nunavut, and Northwest Territories English Language Arts 30-1
Saskatchewan English Language Arts 30A and 30B
Former curriculum: English A30; or, English B30
Manitoba English Language Arts 12: Comprehensive Focus (40S); or, English Language Arts 12: Literary Focus (40S); or, English Language Arts 12: Transactional Focus (40S)
Former curriculum: English 40S; or, 40U (Comprehensive/Literary/Transactional focus)
Ontario ENG4U
Quebec Introduction to College English: Introduction to Literature (603-101-MQ); or, Introduction to College English: Composition and Literature, the Outsider and Literary Transformations (603-101-CL)
Nova Scotia English 12; or, English 12 African Heritage; or, Advanced English 12
New Brunswick English 122
Former curriculum: English 121
Prince Edward Island English Language Arts 12
Former curriculum: English 611; or, 621
Newfoundland and Labrador English 3201
Course Name Final Grade Eligibility
ELA Provincial-level English, Literature (L) classification A/B ENGL 100
C+/C ENGL 099
C- ENGL 098

Note: Essential (E) and Technical & Professional (T) coursework cannot be used to meet the English language proficiency requirement.

The BC Global Education Program makes it possible for school in other countries (offshore schools) to offer BC curriculum to international students. In China, offshore schools are alternatively referred to as ‘Sino-Canadian schools.”

In order to qualify as an offshore school, specific standards must be met. For example, they must employ BC-certified teachers and maintain adequate facilities.

In order for the English 12 mark from an offshore school to satisfy the English proficiency requirement, the transcript must be accompanied the Canadian graduation certificate (certificates may be issued by any participating province). Without the Canadian graduation certificate, Sino-Canada transcripts are to be assessed as Chinese, and thus international English 12 cannot be used for English placement.

For more information about BC Certified offshore schools, please visit: www2.gov.bc.ca

To check the list of certified institutions, please visit: www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/topic

The Advanced Placement (AP) program is offered by many schools in Canada and the US via College Board. Alexander College follows the BC Transfer Guide’s comprehensive listing of AP equivalencies. This guide is available at bctransferguide.ca

Course Grade Eligibility
English Literature and Composition or
English Language and Composition
4 or higher Credit for ENGL 100 (Eligible for ENGL 101)
English Literature and Composition or
English Language and Composition
3 ENGL 100

Resource: The Articulation Guide for English as a Second Language Programs in the British Columbia Post-Secondary Transfer System is published by the BC Ministry of Advanced Education and is updated semi-annually.

Courses are listed by equivalency level using the numerals I-IV. These levels correspond to Alexander College EAP levels 096-099, as follows:

Individual courses are listed according to 4 sections: reading, writing, oral/aural, and integrated skills. The student is required to complete either all courses in the reading, writing, and oral/aural columns, or all courses in the integrated skills column.

Determination of Passing Mark:

In order to be considered as having completed an equivalent course at the institution listed, the student must have achieved a final grade in the course sufficient to progress to the next level at that institution. Please note that each institution employs a different grade scale, and the passing mark for EAP courses can be as high as a B grade. The admitting Officer is responsible for verifying the EAP grading scheme of the institution to ensure that the student is placed appropriately.

In some cases, the student may be granted a pass grade in the course, but not be permitted to progress to the next level. In this instance, the student would be qualified to retake the same level at Alexander College.

If the student receives a failing grade or withdraws from their course, it cannot be used for placement and he/she must demonstrate the English proficiency another way.

Articulation Guide Level (‘C’ grade or higher) Equivalency
Level I ENGL 096
Level II ENGL 097
Level III ENGL 098
Level IV ENGL 099
School Course Minimum Grade Eligibility
EC Canada Pre-Advanced 65% or higher ENGL 100
EC Canada Upper Intermediate 65% or higher ENGL 096
Academic Reading and Writing B (80%) or higher
Kaplan Academic Pathways program, Level C1 70% or higher and 80% or higher in attendance ENGL 100
Kaplan Academic Pathways program, level B2 70% or higher and 80% or higher in attendance ENGL 099
Inlingua Vancouver Level V, UPC B or higher ENGL 100
Inlingua Vancouver Level IV, B B or higher ENGL 099
International Language Academy of Canada (ILAC) Pathway Program, Level III 3.2 (75% or higher) ENGL 100
International Language Academy of Canada (ILAC) Pathway Program, Level III 3.1 (75% or higher) ENGL 099
International Language Schools of Canada (ILSC) Level A2 B (70%) or higher ENGL 100
International Language Schools of Canada (ILSC) Level A1 B (70%) or higher ENGL 099
International Language Schools of Canada (ILSC) Level I4 B (70%) or higher ENGL 098
St. George International College (SGIC) University College Preparation Program (UCPP) Overall mark of 70% or higher ENGL 099

A transcript of grades and certificate of completion are required.

Final grades for courses completed at an ESL partner are considered as valid for a period 2 years after completion.

BCCAT transferable post-secondary English courses may be used for English placement with a passing grade of D or higher. Equivalencies can be determined using the BC Transfer Guide

General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) or International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) ‘O’ Level examination results may be placed as follows:

Course Name Final Grade Eligibility
O-Level English (First Language) 5 or higher ENGL 100
O-Level English (First Language) 4 or higher ENGL 099
O-Level English (First Language) 3 or higher Not accepted

General Certificate of Education (GCE) ‘A’ Level examination results may be given advanced standing or credit, at the discretion of the Dean.

The International Baccalaureate (IB) is offered in many countries around the world. Alexander College follows the BC Transfer Guide’s comprehensive listing of IB equivalencies. This guide is available at bctransferguide.ca

Course Name Final Grade Eligibility
Language A (English) 5 or higher Credit for ENGL 101 (3)
Language A (English) 3 or higher ENGL 099

*this must be a Language A course, (for all other course titles, students would need to bring course outlines and have the courses evaluated for placement).

Alexander College will accept, for the purposes of meeting the English proficiency requirement, English 12 taken in one of the following countries in which English is designated as the primary and official language, and the principle language of instruction.

Anguilla Antigua & Barbuda Australia
Bahamas Barbados Bermuda
Belize Botswana British Virgin Islands
Canada (including Quebec) Cayman Islands Dominica
Falkland Islands Fiji Gambia
Ghana Gibraltar Grenada
Guyana Ireland Jamaica
Kenya Lesotho Liberia
Malta Mauritius Montserrat
New Zealand Nigeria Seychelles
Sierra Leone Singapore South Africa
St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia
St. Vincent and the Grenadines Trinidad and Tobago Tanzania
Turks and Caicos Islands Uganda United Kingdom (including England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales)
United States of America (including unincorporated territories of American Samoa, Guam, and US Virgin Islands) Zambia Zimbabwe

Applicants holding a 3 or 4-year baccalaureate degree taken outside of Canada may be considered to have met the English Language proficiency requirement for direct entry (no EAL required), provided that the medium of instruction for all components of the degree program was English, and all years of studies for the program were completed in one of the countries listed below.

Anguilla Antigua & Barbuda Australia
Bahamas Barbados Bermuda
Belize Botswana British Virgin Islands
Canada (including Quebec) Cayman Islands Dominica
Falkland Islands Fiji Gambia
Ghana Gibraltar Grenada
Guyana Ireland Jamaica
Kenya Lesotho Liberia
Malta Mauritius Montserrat
New Zealand Nigeria Seychelles
Sierra Leone Singapore South Africa
St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia
St. Vincent and the Grenadines Trinidad and Tobago Tanzania
Turks and Caicos Islands Uganda United Kingdom (including England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales)
United States of America (including unincorporated territories of American Samoa, Guam, and US Virgin Islands) Zambia Zimbabwe

G.E.D Testing Program

Course Grade Eligibility
Language Arts, Writing Averaged score of 450 ENGL 100
Language Arts, Reading

Alexander College acknowledges that the land on which we usually gather is the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. We are grateful to have the opportunity to work in this territory.

Alexander College acknowledges that the land on which we usually gather is the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. We are grateful to have the opportunity to work in this territory.