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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 English 12 (or equivalent)
    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.

  • Adult Basic Education (ABE) Provincial-level English
    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.

  • Other Canadian Provinces, English 12
    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
  • Canadian Certified Offshore Schools

    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: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/topic.page?id=ED64DCA20D62461EA971C1AF8CC314EF

    To check the list of certified institutions, please visit: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/topic.page?id=A372D5EE9D5D48F68F462A450E70CE73

  • International English 12 from Designated English-Speaking Countries

    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
  • Alexander College ENGL 099

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

  • General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE)

    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 lower  Not accepted

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

  • International Baccalaureate

    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 http://www.bctransferguide.ca/guides/ib/

    Course Name Final Grade Eligibility
    Language A (English) 5 or higher Credit for ENGL 101 (3)
    Language A (English) 3 or higher ENGL 100
    *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).
  • Advanced Placement (AP)

    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 http://www.bctransferguide.ca/search/ap

    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
  • BCCAT Articulated Post-Secondary English

    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 online at www.bctransferguide.ca

  • BC Articulated English for Academic Purposes (EAP)

    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. http://bccat.ca/pubs/ESL_Articulation_guide%202014-2015_June%2030_2014_Final.pdf

    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
  • ESL University Pathways
    School Course Minimum Grade Eligibility
    EC Canada Pre-Advanced 65% or higher ENGL 100
    EC Canada Upper Intermediate 65% or higher ENGL 099
    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.

  • Standardized Test Results (IELTS, TOEFL, LPI, etc.)
    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 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
    PBT TOEFL 510 530 and Essay Rating 3.5 550 and Essay Rating 4.0
    CBT TOEFL 180 197 and Essay Rating 3.5 213 and Essay Rating 4.0
    IBT TOEFLTOEFL 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
    LPI 3, essay 20 and 50% on one of the three components 3, essay 20, and 50% on each of the three components 4 and Essay 24
    Pearson Test of English (PTE), Academic 50 overall, > 50 in writing 55 overall, > 55 in writing 60 overall, >60 in writing
    CAEL 40 overall, > 45 in writing 50 overall, > 50 in writing 60 overall, > 60 in writing
  • English Placement Test (EPT) – Temporarily Accepting Duolingo English Test (DET)

    Alexander College normally offers an English Placement Test (EPT) every weekday afternoon at the Burnaby campus.

    Due to Covid-19, we are currently unable to administer the EPT in an in-person setting. As a temporary solution, we are offering English placement testing via a 3rd party, Duolingo.

    The following Duolingo English Test (DET) score requirements are in effect for tests taken from October 10, 2020.

    DET Score Minimum New Course Codes Previous Course Codes
    0-19 EASL 068 ENGL 095
    20-39 EASL 069
    40-52 EASL 078 ENGL 096
    53-64 EASL 079
    65-74 EASL 088 ENGL 097
    75-84 EASL 089
    85 (Literacy: 80) ENGL 098
    100 (Literacy: 95) ENGL 099
    > 110 (Literacy: 105) ENGL 100
  • Other

    G.E.D Testing Program

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