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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 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.
| 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.
| Province | English 12 Equivalent |
| British Columbia and Yukon Territory | English 12 or First Peoples 12
New curriculum (2018 onward) English Studies 12 or First Peoples 12 |
| Alberta, Nunavut, and Northwest Territories | ELA 30-1 + 30-2, or English 30 |
| Saskatchewan | English A30 and English B30 |
| Manitoba | English 40S or 40U (Comprehensive/Literary/Transactional focus) |
| Ontario | ENG4U or ENG4C |
| Quebec | English 4U or AP English 4U |
| Two terms English Language | |
| Nova Scotia | English 12 or English 12 African Heritage |
| New Brunswick | English 120, 121 or 122 |
| Prince Edward Island | English 611 or 621 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | English 3201 |
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 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
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 |
Completion of Alexander College ENGL 099 – English Academic Preparation, with a grade of ‘C’ or higher.
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) | B or higher | ENGL 100 |
| O-Level English (First Language) | C or higher | ENGL 099 |
| O-Level English (First Language) | D 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.
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). | ||
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 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
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 |
| 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.
| 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 |
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 |
G.E.D Testing Program
| Course | Grade | Eligibility |
| Language Arts, Writing | Averaged score of 450 | ENGL 100 |
| Language Arts, Reading |
Looking to start the application process? Apply to AC here
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