English Placement Test (EPT) is required for all incoming IU undergraduates before they start their first semester at the IU. Students can check whether they are exempted from the EPT under the Exemptions section. The EPT is a computer-based test to assess English Listening, Speaking, Reading, And Writing skills. The EPT takes around 3.5 hours.
Students’ results of the EPT are used to place them in appropriate Intensive – Academic courses. Students that need to take IE1 courses cannot register for courses in the first semester. Students that are placed in IE2 and AE1 courses can concurrently start their academic program in their first semester.
Test Schedule for Semester 1, 2019-2020
Date: TBD
Time: TBD
Location: TBD
After you file the admission package to the Office of Undergraduate Affairs (OUA), OUA will then arrange test schedule for the students. Special requests on test dates should be made directly to the registrar staff.
You can access edusoftweb.hcmiu.edu.vn/ from your IU accounts for updated test dates.
Exemptions
All incoming students are required to take the English Placement Test prior to their first semester at the IU. However, students do not have to take the test if students that have valid (no more than 2 years) TOEFL iBT and IELTS scores.
The cut-off scores for placement into ESL courses are listed as follows:
|
STAGE 1:
Intensive English
|
STAGE 2:
Academic English
|
|
Level
|
IE1
|
IE2
|
AE1
|
|
Entry
|
TOEFL iBT < 35
or IELTS < 5.0
|
TOEFL iBT ≥ 35
or IELTS ≥ 5.0
|
TOEFL iBT ≥ 61
or IELTS ≥ 6.0
|
To be exempted from the test, students need to submit a notarized copy of the English certificate (IELTS or TOEFL iBT) when filing the admission package to the Office of Undergraduate Affairs (OUA).
Students who are not exempted from the test and do not take the EPT will be placed in IE1 courses (Intensive program).
Registration
All undergraduate students are advised to register for the test when they complete their admission package to the Office of Undergraduate Affairs. Students who are not exempted from the test and do not take the EPT will be placed in IE1 courses (Intensive program).
On the test date, test takers need to bring your student ID, ID card, or a passport, and a pen. Students should arrive at the test site at least 30 minutes before the test.
Test Results
Students can view their EPT reports on the school website edusoftweb.hcmiu.edu.vn/ from their IU accounts approximately five days after the test day.
ESL cut-off scores of the EPT placements are listed as follows:
• 0-34: IE1 courses
• 35-59: IE2 courses
• 60 and higher: AE1 courses
Test Description
The EPT has four parts: reading, listening, speaking, and writing. In part 1 (Reading), students are required to read three passages and answer multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes. In part 2 (Listening), students are asked to listen to two conversations and four lectures with 34 questions. Students are allowed to listen to the recordings ONCE and take notes on listening passages. In the speaking section, test takers record their spoken responses to questions of six tasks. In the writing section, test takers are required to produce written responses from reading and listening tasks, and support their argument.
Students can view guidelines and a demo test at edusoft (edusoftweb.hcmiu.edu.vn/) from your IU accounts.
|
Skills
|
Number of Tasks
|
Item type
|
Number of items
|
Score weight
|
Duration
|
|
Reading
|
3
|
Multiple choice |
38 – 42
|
30
|
60 minutes |
|
Listening
|
6
|
Multiple choice |
34
|
30
|
Approx. 50 minutes |
|
Speaking
|
6
|
Recorded response |
6
|
30
|
Approx. 25 minutes |
|
Writing
|
2
|
Essays |
2
|
30
|
50 minutes |
FAQs
1. What is the test date of the EPT?
The English Placement Test is usually scheduled in the last 3 weeks of August, depending on the academic calendar of the International University. You will choose one of the EPT test dates when you file the admission package to the Office of Undergraduate Affairs (OUA).
2. I have taken the test, but I’m not happy with the results. Can I take the EPT test again?
No, you cannot.
3. If I miss the test, can I take any makeup test?
Yes, but you are expected to give prior notice of the reasonable excuse to OUA or the Department of English for the make-up test. However, approval to placement test retake request is granted on a case-by-case basis. Students who are not exempted from the test and do not take the EPT will be placed in IE1 courses (Intensive program).
Contact Us
Ms. Dương Kiều Phượng Nhung (Email: dkpnhung@hcmiu.edu.vn)
Address: Quarter 6, Linh Trung Ward, Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Room: O1.510. Tel: (+84-028) 372 44 270, Ext. 3234. Fax: (+84-028) 372 44 271.
