Students are required to have competency in English. Exchange students should be very comfortable communicating in English with speakers from many cultural backgrounds who may have a strong native accent.
If your first language is not English, you will be required to write one of the following acceptable English language proficiency tests. You are encouraged to write a test at the earliest possible date.
1. TOEFL Internet based (iBT), Paper-based (PBT) and the TWE
The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the Test of Written English (TWE) is offered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) on several dates at a number of locations throughout the world.
The minimum score required on the TOEFL is 550 on the paperbased with a 5 on the TWE, and 83 on the internet-based tests with no score below 20.
Western's Institution Code for TOEFL is 0984. Please leave the department code blank to ensure that it is received by the Undergraduate Admissions Office.
2. Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic)
The Pearson Test of English Academic offered by Pearson is a computer-based test for English study abroad that is offered in various countries internationally.
A minimum overall score of 58 is required with no score less than 56.
3. MELAB
The Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) offered by the University of Michigan’s English Language Institute, is an acceptable English as a foreign language (EFL) examination and is administered monthly at authorized test centres in various countries.
A minimum overall score of 80 is required with no score less than 78.
4. IELTS International
The International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) is jointly managed by the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations, British Council, and IDP Education Australia with tests offered across the world up to four times a month.
IELTS Academic is required with a minimum overall band score of 6.5 with no part less than 6.0.
5. CanTEST
The CanTEST is managed by the University of Ottawa and is offered in various provinces within Canada.
A minimum overall score of 4.0 is required with no part less than 4.0.
6. CAEL
The Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL) is managed through Carleton University and is offered in various countries internationally.
A minimum overall score of 60 is required with no part less than 60.