English Proficiency Requirements
Johnson & Wales University recognizes a number of examinations as proof of English proficiency. Acceptable proof of English proficiency may include one of the following comparable English proficiency examinations (English proficiency examinations cannot be older than two years). Please note that total exemption from ESL may require meeting both the overall score and individual subscores.
| Examination | Score | |||
| Undergraduate | Graduate | Undergraduate Subscores (recommended) | Graduate Subscores | |
| IELTS (International English Language Testing System, Cambridge) | 6.0 | 6.5 | 5.5 or higher | 6.0 or higher |
| Duolingo English Test (DET) | 105 | 110 | 90 | 90 |
| TOEFL iBT (Test of English as Foreign Language, Internet, ETS | 75 | 80 | 15 or higher | 18 or higher |
| TOEFL Essentials | 8 | 8.5 | ||
| PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English) Online or at-home option | 53 | 53 | 43 or higher | 43 or higher |
| TOEFL PBT (Paper-based) revised — discontinued | 20 on each of the Reading, Listening & Writing tests | 20 on each of the Reading, Listening & Writing tests | ||
| Kaplan International | Advanced Certificate | Proficient Certificate | ||
| EF Education First, University Preparation | TOEFL, see requirements above | IELTS, see requirements, above | ||
| ELS — Certificate of Completion | Level 112 | |||
| LanguageCert International ESOL Exams | C1 level of CEFR* | C1 level of CEFR* | ||
| Cambridge C1 Advanced (formerly CAE) | 180 or higher | 180 or higher | ||
| Eiken S.T.E.P. (Society for Testing English Proficiency) | Grade 1 | Grade 1 | ||
| Michigan English Test — MELAB — Discontinued | ||||
| SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing | 500 | |||
| ACT English Language Arts | 19 (average of English scores) | |||
| ACT English and Reading | Section scores of 19 in each |
*CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) is an international standard describing language ability.
To meet English proficiency requirements, all English language examination results must be submitted on an official test transcript or test report form that is no more than two years old. TOEFL scores must be received as official ETS scores. The Johnson & Wales University Designated Institution (DI) code is 3465. Students should use this code on their TOEFL registration form so that their scores will be sent directly to Johnson & Wales University. Legible copies of IELTS Test Reports may be verified through the IELTS verification service.
Students may be exempted from individual ESL classes based on their individual test section scores. Johnson & Wales University also reserves the right to require a student to take ESL classes to increase proficiency in a particular area, regardless of total test scores.
Other English language examination results will also be considered, and experience studying in the English language, as documented through school transcripts, will be taken into consideration.
Additional qualifications that meet English proficiency requirements include the following:
| For Undergraduate Study | |
| GCSE, CIE, IGCSE or Singapore/Cambridge O Levels | Grade of 4, or Grade of C or higher in English Language |
| International Baccalaureate Examinations — IBO.org | Grade of 4 or higher in English SL/HL (Syllabus A) |
| Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) | Grades I–III in English Language |
| WAEC West African School Certificate Examination** | Grade 6 or better in English Language |
| For Graduate Study | |
| Nigeria — completion of an accredited university program | Level acceptable for graduate school admission |
| Ghana — completion of an accredited university program | Level acceptable for graduate school admission |
Majority English-Speaking Countries
Applicants who submit an official transcript from the following countries where English is the dominant native language and primary language of instruction may not be required to submit English language test scores, based on transcript review. JWU reserves the right to request English proficiency, as needed.
Official transcripts (examination certificates) will need to be provided.
- Anguilla (ANG)
- Antigua & Barbuda (ANT)
- Australia (AUS)
- Bahamas (BAH)
- Barbados (BAR)
- Belize
- Bermuda (BER)
- Botswana
- British Virgin Island (BVI)
- Canada (except Quebec) (CAN)
- Cayman Island (CAY)
- Dominica (DOM)
- Falkland Island
- Fiji (PJI)
- Gambia**
- Ghana**
- Gibraltar (GIL)
- Grenada (GRN)
- Guam (GUM)
- Guyana (GUY)
- Ireland (IRE)
- Jamaica (JAM)
- Liberia**
- Kiribati (KIR)
- Malta (MLT)
- Marshall Islands (MRI)
- Mauritius
- Micronesia, Fed States (MIC)
- Montserrat (MNT)
- Namibia
- New Zealand (NWZ)
- Nigeria**
- Scotland (SCO)
- Seychelles (SEV)
- Sierra Leone**
- St. Helena
- St. Kitts & Nevis (STR)
- St. Lucia (STL)
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines (STV)
- Trinidad and Tobago (TRT)
- Turks and Caicos Island (TCI)
- Uganda
- United Kingdom (UNK)
- Virgin Islands
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
** West African Examinations Council member countries — see WAEC West African School Certificate Examination requirements, above.