English Language Proficiency – Recommendations for English Support Courses
Recommended placements in English support courses are based on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), Duolingo English Test (DET), and International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores that international students who use English as an additional language submit with their applications.
The chart below provides recommended course placements based on TOEFL, DET, and IELTS scores. Please contact Dr. Dawn E. McCormick (mccormic@pitt.edu), Director, English Language Institute; Teaching Professor, Department of Linguistics, if you have questions about the chart scores.
Academic advisors and matriculated international students should discuss the English proficiency test results and any English support course recommendation or requirements determined by their academic department or school.
Advisors and students should contact Dr. Greg Mizera (gmizera@pitt.edu), Teaching Associate Professor and English as an Additional Language Curriculum Coordinator, Department of Linguistics, to consult on English support course recommendations and curriculum.
Advisors can view student test scores (e.g., TOEFL, Duolingo, IELTS) in PeopleSoft/HighPoint Campus Experience (CX) > Academics > Test Scores by visiting CX through my.pitt.edu and selecting the PeopleSoft/HighPoint CX task. Then:
- From the left side menu, View Advisees or Lookup Student (search by student ID or name).
- Click Act as User and confirm you are accessing the student’s record by clicking Continue.
- From the left-side menu, select Academics > Test Scores.
- Click on individual test(s) to view detailed information (e.g., component, score, date, academic level, data source).
Suggested Cut-off Scores for ESL Support Courses
Writing
| CEFR Level | Pre 2026 TOEFL Writing |
2026 TOEFL Writing | IELTS Writing |
Duolingo Writing |
Recommendations for Undergraduate Students |
Recommendations for Graduate Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C2 | 29-30 | 6 | 9 | 160 | ENGCMP 0200 (Seminar in Composition) | none |
| C1 | 24-28 | 5-5.5 | 7-8 | 140-155 | ENGCMP 0152 (Workshop in Composition: ESL) |
none |
| B2 or below | 23 or below | 4.5 or below | 6.5 or below | 135 or below | LING 0007 (ESL Writing Intermediate) |
LING 0009* (ESL Writing Advanced) |
* INFSCI 2205: Technical Communication for Information Science for graduate students in SCI
Speaking
| CEFR Level | Pre 2026 TOEFL Speaking |
2026 TOEFL Speaking | IELTS Speaking |
Duolingo Speaking |
Recommendations for Undergraduate Students |
Recommendations for Graduate Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C2 | 28-30 | 6 | 9 | 160 | none | none |
| C1 | 25-27 | 5-5.5 | 7-8 | 140-155 | none | none |
| B2 or below | 24 or below | 4.5 or below | 6.5 or below | 135 or below | LING 0008 (ESL Speaking and Listening) |
LING 0008 (ESL Speaking and Listening) |
Listening
| CEFR Level | Pre 2026 TOEFL Listening |
2026 TOEFL Listening | IELTS Listening |
Duolingo Listening |
Recommendations for Undergraduate Students |
Recommendations for Graduate Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C2 | 28-30 | 6 | 9 | 150-160 | none | none |
| C1 | 22-27 | 5-5.5 | 7-8 | 130-145 | none | none |
| B2 or below | 21 or below | 4.5 or below | 6.5 or below | 125 or below | LING 0008 (ESL Speaking and Listening) |
LING 0008 (ESL Speaking and Listening) |
Reading
| CEFR Level | Pre 2026 TOEFL Reading |
2026 TOEFL Reading | IELTS Reading |
Duolingo Reading |
Recommendations for Undergraduate Students |
Recommendations for Graduate Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C2 | 29-30 | 6 | 9 | 150-160 | none | none |
| C1 | 24-28 | 5-5.5 | 7-8 | 130-145 | none | none |
| B2 or below | 23 or below | 4.5 or below | 6.5 or below | 125 or below | LING 0010 (ESL Reading and Vocabulary) |
LING 0010 (ESL Reading and Vocabulary) |
Related Information
Descriptions of the LING English support courses can be found at Department of Linguistics Courses in English as a Second Language.
A description of ENGCMP 0152 can be found at Composition Program Workshop in Composition: ESL.
Policy and Procedure AC 07: Assessment of English Language Proficiency for Admission