You must be able to speak, read, write and understand English to successfully complete college work in the United States. The most common examinations accepted as proof of English proficiency from international students are TOEFL and IELTS.
Information about TOEFL:
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is the most widely accepted English language test in the world. Foothill College requires one of the following minimum TOEFL scores for admission:
500 PBT (paper based), or
173 CBT (computer based), or
61 IBT (Internet based)
You should register to take the test at least 1-2 months before the application deadline. Test locations, schedules and registration information is available online at www.toefl.org. In some cases, it is possible to submit institutional TOEFL results from our approved language school partners. Foothill's TOEFL code is 4315.
Please note that your TOEFL result must be less than 2 years old for admission to Foothill. TOEFL score results more than 2 years old will not be accepted.
iTEP Test
iTEP is a very flexible and affordable International Test of English Proficiency. iTEP delivers English proficiency assessment in only 90 minutes. There is virtually no wait time to register for the test, and the scores are reported within five business days.
Foothill College requires iTEP Level 5 in lieu of TOEFL/IELTS for admission.
iTEP score results are valid for 2 years.
If you are overseas, register to take the test at one of the international iTEP test centers.
Foothill College iTEP Test Center
Foothill College is now officially an iTEP Test Center. If you are applying to Foothill College from within the United States, you can satisfy our English proficiency requirement for admission right here on campus.
The cost of the exam is $75, please have cash or check ready. The exam will take 90 minutes to complete, and your results will be available within five business days.
Please note that there are a number of colleges and universities accepting iTEP exam scores instead of TOEFL/IELTS scores for international student admission, for example Cal State Northridge, Santa Monica College, UC Berkeley Summer Sessions, etc. See the current list of schools accepting iTEP.
Information about IELTS
IELTS is the International English Language Testing System. Close to 5,000 education institutions, faculties, government agencies and professional organisations around the world recognize IELTS scores as a trusted and valid indicator of ability to communicate in English. Foothill College requires a minimum Academic IELTS score of 6.0 or higher for admission.
You should register to take the test at least 1-2 months before the application deadline at www.ielts.org. Please note that your IELTS result must be less than 2 years old. IELTS score results more than 2 years old will not be accepted.
STEP EIKEN
Foothill College will also accept a grade of 2A on the STEP EIKEN test as proof of English proficiency. The EIKEN Test in Practical English Proficiency is Japan’s leading language assessment. More information can be found at http://stepeiken.org/. Please note that EIKEN score results more than 2 years old will not be accepted.
Pearson PTE Academic
Foothill College will also accept a score of 45 and higher on the PTE Academic test as proof of English proficiency instead of TOEFL/IELTS. This is a new international computer-based academic English language test endorsed by Graduate Management Admission Council. More information can be found at http://pearsonpte.com/PTEAcademic/Pages/home.aspx. Please note that PTE Academic score results more than 2 years old will not be accepted.
Intensive Summer ESL (English as a Second Language)
An intensive, six-week summer English as a Second Language (ESL) program at Foothill College, called the Summer Bridge Program, is available for students coming from overseas with the following English test results:
TOEFL: 475-499 PBT (paper based); or 151-172 (computer based);or 52-60 IBT (Internet based); or
IELTS: 5.5-5.9
Upon successful completion of the Summer Bridge Program, you will be guaranteed admission to Foothill for the fall quarter without retaking the TOEFL or IELTS test. For more information about program features and an application, visit Summer Bridge Program.
Language School Agreements Guaranteed Admissions Policy
If your English test score is below our minimum for admission, you may wish to attend one of our partner language schools to improve your English proficiency. Foothill College has agreements with several local and national language schools (see list below), which allow guaranteed admission to Foothill upon completion of a specified level at the language school. In this case, TOEFL or IELTS scores are not required.
For example: If you complete level 109 at ELS, you will be accepted to Foothill for the next intake (fall, winter or spring) without a TOEFL/IELTS score provided you have satisfied our other admission requirements. Or, instead of completing a specified level, you can take the TOEFL or IELTS exams while attending the language school and, if you reach the minimum required score or higher, you will be accepted to Foothill.
A Conditional Letter of Acceptance (CLA) may be issued upon request if you apply to the language school and to Foothill at the same time. A CLA is helpful when you are applying for a student visa as a proof of your conditional admission to Foothill and of your plan to continue your studies after the language school. Please follow specific steps to request a CLA.
Language School Partners Century School of Languages
CSL is located in San Jose, CA, about 20 minutes south of Foothill College. TOEFL/IELTS alternative: Completion of level 6.
EF (Education First) International Language Schools—The nearest locations to Foothill are San Francisco downtown and Mills College campus EF also has school locations in Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Miami Beach, New York, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Seattle, Tampa in the U.S.; and in Toronto and Vancouver in Canada. TOEFL/IELTS alternative: Completion of level 106 or higher, or institutional TOEFL.
ELS Language Centers
The nearest locations to Foothill are San Francisco, Berkeley, San Rafael and Hayward. ELS also has school locations in Southern California and many other U.S. states, and in Toronto and Vancouver in Canada.
TOEFL/IELTS alternative: Completion of level 109 or higher, or institutional TOEFL.
Eurocentres Silicon Valley
This is the nearest language school to Foothill College. It is located in Menlo Park, next to Stanford University, about 20 minutes north of our campus.TOEFL/IELTS alternative: Completion of level 6 or institutional TOEFL.
Golden Gate Language School is located in Campbell, CA near San Jose. TOEFL/IELTS alternative: Completion of level 12 or institutional TOEFL.
Intrax International Institute The nearest location to Foothill is San Francisco. Intrax also has school locations in San Diego, Chicago and Vancouver, Canada. TOEFL/IELTS alternative: Completion of level 9 or institutional TOEFL.
Kaplan Aspect
The nearest locations to Foothill are San Francisco and Berkeley. Kaplan Aspect also has school locations in other U.S. states and in Toronto and Vancouver in Canada. TOEFL/IELTS alternative: Completion of Higher-Intermediate or Advanced levels, or institutional TOEFL.
Mission College Intensive English Program Mission College is located in Santa Clara, CA. TOEFL/IELTS alternative: Completion of level D in the LINK Program, or institutional TOEFL.
POLY Languages Institute has school locations in Irvine, Pasadena and Los Angeles in Southern California. TOEFL/IELTS alternative: Completion of level 6 of the POLY ESL program.
Studies in American Language at San Jose State University
The SAL Program in located on the beautiful campus of San Jose State University. TOEFL/IELTS alternative: Completion of high intermediate level course of study (Expansion 2) with good attendance and good grades.
Vancouver English Center VEC is one of Canada’s leading language schools located in Vancouver, BC. TOEFL/IELTS alternative: Completion of level 12.
Application Procedure for CLA (Conditional Letter of Acceptance)
Apply to the language school and to Foothill College at the same time. Follow specific requirements for Foothill admission.
Enclose a letter with your application materials to Foothill College indicating the language school to which you have applied and requesting a conditional letter of acceptance (CLA). As an alternative, you can submit a copy of the acceptance letter or an I-20 from the language school.
The language school will send you an official acceptance document, Form I-20, which you will use to apply for an F-1 student visa to enter the United States. Foothill College will send you a CLA describing your conditional admission to Foothill. The CLA should be presented with other documents when applying for a student visa.
Attend the language school until you complete the specified ESL level (see list of language school partners above) or reach a minimum TOEFL/IELTS score required for admission.
IMPORTANT STEP: Send us official documentation from your language school verifying that you have attained an appropriate English proficiency level. Upon evaluation by our International Student Office, you will receive an acceptance letter with transfer instructions. You are not fully accepted by Foothill until you receive an official acceptance letter from our office. Follow specific transfer instructions in order to transfer your student record from the language school to Foothill College.
TOEFL and IELTS Waivers
English proficiency can be demonstrated by meeting one of the following conditions instead of demonstrating a TOEFL or an IELTS score. Upon evaluation of your application materials, we may waive the TOEFL or IELTS requirement if you:
Earned a high school diploma, or studied for a minimum of 2 years and attained a grade of "C" or better in English in one of the English speaking countries (U.S., U.K., Canada and Australia).
Earned a high school diploma in an International School or similar, where English is the primary language of instruction. You must submit school transcripts and other documentation, such as a letter on school's letterhead, stating that English was the primary language of instruction.
Completed all years of study in a school in Singapore. Completion of secondary school only will require a TOEFL or IELTS score.
Completed all years of study in a school in Scandinavian countries and received grades of "VG" or "MVG" in English A and B.
Completed advanced level ESL or college-level English classes at a U.S. college or university. You must provide an official transcript to receive this waiver.
Received a degree from a college or university in the U.S., the U.K., Canada or Australia. You must provide an official transcript to receive this waiver.
Are a resident of and completed all years of study in an English speaking country (U.S., U.K., Canada and Australia).
Century School of Languages: Level 6
EF International Language Schools: Level 106 or higher
ELS Language Centers: Level 109 or higher
Eurocentres Silicon Valley: Level 6
Golden Gate Language School: Level 12
Intrax International Institute: Level 9
Kaplan Aspect: Higher-Intermediate or Advanced levels
Mission College Intensive English Program: Level D in LINK Program
POLY Languages Institute: Level 6
Studies in American Language at SJSU: High intermediate level
Vancouver English Center: Level 12
