Assessment Services

Levels of English Proficiency (LOEP)

At a Glance

About the LOEP

If your native language is not English and you are seeking an associate degree or career certificate, you will be required to take the LOEP. The LOEP is an assessment given prior to student enrollment to test language proficiency in order to accurately place you in the appropriate courses and to improve your opportunity for learning.

• The LOEP is designed to assess your English skills if you have learned English as an additional language to your native language.
• The LOEP consists of an essay and three computerized subtests: Language Usage, Reading Comprehension, and Sentence Structure.
• The computerized section of the LOEP is not timed, so you will be able to work through the test at your own pace. The Essay section is timed at 30 minutes.
• Tests are administered on a walk-in basis at Valencia's Assessment Centers.
• There is no additional charge to take the LOEP after all application fees are paid.
• You may be exempt from the LOEP if you
• provide official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores less than two years old that place you in course work at Valencia (See placement chart)
• provide official transcripts of college-level coursework in Freshman English Composition with a "C" or better
• provide official transcripts indicating you have earned an Associate or Bachelor's degree for which English was the language of instruction.
• If you would like to improve your LOEP scores, you may be eligible to retake the test 90 days after the original test date. Retakes are not allowed once you begin EAP course work.
• If you are an international student, your scores must place you at English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Level 4 in order to attend Valencia.