International Testing

Current international testing programs include four English as a second language tests:

The Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) is a multilevel examination designed principally for admission to colleges and universities in which English is the primary language of instruction. It assesses examinees’ language proficiency in four skill areas (listening, reading, writing, and speaking) with the speaking component optional. Each skill area is scored on a numeric scale, and official score reports are sent directly to institutions requested by the examinee.

The Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English (ECPE) is an advanced-level test that provides an assessment of examinees’ language proficiency in all four skills (listening, reading, writing, and speaking). Successful examinees receive an official certificate that can be used as evidence of advanced English language proficiency for education and employment purposes.

The Examination for the Certificate of Competency in English (ECCE) is an upper-intermediate-level test that provides an assessment of examinees’ language proficiency in all four skills (listening, reading, writing, and speaking). Successful examinees receive an official certificate that can be used as evidence of upper-intermediate English language proficiency for education and employment purposes.

Note: ELI-UM does not release Certificate Program test results directly to the candidates. ELI-UM reports results to the exam centers, who in turn report the results to the candidates. Candidates should contact their local exam center for ECPE and/or ECCE test results.

The Michigan English Test (MET) is a multilevel examination that provides an assessment of examinees’ proficiency in listening, reading, and language usage (grammar and vocabulary). It is intended to provide evidence of English proficiency for educational and employment purposes. Examinees receive a score report indicating their level of proficiency based on standardized, numeric scaled scores. Official score reports are received through exam centers. An optional speaking component is expected in late 2009.

Testing at the University of Michigan
The ELI-UM Testing and Certification Division also develops and administers English language evaluations for incoming University of Michigan students and prospective graduate-student instructors. These tests are used to determine English language proficiency for various academic purposes and may lead to recommendations about placement into language courses at the English Language Institute.

The Academic English Evaluation (AEE), is a test of English for academic purposes that includes measures of writing, listening, grammar, vocabulary, reading, and speaking. It is an on-campus assessment used to evaluate the academic English language skills of many nonnative English undergraduate and graduate students as they enter their degree program at the University of Michigan. Admitting units of the University of Michigan inform students if they are required to take the AEE. Test results are used to exempt students from or place students into EAP courses offered by the ELI.

The International Graduate Student Instructor Oral English Test (GSI OET), a four-task performance test, has been developed to evaluate the spoken English of a graduate student who seeks a GSI appointment and whose undergraduate degree is from an institution in which English is not the language of instruction.

Commercially Available Tests
Through ELI-UM's Test Publications, various proficiency and placement tests developed at ELI-UM are made commercially available for use by other institutions for their own internal assessment purposes. These include the Michigan Test of English Language Proficiency (MTELP), the English Placement Test (EPT), the Michigan English Language Institute College English Test-Grammar, Vocabulary, Cloze, Reading (MELICET-GCVR), and the Michigan English Language Institute College English Test-Listening (MELICET-L).

Special Accommodations
ELI-UM is committed to ensuring that every applicant be able to demonstrate his or her language ability under circumstances that are fair. Read more about ELI-UM's special accommodations for test takers.