English Course Placement for ESL Students

Four courses—English 121, 122, 131, and 132—focus on teaching advanced English academic literacy to UT students whose first or strongest language is not English.

For undergrads: To register for any of these classes (other than English 122), you must be a regularly admitted UT student and be placed into the class by the ESL Writing Program based on your TOEFL (or equivalent)  scores used for admissions. More information about UT’s English proficiency admissions policy can be found here. All undergraduate students must eventually complete both English 131 and 132; some undergraduate students may also be required to first take English 121 and/or ELI 110.

Graduate students are encouraged to register for English 122, Academic English for Graduate Students, particularly if their TOEFL score is less than 100 (or IELTS less than 7.5).

Placement Guide

Undergraduate Students

A combination of scores and subscores will determine English course placement.  You will be contacted by the English Department as soon as you confirm attendance.

Students with the following score combinations will be placed into English 131: 

TOEFL (iBT)	IELTS
90+ total, with: 24+ writing subscore 20+ speaking subscore	7+ total, with: 6.5+ writing subscore 6.5+ speaking subscore

Students with any of the following three score combinations will be placed into English 121:

TOEFL (iBT)	IELTS
a. 90+ total, with: 18-23 writing 18-19 speaking OR  b. 80-89 total, with 18+ writing 18+ speaking OR c. 70-79 total, with: 24+ writing 20+ speaking	7+ total, with: 6.0 or below writing 6.0 or below speaking OR b. 6.5 total, with: 6.0+ writing 6.0+ speaking OR c. 6 total, with 6.5+ writing 6.5+ speaking

Students with any of the following two score combinations will be placed into ELI (English Language Institute) 110:

TOEFL (iBT)	IELTS
a. 70-79 total, with: 23 or below writing 19 or below speaking OR b. Any subscore 17 or below (with any total)	a. 6 total, with: 6 or below writing 6 or below speaking OR b. Any subscore 5.5 or below (with any total)

ELI 110: Fundamentals in Academic English is offered by the English Language Institute (ELI). For more information, contact the ELI at eli@tennessee.edu or visit their website at eli.utk.edu

Graduate Students

The ESL Writing Program offers English 122, Academic English for Graduate Students, for graduate students whose first language is not English.

English 122 is recommended for students with the following test scores: 

TOEFL 99 or below, OR

IELTS 7.0 or below, OR

TOEFL CBT 247 or below, OR

TOEFL PBT 597 or below.

Exchange Students

Exchange students are not required to take English courses. However, if you would like to take English, please refer to the placement guidelines for undergraduate students above. Please also send an email to esl@utk.edu telling us (1) your full name (2) your student ID #, and  (3) which English class and section you would like to take. If you do not have official scores (TOELF or IELTS) and would like to take English, please read the descriptions below and choose the course best suited to your English proficiency level.

ESL Courses

English 121 (undergraduate)

This 3-credit hour course is open to undergraduate students who place into the course based on their TOEFL or IELTS scores.

English 121 focuses on academic literacy (including academic reading, writing, vocabulary, and grammar) and also focuses some attention on listening and oral presentation skills. This course does not meet university undergraduate requirements for freshman composition. Note to exchange students without scores: This class is recommended if you have not previously had extensive practice in English academic composition.

English 122 (graduate)

This 3-credit hour course is open to graduate students, and recommended for those with TOEFL scores of less than 100, or IELTS scores of less than 7.5.

English 122 focuses on intensive reading and writing instruction for international graduate students, focusing on a variety of critical and rhetorical approaches to academic writing in the disciplines. The class also includes strategies for improving professional oral communication. There will also be comprehensive review of the essential grammar for research writing.

English 131 (undergraduate)

This 3-credit course meets the university’s undergraduate requirements for freshman composition (equivalent to English 101). This class involves intensive instruction in writing, focusing on analysis and argument. The class also covers strategies for developing substantive arguments through systematic revision, addressing specific audiences, integrating sources, and expressing ideas with clarity and correctness. Note to exchange students without scores: This course is recommended if you already have experience with English academic composition.

English 132 (undergraduate)

Before enrolling in English 132, all students must have passed English 131 with a grade of C or higher. This 3-credit course meets the university’s undergraduate requirement for freshman composition (equivalent to English 102). The goal of this course is to advance concepts introduced in English 131. The course involves intensive writing instruction focused on inquiry and research. It covers strategies for formulating and investigating questions; locating and evaluating information; using varied sources and research methods; developing positions on intercultural and interdisciplinary issues from diverse texts (print, digital, and multimedia); and presenting research using appropriate rhetorical conventions.

For more information about ESL courses, contact esl@utk.edu.

The English language has grown well beyond the borders of monolingual English-speaking countries. Users of English as a second or additional language currently far outnumber those who speak English as their first or primary language. To accommodate both those who study English as a second language, such as matriculated international and immigrant students at UT or those who wish to teach English as a second/foreign language, the Department of English offers classes at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

For questions about the ESL Writing Program, please send an email to: esl@utk.edu.