English Course Placement for ESL Students
Three undergraduate courses—English 121, 131, and 132—focus on teaching advanced English academic literacy to UT students whose first or strongest language is not English.
To register for any of these classes, 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 on the Undergraduate Admissions’ Admission Requirements for International Students page. 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.
PLACEMENT GUIDE
English course placement is determined by a combination of total scores and writing subscores.
Students with the following score combinations will be placed into English 131:
| TOEFL iBT | IELTS | Cambridge English Test | Duolingo English Test | Pearson Test of English |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 90+ total with 24+ writing subscore | 7+ total with 6.5+ writing subscore | 185+ total with 176+ writing subscore | 130+ Total with 130+ writing subscore | 63+ total with 74+ writing subscore |
Students with any of the following score combinations will be placed into English 121 or English 131 + English 103:
| TOEFL iBT | IELTS | Cambridge English Test | Duolingo English Test | Pearson Test of English |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 85+ total with 20+ writing subscore | 7+ total with 6.0 writing subscore | 180+ with 170+ writing subscore | 130+ total with 115+ writing subscore | 63+ total with 62+ writing subscore |
Students with the following score combinations will be placed into ELI (English Language Institute) 110:
| TOEFL iBT | IELTS | Cambridge English Test | Duolingo English Test | Pearson Test of English |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any total below 85 Or any subscore below 20 (any total) | 6.5 total with 6 or below writing subscore Or any subscore below 6 (with any total) | Any writing subscore below 169 (with any total) | Any total 125 or below Or any subscore 110 or below | Any total below 63 Or a writing subscore below 61 Or any subscore below 50 |
ELI 110: Fundamentals of Academic English is a non-credit course open to undergraduate students whose English proficiency scores or departmental recommendations indicate the need for additional academic English support. ELI 110 emphasizes strategies for success in U.S. university coursework, such as understanding U.S. academic culture, producing effective academic writing, and communicating confidently in academic settings. Please visit the English Language Institute (ELI) to learn more about ELI 110. For more information, contact the ELI at eli@utk.edu.
ESL Courses offered by the English Department
English 121
This 3-credit hour course 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.
English 131
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.
English 132
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 email esl@utk.edu