Get the BTS: Behind the Scenes on English Language Proficiency Exams and Admissions Policy Setting

English language proficiency exams assess international students’ readiness for academic success. Institutions face challenges balancing fairness with access. This session explores the science behind ELP exams and institutional approaches to admissions policies, including setting minimum score thresholds, superscoring practices, exemptions, and score concordance across multiple test providers.

Committee Group: Group II: International Education

First Learning Outcome: Participants will gain an understanding of the science behind the assessment of English language proficiency (ELP). 

Second Learning Outcome: Participants will be able to develop fair and equitable ELP policies.

Third Learning Outcome: Participants will be able to identify misaligned policies and the risks associated with them.

Core Competency: Technological Knowledge

Proficiency: International Proficiencies

Presenter(s): 

Jennifer Minke Tarrant County College District

Shelby Cearley Adtelem Global Education

Emily Tse TruMerit

Ariel Foster IELTS USA