English language proficiency requirement
Proof of English language proficiency is required for all students who did not complete most of their primary and secondary education in the United States, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom. Students who are required to prove English language proficiency are exempt from the World Languages requirement. Determining English language proficiency is at the discretion of UW Bothell.
English language proficiency must be proved by one of the following methods:
- English language proficiency exams
- 90 U.S. college credits
- SAT/ACT & U.S. high school English
- U.S. baccalaureate / master degree
NOTE: Students applying to Computer Science and Software Systems, Computer Engineering, or Applied Computing may have different requirements. Learn more on the Divison of CSS program admissions page.
English language proficiency exams
Provide official scores for one of the following exams. The exam must be taken within 2 years of the anticipated enrollment date at UW Bothell. Official scores must be sent directly to UW Bothell from the testing agency (UW Bothell’s institution code for the TOEFL is 9964).
| Requirement | TOEFL Score | IELTS Score | Duolingo Score | English 3 Score | iTEP Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Satisfies English language proficiency requirement | 83 | 6.5 | 105 | 73 | 3.9 |
| Admission requires completing specified section(s) of BWRIT within the First Two Quarters at UW Bothell | 76-82 | 6.0 | 101-104 | 67-72 | 3.7-3.8 |
| Does not satisfy English language proficiency requirement | Below 76 | 5.5 or below | 100 or below | 66 or below | 3.6 or below |
90 U.S. college credits*
Meet ALL FOUR requirements at a regionally accredited institution in the U.S.:
- Earn a minimum 2.75 transferable coursework GPA AND
- Earn a minimum grade of 3.0 in the equivalent of UW ENGL 131 English Composition AND
- Earn a minimum grade of 3.0 in the equivalent of UW ENGL 141 Writing from Research AND
- Complete 90 transferable quarter credits (or 60 transferable semester credits)
NOTE: We strongly recommend completion of requirements 1, 2 and 3 at the time of application. See the University of Washington Equivalency Guide for equivalent English courses at Washington community colleges.
SAT/ACT & U.S. high school English
Complete a minimum of four years of high school English in the United States* with grades of 3.0 or higher each year and earn a minimum score on one of the following tests:
| Qualifying Test | Minimum Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Critical Reading | 560 |
| SAT Writing | 500 |
| ACT English | 21 |
*English composition and literature courses taken in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand or the United Kingdom may also satisfy the requirement.
U.S. baccalaureate / master degree
Earn a baccalaureate degree with at least 90 transferable quarter credits (or 60 transferable semester credits) completed at a regionally accredited institution in the United States; or earn a master’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution in the United States.