English as a Second Language (ESL) Placement

Applicants who have spent at least six months or more in an institution where English is not the primary language of instruction or took ESL classes in high school are flagged as potential ESL students during the CUNY admissions process.  ESL applicants who meet the CUNY benchmark scores on the New York State Regents will be deemed proficient in English and/or math, regardless of where they attended high school.  ESL applicants who do not meet the benchmark scores in math will be assessed via the proficiency index in math. For English proficiency, ESL applicants will be evaluated in the following way:

• ESL applicants who do not have a New York State English Regents score will not be assessed via the English proficiency index. Applicants will be required to take Accuplacer ESL exam to determine reading and writing proficiency and appropriate course placement.

• ESL students who have a New York State English Regents score below 75 will have an English Proficiency Index calculated. Students who do not meet the English Proficiency Index benchmark score (65) will be required to take the CAccuplacer ESL exam to determine appropriate course placement.

More information can be found at CUNY's Proficiency Requirements website.

Students who need to take the Accuplacer ESL exam may contact the QCC Office of Testing.