The Faculty of Applied Health Sciences requires that all students have a basic competency in written English in order to be successful in their university studies and to qualify for a degree. The English Language Proficiency Examination (ELPE) is a diagnostic exam intended to determine the level of a student's ability in written English. All students including transfer students entering the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences must write the English Language Proficiency Examination by the end of their second term. There are no exceptions and students must achieve a grade of 60% or higher to satisfy this requirement.
Students who do not achieve this grade must fulfill this requirement by the end of their 2B term in one of the following ways:
- Re-write the English Language Proficiency Examination and achieve a grade of 60% or higher OR
- Successful completion of the work assigned by the University of Waterloo Writing Centre OR
- Successful completion of a University of Waterloo English course with a grade of 60% or higher. Acceptable University of Waterloo courses are ESL 102R, ESL 129R, ENGL 109, 129R, 140R, and any 210 course.
The English Language Proficiency Examination is written during the student’s first term. Sittings of ELPE are also available prior to the start of the fall, winter, and spring examination periods.
Notes:
- Students are normally required to write the ELPE exam in the fall term. Those who are unable to do so may write the exam in April.
- Students can arrange a special sitting of the ELPE outside of the scheduled dates for an extra administration charge. Contact the Writing Centre directly.
- Students who have not completed the English Language Proficiency Requirement by the end of second year will have their future registrations cancelled and will be allowed to proceed only after successful completion of this requirement.
- A completed English Proficiency milestone on a student's academic record will indicate successful completion of this requirement.
- Transfer credits can not be used to satisfy the English Language Proficiency Requirement.