Announcement
2 minutes reading
Share

We require all applicants who attend a school in a country where English is not the native language or whose language of instruction in high school (secondary school) was not English to adequately demonstrate English competency as a part of the application process. In most cases, if less than three years of your secondary schooling was with English as the language of instruction, you must meet UCSC's English proficiency requirement.

First-year students may demonstrate competency by submitting scores from one of the following tests. Please note that TOEFL, IELTS, or DET exam scores are preferred, but the score from ACT English Language Arts or SAT Writing and Language can also be used to demonstrate English language proficiency.

  • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): Internet-based test (iBT) or iBT Home Edition: Minimum score of 80 or better. Paper-delivered test: Minimum score of 60 or better
  • IELTS (International English Language Testing System): Overall band score of 6.5 or higher*, includes IELTS Indicator Exam
  • Duolingo English Test (DET): Minimum score of 115
  • SAT (March 2016 or later) Writing & Language Test: 31 or higher
  • SAT (prior to March 2016) Writing Exam: 560 or higher
  • ACT combined English-Writing or English Language Arts portion: 24 or higher
  • AP English Language and Composition, or English Literature and Composition: 3, 4, or 5
  • IB Standard Level examination in English: Literature, or Language and Literature: 6 or 7
  • IB Higher Level examination in English: Literature, or Language and Literature: 5, 6, or 7

Transfer students may fulfill the English Proficiency requirement in the following ways:

  • Complete at least two UC-transferable English composition courses with a grade point average of 2.0 (C) or higher.
  • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): Internet-based test (iBT) or iBT Home Edition: Minimum score of 80 or better. Paper-delivered test: Minimum score of 60 or better
  • Achieve a score of 6.5 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), includes IELTS Indicator Exam
  • Achieve a score of 115 on the Duolingo English Test (DET)

*Please note: For IELTS testing, UCSC only accepts scores submitted electronically by the IELTS test center. No paper Test Report Forms will be accepted. An institutional code is NOT required. Please contact the test center directly where you took the IELTS test and request that your test scores be sent electronically using the IELTS system. All IELTS test centers worldwide are able to send scores electronically to our institution. You must provide the following information when requesting your scores:

UC Santa Cruz
Office of Admissions
1156 High St.
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
USA