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Due to unforeseen circumstances, all members of the Pima Community College (PCC) Governing Board will be attending the Board's March 8, 2023, Regular Meeting remotely. At the discretion of the Board Chair, PCC administrators and others making scheduled presentations to the Board may also be appearing remotely. Tonight's meeting will otherwise be conducted in a hybrid format as previously noticed, and members of the public may still attend in person at PCC's District Office, room C-105. During the "Public Comment-Call to the Audience" portion of tonight's meeting, public comments may still be made either remotely or in person. PCC staff will be on-site in room C-105 to assist members of the public attending in person who wish to address comments to the Board.
Two smiling students sit in a student lounge at a Pima campus

English Proficiency

Accepted exams and scores

ESL students do not need to prove English proficiency. Applicants who do not meet the English language proficiency requirements may be admitted to the American Institute of Language and Culture at PCC. Students will take a placement/assessment exam on campus to determine their ESL level of study. 

Below you will find various exams and scores that we will consider for admission:

  1. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score report with a minimum score of 61 ibt
  2. International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Overall Band Score of 5.5 or better with a minimum individual score of 5.0 in EACH component (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking).
  3. Duolingo with a minimum score of  90
  4. Pearson Test of English (PTE) General Score of Level 2 or a PTE Academic Score of 43 or better.
  5. General Test of English Communication (GTEC) Score of 1050 or better.
  6. ACT Reading and Writing with a minimum score of 19
  7. SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing with a minimum score of 510
  8. Combined College assessment results: place into highest level (currently Level 88) on Accuplacer ESL test AND Writing 101S AND Reading 091.
  9. Certificate of Endorsement indicating successful program completion at the American Institute of Language and Culture at Pima Community College.
  10. Certificate of Endorsement indicating successful program completion at the Center for English as a Second Language at the University of Arizona.
  11. Successful completion of the English course in the Cambridge General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE), International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) or General Certificate of Education (GCE) O Level or higher with a grade of C or better.
  12. Official transcripts indicating completion of College Reading AND English Composition 100, OR English Composition 101 OR English Composition 107 (or their equivalents) at a regionally accredited institution and earning a grade of C or better.
  13. Official high school transcripts indicating completion of regular English classes at an accredited American or International Baccalaureate (IB) high school (domestic and/or abroad) with a grade of C or better.
  14. Applying from an English-speaking country or a school that uses English as the language of instruction as determined by official transcripts. 

English proficiency test results expire after two years from test date. The list above is subject to change without notice. For most updated information, please contact international@pima.edu. 

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