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English Language Requirements and Conditional Acceptance

International students are required to demonstrate proof of English proficiency before they can be accepted to CIA. This can be done in the following ways:

1. Through an approved English proficiency exam.
2. By completing a program of study at an approved language school.
3. By meeting the eligibility requirements of our waiver policy.

1. English Proficiency Exams

You may complete and submit your scores from one of the following language exams as proof of English proficiency:

• : Overall minimum score of 6.0 with a minimum band score of 5.5 in each section.
• : Overall minimum score of 80 with a minimum band score of 20 in each section—we also accept the Home Edition, as well as My Best Scores.
• : Overall minimum score of 115 with a minimum of 95 in each subsection.
• : Overall minimum score of 3.8.
• : Overall minimum score of 55 with a minimum score of 54 in each section.
• : Overall minimum score of 53.
• : Overall score of 180, with minimum score of 175 in each skill.

Exam score results must be dated within two years of the intended start date.

2. Language School: Conditional Admission to CIA

Conditional (or provisional) admission means that there are still terms that need to be met before your CIA acceptance can be finalized, in this case: English skills. If you do not have the skills to successfully complete a language exam, you may select a conditional admission pathway to CIA. CIA works with the following language schools:

• : You must complete ELS English for Academic Purposes Program Level 112.
• : You must complete Level AT 2 of their Academic Transitions pre-college program.
• : You must complete level 4 of their program.
• : You must complete the ESE General English Level Advanced C combined with a score of 100 or above on the ESE exit test.
• : You must complete the IMPAC Level 5-Low Advanced course combined with a 75+ score on the Michigan Test of English Language.

The process to apply for conditional admission is as follows:

1. Apply to CIA using our online application form.
2. Submit all application materials along with an email to admissions@culinary.edu indicating your intention to study English at one of our approved schools. Please indicate which partner school in your email.
3. If you meet our academic admissions criteria, you will be issued a letter indicating your provisional acceptance.
4. Apply to one of the language schools listed above.
5. Upon completion of your course of study at the language school, send CIA your certificate of completion or transcript.
6. Students who complete language programs are expected to enroll at CIA on the next available entry date.

3. Proof of English Waiver Policy

All international applicants whose education has been primarily outside the United States of America must provide objective evidence of proficiency in the English language as indicated with our above requirements. However, the following exceptions apply:

• Applicants who have received a score of A, B, or C (6–9) on the GCE O-Level, A-Level, GCSE, or IGCSE English Language (First Language) exam within the past two years.
• Applicants who have taken IB English Lang and Lit, SL/HL, within the past two years and with a minimum score of 5.
• Applicants who have studied in U.S. accredited high schools or universities with grades of C or higher in (non-ESL) English courses. Must have studied in the U.S. within two years of the intended start date. Transcripts will be reviewed by the Admissions Office to determine eligibility.
• Applicants whose educational curriculum at a foreign high school or university was taught entirely in the English language. The transcript must indicate English as the language of instruction, or a signed and stamped letter from the school indicating that English was the language of instruction must be sent to the Admissions Office.
• Applicants primarily educated in English in the following countries/territories:
  
  

  Anguilla	Ghana*	Nigeria*
  Antigua and Barbuda	Gibraltar	Sierra Leone
  Australia	Grenada	Singapore*
  Bahamas	Guernsey	South Africa
  Barbados	Guyana	St. Helena
  Belize	Ireland	St. Kitts and Nevis
  Bermuda	Isle of Man	St. Lucia
  Botswana	Jamaica	St. Vincent and the Grenadines
  British Virgin Islands	Jersey	Tanzania
  Canada (except Quebec)	Kenya*	Trinidad and Tobago
  Cayman Islands	Lesotho*	Turks and Caicos Islands
  Dominica	Liberia	Uganda*
  Eswatini (Swaziland)*	Malawi*	United Kingdom
  Falkland Islands	Micronesia	United States Territories
  Fiji	Montserrat	Zambia
  Gambia, The	New Zealand	Zimbabwe

  
  *English language proficiency test only waived for applicants from English language educational systems.

Any questions regarding a waiver of the English language proficiency requirement can be submitted to admissions@culinary.edu.

The Culinary Institute of American reserves the right to require evidence of English language proficiency for all applicants, the adequacy of which shall be at the sole discretion of the CIA Admissions Office.

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