English Placement Testing in OPIE

All new OPIE students are required to test at the beginning of the semester. Students who arrive at the end of week 1 or later will be placed based on existing test results or grades.

• TOEFL ITP (Institutional Testing Program)
• OPIE Composition Test
• TOEFL iBT (Internet Based TOEFL)

Placement Information

• Undergraduate Placement, Courses, & Progression
• Graduate English Proficiency and Provisional Admission

TOEFL ITP (Institutional Testing Program)

OPIE offers the TOEFL (Institutional Testing Program-ITP) at Ohio University during the beginning of a semester and once at the end of a semester.

The TOEFL ITP is a 115-minute test and consists of

• 50 listening comprehension questions
• 40 structure and written expression questions
• 50 reading comprehension questions

View sample questions (Level 1).

No extra paper is provided during the test, and students may not write in the test booklet except during the listening comprehension section. During the test, mobile phones and smart watches are not allowed; they cannot be carried in pockets, in bags, or at the testing seat. If bags, smart watches, or phones are brought to the test, a proctor will collect them and keep them for the duration of the test. Belongings will be returned to you when you finish the test.

The regularly scheduled beginning-of-semester TOEFL, is offered during orientation week, usually the Tuesday before the start of the first week of classes. 

At the end of the semester (EOS), OPIE offers the TOEFL on the Saturday after the last week of classes.

A student cannot retake the same BOS or EOS TOEFL because it is the same test. This is against Educational Testing Service (ETS) policy.

OPIE Composition Test 

Along with the TOEFL ITP, students will also be required to take a 35-minute OPIE Composition Test.

• See a sample prompt.
• All compositions are read and rated by at least two OPIE instructors.
• The OPIE Composition Rubric is used for rating.

English Placement Test

OPIE offers the English Placement Test during the beginning of a semester and once at the end of a semester. This test, formerly known as the Michigan, is for students who score below a 480 on the TOEFL ITP or who are studying in the Elementary or Intermediate levels of OPIE. This test provides OPIE with more accurate placement information for students in the Full-Time English Program.

The English Placement Test is a multiple choice test that lasts 60 minutes and has 80 multiple choice items covering

• Listening comprehension of questions and short conversations.
• Grammar in conversational contexts.
• Selection of vocabulary to fit the context of single sentences.
• Reading comprehension of sentences and texts.

Note: During the test, mobile phones and smart watches are not allowed; they cannot be carried in pockets, in bags, or at the testing seat. If bags, smart watches, or phones are brought to the test, a proctor will collect them and keep them for the duration of the test.  Belongings will be returned to you when you finish the test.

The Internet Based TOEFL  (TOEFL iBT) at Ohio University

There is also a small testing center on the Ohio University campus in Bromley Hall (Lower Level) at 42 West Union St. (740-597-1537). 

Notes:

• Interested students should register for the test at https://www.ets.org/toefl/.
• When registering, you must use exactly the same name that appears on the primary identification document you will present at the test center. Primary identification for testing is your passport.
• Make sure to provide your entire first (given name) and entire surname (family name). DO NOT register under a nickname. If the name shown on your primary identification does not match the name you’re registered under, you will not be permitted to test.
• Please check with ETS and the testing center on how frequently you can take the TOEFL iBT test.
• Test takers with special needs should phone 1-866-387-8602 for registration.
• On test day, arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the test time for check-in. If you are late for your appointment, you may not be admitted for testing. You will be required to read and sign forms, a confidentiality form, and an information form.
• Scores are posted to your account online six business days after the test date.
• TOEFL results should be sent electronically directly from the testing agency (school code 1593).
• Examinees may select up to four score recipients during registration; score recipients can be added up until 10 p.m. on the day prior to the test date.
• Test scores are retained in a database for two years. Undergraduate Admissions at Ohio University accepts scores taken within one year of the test date. The Ohio University Graduate College accepts scores taken within two years of the test date.
• Please notify OPIE that your iBT scores are on the way. OPIE does not automatically receive them.
• Official score reports are mailed within 11 days after your test date. Delivery times vary based on local postal services (http://www.ets.org/toefl/ibt/scores/get/).
• To use TOEFL iBT scores for placement in OPIE, your official scores must be available in the University database by the end of the first week of the semester.
• The test takes about three hours to complete but you should plan for 3½ hours, allowing 30 minutes for check-in (https://www.ets.org/toefl/test-takers/ibt/about/content).
• To see policies and requirements on test day, visit: https://www.ets.org/toefl/test-takers/ibt/test-day/policies/checking-in-taking.

To see sample iBT test items, see https://www.ets.org/toefl/ibt/prepare/sample_questions.