ELP Score Descriptors on SIS

The results of all English proficiency exams administered by the ELP are posted to the “Scores” section of a student’s internal record in SIS / WebSTAC. To find the results, look under Scores, and then look for “WU Graduate Composition Exam Placement,” “WU Graduate Speaking Exam Placement,” or “WU Graduate TA Oral Exam Placement.” To interpret the code that you find there, see the list of ELP exam codes below. Students are encouraged to look up their scores themselves. Scores are normally posted 48 to 72 hours after the exam. If you have questions about the testing or your placement, please consult the ELP’s Frequently Asked Questions. If your question is not addressed there, contact the ELP at esl@artsci.wustl.edu or 935-5966.

Graduate Composition Exam
Score	What it Means
GCX	No pattern or one pattern of grammatical/lexical errors. An accurate summary of the reading, no text copied from the reading, few (if any) errors that interfere with clarity, and a well developed argumentative essay. No ELP composition course needed. Graduate students who nevertheless are interested in getting weekly help with a specific writing project in a tutorial setting may wish to consider U15 ELP 499, a one-unit tutorial.
GC0	Student was required to take the Graduate Composition Exam but did not do so. The department or school should have any student with this code contact the ELP at esl@artsci.wustl.edu or 935-5966.
GWR	Patterns of error in four grammatical/lexical categories and/or inaccurate summary of the reading, text copied from the reading, and errors that interfere with clarity. U15 ELP 115 (Writing Workshop for Nonnative English Speakers) is recommended for graduate students in any field.
RWR	Patterns of error in three grammatical/lexical categories, but an accurate summary of the reading, little or no text copied from the reading, few errors that interfere with clarity, and a relatively well developed argumentative essay. U15 ELP 1411 (Fundamentals of Research Writing for Graduate Students) is recommended for graduate students in the humanities or social sciences.
GE1	Patterns of error in three grammatical/lexical categories, but an accurate summary of the reading, little or no text copied from the reading, few errors that interfere with clarity, and a relatively well developed argumentative essay.U15 211/212 (Fundamentals of Research Writing for the Sciences I/II) is recommended for graduate students in the sciences.
WS1	Patterns of error in two grammatical/lexical categories, but an accurate summary of the reading, little or no text copied from the reading, few (if any) errors that interfere with clarity, and a relatively well developed argumentative essay. U15 ELP 250/251 (Research Writing for the Sciences I/II) is recommended for graduate students in the sciences.
Graduate Listening/Speaking Exam or ELP TA Exam
Score	What it Means
GSX	The student accurately summarized and reported most details of a short recording; spoke fluently, without unnatural pauses; demonstrated no pronunciation issues that interfered with comprehensibility; seemed equipped to participate in conversations in academic and professional settings; seemed comfortable with idioms and slang encountered in daily life; and seemed confident about presentation skills if those skills are needed in his or her program. No ELP listening/speaking course needed.
GS0	Student was required to take the Graduate Listening/Speaking Exam but did not do so. The department or school should have any student with this code contact the ELP at esl@artsci.wustl.edu or 935-5966.
GTX	The student communicated information clearly, spoke fluently, and spoke with sufficiently accurate vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation to ensure comprehensibility. The student understood questions and answered them in an accurate and culturally appropriate way. No ELP TA coursework needed.
TA0	Student was required to take the ELP TA Exam but has not done so. The department should contact the ELP at esl@artsci.wustl.edu or 935-5966.
LS1	The student spoke with frequent unnatural pauses and/or errors that interfered with comprehensibility. The student misunderstood some of the examiner's questions and/or did not accurately recount the content of the recording. U15 ELP 1301 (Conversation and Pronunciation) is recommended.
LS2	The student spoke with some unnatural pauses. The student misunderstood few (if any) of the examiner's questions and accurately recounted most of the content of the recording. U15 ELP 1302 (Listening and Speaking I) or U15 ELP 1303 (Listening and Speaking II) is recommended.
AP1	The student spoke with few (if any) unnnatural pauses, but patterns of error in sentence-level stress, intonation, and/or speech rhythm interfered with comprehensibility. U15 ELP 101 (Advanced Pronunciation I) is recommended.
AP2	The student spoke with few (if any) unnnatural pauses, but patterns of error in word-level stress and in vowels and/or consonants interfered with comprehensiblity. U15 ELP 102 (Advanced Pronunciation II) is recommended.
AIS	The student spoke with few (if any) unnnatural pauses, and had relatively few grammar or pronunciation problems. The student expressed an interest in becoming more familiar with slang and idiomatic language. U15 ELP 1403 (American Idioms and Slang) is recommended.
OPS, PSS	The student spoke with few (if any) unnnatural pauses, and had relatively few grammar or pronunciation problems. The student expressed a need to improve oral presentation skills. U15 ELP 170 (Presentation Skills for the Humanities and Social Sciences) or U15 ELP 270 (Presentation Skills for the Sciences) is recommended.
CP	The student spoke fluently and had relatively few grammar or pronunciation problems, but expressed a need to practice speaking skills such as networking to interact in professional settings. U15 ELP 202 (Talking to Americans: Casual and Professional Conversations) is recommended.
TA	The student spoke fluently, but needs a combination of oral presentation skills, one-on-one interaction skills, pronunciation skills, and cultural orientation to perform effectively as a teaching assistant. U15 ELP 470 (Language, Culture, and Interaction Skills for Non-Native English Speaking Teaching Assistants) is recommended.

Updated August 2010