English is the language of instruction at Queen’s University and in the schools in Ontario where our teacher candidates carry out their required practice teaching. Consequently, all applicants to the program are required to provide evidence of oral and written proficiency in English in one of two ways:

EITHER candidates must have studied full-time at least three full years (or the equivalent) at a university where the language of instruction and examination was in English in a country where one of the official languages is English. Time spent in ESL courses or in an ESL program is not counted toward this three-year requirement. Applicants who have attended university other than in North America must submit a letter directly from the university verifying that the language of instruction and examination was English.

OR candidates must have achieved the required level of proficiency on one of the three tests of English language listed below.

Candidates admitted to the program who are found to have an unsatisfactory command of the English language, either spoken or written, where their language skills interferes with their ability to communicate effectively in the classroom, may be required to take remedial work or may be asked to withdraw from the program.

The following three tests of Facility in English are acceptable to the Queen’s Faculty of Education. Each test has its own minimum score that must be attained before the applicant will be considered for admission to the teacher education program at Queen’s University.

The Test of English as a Foreign Language Internetbased (TOEFL iBT)

1. The test is administered by the Education Testing Service in Princeton, New Jersey, U.S.A. To find out more about this test and/or to find the nearest test site, go to http://www.ets.org/toefl/.
2. The TOEFL iBT test code number 8573 must be used to ensure that the results are forwarded directly to the Faculty of Education at Queen's University.
3. Required test scores: Minimum 24 on the Reading component, 23 on the Listening, 28 on each of the Writing and Speaking components, with a minimum 103 overall.

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

1. Information about the IELTS, including a worldwide list of testing centres, is available at http://www.ielts.org
2. In Ontario, the main test site is located at Conestoga College in Kitchener and test sites in Ottawa and Toronto are being considered by IELTS.
3. Request the Academic test.
4. Required test scores: Minimum 6.5 on both the Reading and Listening components, and a minimum of 7.0 on the Writing and Speaking components, with a minimum 7.0 overall.

1. To learn more about the CAEL test, go to http://www.cael.ca/.
2. Select “Test Takers” from the top bar menu to access information, including test locations and dates.
3. Required test score: Minimum 70 in all 4 categories and minimum 70 overall.

Applicants are responsible for all arrangements and costs associated with completing the English Facility test.