Students whose native language is not English must submit proof of English proficiency. IVC does not admit international students or issue the I-20 for ESL or AESL (English as a Second Language) study.
Students whose native language is English or who have had English as the language of instruction throughout high school do not need to submit English proficiency tests. (Official school documentation verifying English as the language of instruction is required).
English Proficiency Exams
IVC accepts the following English proficiency exams. Official exam scores cannot be more than two (2) years old:
ESL Partner School Agreements
Irvine Valley College has agreements with intensive ESL schools to waive English proficiency testing based on completion of specified levels at one our partner schools. Official transcripts or a letter verifying completion of the required level is needed. Please see below for a list of IVC’s partner English language schools and required levels of completion:
| IVC Partner ESL School: | Level of Completion Required: |
| AOI College of Languages | Level 6 |
| ELS Language Centers | Level 109 |
| FLS International | Level 14 |
| GEOS Language Plus | Level 6 |
| Kaplan International English | Advanced |
| LASC American Language & Culture | Level 6 |
| Language Systems International (LSI) | Level 6 |
| Poly Languages Institute | Level 6/Advanced |
| UC Irvine, Div. of Continuing Education | ENG XIC 20A and Advanced |
| UC Riverside, International Education Program | Level 600 |
IVC ESL GSP
Students who place into ESL 370 or higher on the ESL GSP at IVC have met our English proficiency requirement for admission; submission of an English proficiency test will not required for admission for such students.
Completion of Freshman Composition Course
Students who have completed Freshman Composition (WR 1) at an accredited US university with a grade of "C" or better may have the English proficiency waived. Official transcripts verifying completion are required.
Graduation from US high school
Students who have completed at least 2 years at a US high school and received their US diploma will be waived from English proficiency testing. Such students must submit their official transcripts by Providing Transcripts to IVC.
NOTE: All new students whose first language is not English will complete the ESL GSP prior to registration to assist in course placement. ESL school completion or submission of English proficiency tests does not waive this requirement.