English Proficiency
At SAIT, all applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency. English is the language of instruction for all programs at SAIT and is the most common language used in business in Alberta.
SAIT has the right to use discretion in determining adequate levels of English language proficiency to ensure an applicant’s success in the program.
How to demonstrate English language proficiency
You must demonstrate English language proficiency in one of the following ways:
- Submit official transcripts or a completed international document assessment verifying the completion of the following:
- At least three years of full-time study taught in English – a minimum of 12 hours per week at an English-speaking secondary school; or
- At least two years of post-secondary education taught in English at a recognized institution; or
- Successful completion of a recognized credential from a SAIT-approved post-secondary institution – the program must have been taught in English.
- Successfully complete a post-secondary credit course in English, comparative literature or communications or equivalent at SAIT or a recognized post-secondary institution – minimum “C” grade required.
- Achieve the applicable score on an English assessment test – the test score must be within one year prior to the date you submit your application.
- Successfully complete the English Language Foundations (ELF) program or a recognized alternative.
- COMN 155 and SPCH 155 meet proficiency for programs requiring English Language Arts 30-1 or 30-2
- COMN 154 and SPCH 154 meet proficiency for programs requiring English Language Arts 20-1 or 20-2
Recognized alternatives to English Language Foundations
The following programs are recognized alternatives to our ELF program:
- General English 4 (GE4) — must achieve at least 80% in the level exit test to be granted 65% in English Language Arts 20-1
- General English 5 (GE5) — must achieve at least 75% in the level exit test to be granted 65% in English Language Arts 30-1
- Academic College Preparation Program (Level 5 — Upper Intermediate) — must achieve at least 80% to be granted 75% in English Language Arts 20-1.
- Academic College Preparation Program (Level 6 — Advanced) — must achieve at least 80% to be granted 75% in English Language Arts 30-1.
- Academic College Preparation Program (Level 7 — Proficient) — must achieve at least 80% to be granted 80% in English Language Arts 30-1.
- Academic English II — must achieve a B or 75% to be granted 75% in English 30-1
- English for Academic Purposes — must achieve 70% to 79% to be granted 70% in English Language Arts 20-1
- English Academic Purposes — must achieve 80% or higher to be granted 70% in English Language Arts 30-1
- University/College Transfer Program (UCTP) — must achieve between 70% and 79% in both Integrated Skills and Writing to be granted 70% in English Language Arts 30-1.
- University/College Transfer Program (UCTP) — must achieve an 80% or higher in both Integrated Skills and Writing to be granted 75% in English Language Arts 30-1.
- Level 5 — must achieve 80% to be granted 70% in English Language Arts 20-1
- Level 6 — must achieve 80% to be granted *70% in English Language Arts 30-1
- English for Academic Purposes 2 — must achieve 80% to be granted *70% in English Language Arts 30-1
*Applicants to our bachelor programs must successfully complete English for Academic Purposes 2.
- GV6 — must achieve 73% to be granted 65% in English Language Arts 30-1
- GV7 — must achieve 73% to be granted 75% in English Language Arts 30-1
- Intermediate 4 — must achieve 70% to be granted 70% in English Language Arts 20-1
- Advanced 1 — must achieve 70% to be granted *65% in English Language Arts 30-1
- Advanced 2 — must achieve 70% to be granted *75% in English Language Arts 30-1
*Applicants to our bachelor programs must successfully complete the Advanced 2 pathway.
- EAP 300 - must achieve at least 70% to be granted 70% in English Language Arts 30-1
- EAP 200 - must achieve at least 70% to be granted 70% in English Language Arts 30-1
International Gateway Language Academy & College – Kelowna (IGK)
- Pathway 3.2 — must achieve 75% to be granted *65% in English Language Arts 30-1
- Pathway 3.3 — must achieve 75% to be granted *70% in English Language Arts 30-1
*Applicants to our bachelor programs must successfully complete the 3.3 pathway.
- Academic Pathway Program — must achieve an exit test score between 60% and 73% to be granted 70% in English Language Arts 20-1.
- Academic Pathway Program — must achieve an exit test score of at least 74% to be granted 70% in English Language Arts 30-1.
- English for Academic Purposes pathway program — must achieve at least 70-74% and final exam mark of 6.5 to be granted 65% in English Language Arts 20-1.
- English for Academic Purposes program — must achieve at least 75% and final exam mark of 6.5 to be granted 65% in English Language Arts 30-1.
- ESL Intermediate 2 — must achieve CLB 7-C in all areas — number grade at least 70% — to be granted 65% in English Language Arts 20-1.
- ESL Advanced — must achieve CLB 8-C in all areas — number grade at least 70% — to be granted 65% in English Language Arts 30-1.
- University/College Preparation Program — must achieve between 65 and 69% to be granted 70% in English Language Arts 20-1.
- University/College Preparation Program — must achieve at least 70% to be granted 70% in English Language Arts 30-1.
- English for Academic Purposes (EAP) 192 – must achieve 68% to be granted 60% in English 20-1
- English for Academic Purposes (EAP) 193 – must achieve 68% to be granted 60% in English 30-1
- English for Academic Purposes (EAP) 194 – must achieve 68% to be granted 65% in English 30-1
Assessment tests
SAIT does NOT accept assessment tests taken more than 12 months before you submit your application.
If approved for an application transfer or admission deferral, you must provide updated test results if the one-year period has passed.
| Assessment test | Test score | Program requirement |
|---|---|---|
|
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) IELTS Indicator is also accepted Must be the Academic IELTS Assessment |
6.0 in each skill/category |
English Language Arts 30-1 or 30-2 |
|
5.5 in each skill/category |
English Language Arts 20-1 or 20-2 |
|
|
Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL) CAEL Online is also accepted |
60 overall band Effective Winter 2023: 60 in each skill/category |
English Language Arts 30-1 or 30-2 |
|
50 overall band |
English Language Arts 20-1 or 20-2 |
|
|
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) TOEFL Home Edition is also accepted MyBest Scores are not accepted as proof of English proficiency |
A minimum score of 20 in each category |
English Language Arts 30-1 or 30-2 |
|
A minimum score of 18 in each category |
English Language Arts 20-1 or 20-2 |
|
|
A score of 8 in each section |
English Language Arts 30-1 or 30-2 |
|
|
A score of 7 in each section |
English Language Arts 20-1 or 20-2 |
|
|
Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic |
A minimum score of 53 |
English Language Arts 30-1 or 30-2 |
|
Michigan English Test (MET) |
A minimum score of 51 |
English Language Arts 30-1 or 30-2 |
|
115 minimum with at least 95 in each section |
English Language Arts 30-1 or 30-2 |
|
|
Cambridge English B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 |
169 for each skill |
English Language Arts 30-1 or 30-2 |
|
Oxford Test of English with a Level of B2 |
130 for each module |
English Language Arts 30-1 or 30-2 |
|
B2 Communicator test with High Pass with a minimum score of 33 in each skill. B2 Communicator test with Pass with a minimum score of 25 in each skill. |
English Language Arts 30-1 or 30-2 English Language Arts 20-1 or 20-2 |