California universities could scrap English test for international students

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The California State University system may change its English testing requirements as colleges across the state face a decline in international students.

The 23-campus system will consider changing its admissions policy to allow students whose first language isn’t English to skip the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) to prove English proficiency, The Sacramento Bee reported.

Vice Chancellor Dilcie Perez proposed the idea at a Board of Trustees meeting last week, and a decision could be made in November.

Perez’s proposal would replace the test with “multiple approved measures” to demonstrate English proficiency — claiming the change would reduce barriers like test availability and costs while maintaining standards for language readiness.

“The amendment would neither eliminate nor lower the English language proficiency requirement,” Perez said. “Applicants would still need to demonstrate proficiency sufficient to participate successfully in and benefit from university-level study.”

Potentially, English proficiency could be determined the same way the University of California system does it. In that system, applicants can meet a minimum score in a high school Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exam or take one of a variety of tests, such as the SAT or the Duolingo English Test.

The admissions change would affect mostly international applicants, who make up around 2.5% of California State University’s student population of approximately 470,000. Approximately 12% of University of California students are foreign.

The share of international students at California universities has fallen alongside a federal immigration crackdown, however.

The Association of International Educators projected a 15% decline in international student enrollment this academic year — equivalent to a loss of 7,000 students in California, according to Calmatters.

The group estimated a loss of $1 billion in revenue, based on the tuition and expenses paid by foreign students.

California State University officials supporting the test change say it would reduce barriers for students from other countries.

The TOEFL, which can be taken year-round, is administered by a New Jersey-based educational testing organization. Registration fees for the test vary by country but generally cost above $100 if not more.

The exam is recognized by more than 13,500 institutions, though it has faced past criticism for not being an accurate measure of English proficiency.

The potential testing tweak comes amid a wider debate over the need for admissions testing.

California colleges dropped SAT/ACT testing requirements amid pushback over equity in college admissions, but calls to reinstate the standardize testing requirements have grown as students show up unable to do basic math, according to professors.

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