Selection and Exemption Criteria for SCLA 11000 and SCLA 11100

The PLaCE program provides a required two-course sequence, SCLA 11000 and SCLA 11100 (formerly, ENGL 110 and ENGL 111) for all international undergraduate students with qualifying proficiency test scores [on one of the three widely recognized English proficiency tests: TOEFL iBT, IELTS (academic test), or DET]. TOEFL iBT and IELTS are prioritized over DET if a certain student submitted both TOEFL iBT and DET scores, or both IELTS and DET scores.

SCLA 11000 and SCLA 11100 contribute to improved English language proficiency for participating international students, helping them take full advantage of the range of educational opportunities available at Purdue, and providing the foundational English language skills and knowledge that they need for success in their educational program and beyond. These courses also help international students gain a better understanding of American culture, especially as it relates to being a university student in the U.S.

The PLaCE requirement is based on the University Senate’s recommendation (via Resolution 15-13) and the proposal presented by the then-Provost and approved by the Purdue Board of Trustees on December 8, 2017.

Note: The small number of students admitted with no TOEFL iBT, or IELTS, or DET scores (i.e., the so-called "no-score" students) will be placed into SCLA 11000 unless the "no-score" student interested in PLaCE-internal screening performs well on the PLaCE in-house English proficiency test (i.e., the ACE-In) as digitally proctored by ProctorU. "No-score" students who attended in-person 3 plus years in a U.S. located high school where English was the primary language may request an exemption from the course sequence. Transcripts must be available for review in the Purdue system.

The standard sequence of course-taking for students in a PLaCE cohort is to take SCLA 11000 in fall and SCLA 11100 in spring, and then to take SCLA 10100 or ENGL 10800 in later semesters, based on their major plan of study.

SCLA 11000 is part of the University Undergraduate Core Curriculum (UCC), as a foundational learning outcome for Human Cultures: Humanities. This means that SCLA 11000 counts toward students’ graduation requirements and should not delay their progress in graduating or proceeding into their chosen major concentration. SCLA 11100 counts as a Humanities elective.

Qualifying students will be pre-enrolled in SCLA 11000 and SCLA 11100 by the Registrar’s office. Non-qualifying international students can add SCLA 11000 or 11100 on a case-by-case basis. Advisors who feel a student needs to be enrolled in SCLA 11000 should request it on their course submission or contact the PLaCE office at place@purdue.edu. Students may be exempted from this PLaCE prerequisite by providing compelling evidence of advanced English language proficiency, as detailed below.

Exemptions from SCLA 11000 and 11100

There are three categories of exemption cases. Students whose ACE-In test performances have earned them an exemption from both SCLA 110 and SCLA 111 before the start of SCLA 110, or just SCLA 111 while taking SCLA 110, will not see on their transcript the PLaCE course(s) they got exempted from. 

A) Test-out Prior to Start of SCLA 11000

• Eligibility for testing our of the SCLA 110-111 course sequence:
  • a) TOEFL iBT Total score of 100, with writing and speaking sub-scores of 25 or above;
  • b) IELTS (academic test) Overall score of 7.5, with writing and speaking sub-scores of 7.5 or above;
  • c) DET combination of the total score and writing and speaking sub-scores: TBD (Duolingo's first release of reading, writing, speaking, and listening sub-scores: July 1, 2024).
• Students who are eligible for test-out (criteria above) will be contacted as early as we can before early June (for the fall semester) or before early December (for the spring semester).
• Second semester and summer admits will be provided the opportunity for test-out prior to the start of classes of their entry semester.
• Test-out eligible students will be invited to register for and complete the ACE-In as digitally proctored by ProctorU. The ProctorU-proctored ACE-In test will be free of charge to test-out eligible students. Test-out decisions will be made based on students' ACE-In test performances. 

B) Internal Screening of English Proficiency, Prior to Start of SCLA 11000

• The small percentage of students admitted to Purdue with no proficiency test scores (i.e., the so-called "no-score" students) will be contacted as early as we can before early June (for the fall semester) or before early December (for the spring semester).
• Second semester and summer admits will be provided the opportunity for internal screening prior to the start of classes of their entry semester.
• Testing sessions are limited and on fixed dates, but free of charge to "no-score" students who indicated an interest before our preset and announced deadline.
• "No-Score" students interested in PLaCE-internal screening will receive information on how to register for and complete the ACE-In as digitally proctored by ProctorU. Course-Exemption decisions will be made based on "no-score" students' ACE-In test performances. 

C) Exemption from Second Course, SCLA 11100

1. What is the process of Exemption Testing for SCLA 11100?

Students who take SCLA 11000 will be enrolled in SCLA 11100. The highest proficiency and best performing students in SCLA 11000 may apply for an exemption from SCLA 11100. A one-on-one conference between the prospective applicant and their instructor is required where the instructor shares the link of the exemption-application Qualtrics survey only with eligible applicants (e.g., who scored high enough on the ACE-In pretest). SCLA 11100-exemption decisions will be made based on ACE-In exemption-testing performance (ACE-In cut-score TBA) and SCLA 11000 course performance (i.e., overall course grade of "A" or better) up to the exemption application phase. 

2. When will a student be informed that they have or have not received an exemption?

Students, along with their advisors, will be informed as soon as a final decision has been made after the exemption-testing ACE-In test (with four modules including three human-rated modules) has been rated and scored, as well as the SCLA 11000 instructor's feedback about the exemption-applicant's course performance has been collected. Every effort is made to provide the decision prior to the student’s registration time ticket end date for the following semester.

3. What about students who are not required to take SCLA 11100?

For students who opted to enroll in SCLA 11000 as an elective and wish to continue into SCLA 11100, they may enroll on their regular course request form in MyPurdue. Students who received an exemption from SCLA 11100 may also opt to take enrolled in SCLA 11100.

4. Will a student have a choice between taking SCLA 10100 and ENGL 10800?

Students who receive an exemption from SCLA 11100 can register for SCLA 10100 or ENGL 10800, based on their Plan of Study requirement.