ESL Placement
Placement Testing for international students and students who use or are learning English as an additional language.
Michigan English Placement Test (M-EPT)
You need to complete the Michigan English Placement Test (M-EPT) if you grew up outside the United States or if English is not your home language.
Students with disabilities who may need assistance with their Placement should contact our ACCESS office prior to taking the test.
Placement testing occurs in the Academic Testing Centers on our Auburn Hills, Orchard Ridge, and Royal Oak campuses.
Reserve two hours for the complete testing process. You should complete the testing process in less time.
To Take the M-EPT:
- Apply to become a student at OCC.
- Get your student ID number and student email.
- Make an appointment to take M-EPT.
- Phone
- Web
- Arrive at your Testing Center at least 15 minutes before your test appointment.
- Bring your photo identification.
When you arrive for your test appointment:
- Come to the Testing Center front desk.
- Say, “I am here for my M-EPT appointment.”
- Say the letters “M,” “E,” “P,” “T.”
- Show your photo ID.
- Follow the directions that the test administrator gives you for your belongings.
- Do not bring notes, scratch paper, headphones, or earbuds.
The M-EPT is a computerized test with two main parts:
- Listening:
- The College provides headphones.
- 25 questions in 25 minutes.
- Two kinds of questions:
- Choose the best response
- Answer a question about a conversation
- Reading, Grammar, and Vocabulary
-
- 35 minutes
- 55 questions
- When 35 minutes have passed, the test will close.
Students who score at the highest level will also be asked to complete a writing sample.
- 30 minutes
- Handwritten (not typed)
- Paper dictionaries only
- Writing samples are assessed by faculty to determine if students are ready for English 1510.
Placement Information
- M-EPT placement results will be sent to your OCC student email account within 24-48 business hours.
- If you complete a writing sample, your placement may take another one to two working
days.
- You will receive your placement in a message sent to your OCC student email account.
Suggestions for Test Success
- Watch the clock on your computer screen.
- Do not spend a lot of time thinking about a question.
- If you don't know the answer, guess and go to the next question.
- Do not leave answers blank.
- Review the sample questions.
Recommended Parking
- Parking at Auburn Hills: Lot 05 or Lot 06.
- Parking at Orchard Ridge: Lot 06, Lot 07, or Lot 08.
- Parking at Royal Oak: Parking structure on Washington Ave.
Campus Maps and Testing Center Locations
- Auburn Hills: Building D, Room 201 (inside the library).
- Orchard Ridge: Building K, Room 100 (inside the ASC).
- Royal Oak: Building C, Room 103 (near the ASC).
ESL Placement is mandatory for your registration at OCC to place you into the appropriate level of ESL and other courses at Oakland Community College.
Exemptions
If your SAT score is no more than one year old - and you have a 480 or higher on the Evidence Based Reading and Writing tests - you may be eligible to take English 1510. Contact an OCC counselor to verify your score.
Complete the ESL Placement process if you do not have an SAT score to use for placement.
If your ACT score is no more than one year old - and you have a 38 or higher on the combined English and Reading sub-tests, with a minimum of 18 on each section - you may be eligible to take English 1510. Contact an OCC counselor to verify your score.
Complete the ESL Placement process if you do not have an ACT score to use for placement.
You may be able to enroll in English 1510 if your TOEFL score is no more than a year old and you have one of the following scores:
| TOEFL Test Taken | Score Required for English 1510 |
| Internet-based | Total score of 79 or higher with a writing score of 24 or higher |
| Computer-based | Total score of 213 or higher with a writing score of 5.0 or higher |
| Paper-based | Total score of 550 or higher with a writing (TWE) score of 5.0 or higher |
Contact an OCC counselor to verify your score.
Complete the ESL Placement Process if you do not have a TOEFL score to use for placement.
If your IELTS score is no more than a year old and is 6.5 or higher, you may be able to enroll in English 1510. You must submit your official score to the appropriate OCC personnel to verify your IELTS exemption.
Complete the ESL Placement process if you do not have an IELTS score to use for placement.
If you took the Duolingo English Test after July 4, 2020, and your test score is no more than a year old, sign in to your Duolingo account and request to have your score report sent to Oakland Community College.
If you took a course at an accredited U.S. college or university that is equivalent to OCC’s English 1510, Composition I, and received a “C” or better in the course on your transcript, Contact an OCC counselor.
If you are currently enrolled at a different college or university, review OCC’s guidelines for Guest Students. (Note: Guest applications must be renewed each semester of enrollment). Any student who wishes to enroll in any ESL course must go through the ESL Placement Process.
Placement Approved Course List
- Students who place below ESL 2510 can only take ESL courses.
- Students who have placed into ESL 2510 can only register for the following designated courses outside of the ESL sequence.
- Students who place into ESL 2520 can register for any OCC courses with the exception of ENG 1510 or other courses that require a pre-requisite.