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English as a Second Language (ESL) assessment is offered both in person at American River College and remotely via online Zoom sessions. Students who are interested in taking the ESL assessment must be term active at ARC for the current semester or the upcoming semester. To be term active, students must either complete the online application or supplemental enrollment form. Visit Get Started and Apply to learn more.

  • Are you a new ESL student?
  • Will this be your first semester taking ESL classes?

ESL assessment is for initial course placement only. Any student who has started the course sequence will be referred to the ESL Department inside the Language and Communication HomeBase to fill out a Prerequisite Challenge Form.

ESL faculty and assistants – along with ESL Assessment Services staff – are available to help students complete the ESL assessment process.

The English as a Second Language (ESL) Assessment is composed of four parts:

  1. General and Educational Background Questions
  2. Reading and Writing Samples
  3. Sample Homework Assignments and Student Work
  4. A Placement Essay

For a general overview of the assessment, please look at Information About ESL Remote Assessment.

Choose Where to Complete ESL Assessment

In-Person ESL Assessment

I want to complete the ESL Assessment in person (on-ground) in the Learning Resource Center at American River College.

In-Person ESL Assessment

Online/Remote ESL Assessment

I want to complete the ESL Assessment on my own computer, laptop, Chromebook, etc., in my home using Zoom.

Online ESL Assessment