What’s My Level in English?

Institute ACE provides four levels of English language instruction for adults: English Basics, Intermediate English, Advanced English, and English Fluency.

How will ACE determine my placement level?

Institute ACE evaluates new students in three ways:

Speaking ability is assessed through a conversational interview with one of our teachers.

Writing ability is assessed through an impromptu writing assignment.

Listening, reading, vocabulary and grammar skills are assessed using the Michigan English Placement Test (M-EPT). The M-EPT is mandatory for F1 students and optional for non-F1 students.

Language Level Descriptions

  • Successful English Basics students will develop their ability to introduce themselves and their families and ask and answer common introductory and biographical questions.  Students will develop their ability to talk and write about familiar locations and activities.  They will develop their ability to comprehend key details when listening to short, clear and simple speech.  They will develop their ability to read A2 level narrative and non-fiction text.  Students will keep a vocabulary journal.  Students will develop their familiarity with the sound and spelling of consonant blends and digraphs and short and long vowel sounds.

    CEFR level on entry: A1

    CEFR level on exit: A2

  • Successful Intermediate English students will develop their ability to use a variety of tenses to communicate about the past, present and future.  Students will develop their ability to understand more subtle aspects of texts, including common organizational structures, the intended audience of non-fiction text and the feelings of characters in narrative texts.  Students will develop their ability to write with increasing sophistication by adding descriptive words and phrases to simple sentences.  They will learn to listen for tense, main ideas and specific details in spoken English.

    CEFR level on entry: A2

    CEFR level on exit: B1

  • Successful Advanced English students will develop their ability to describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.  They will develop their ability to understand the main points of a conversation, interview, or presentation when standardized language is used and is on topics of personal interest as well as familiar themes, such as work, school, leisure, travel, etc.  They will continue to build their vocabulary on these same topics. Students will learn and apply reading skills and strategies to improve comprehension of B2 texts about a variety of topics.  Students will learn how to expand and connect sentences making complex sentences and compound sentences, choosing the correct verb tense to write about topics that are familiar or of personal interest.  Students will be introduced to the writing process.  They will develop knowledge and skills for writing a paragraph with proper structure and format.

    CEFR level on entry: B1

    CEFR level on exit: B2

  • Successful English Fluency students will develop their ability to express themselves coherently regarding a familiar topic and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.  They will develop their ability to understand the main points as well as details of a conversation when more complex language is used and on a fairly wide range of topics.  They will continue to build their vocabulary on these same topics. Students will learn and apply reading skills and strategies to improve comprehension of B2+ texts about a variety of topics.  Students will increase their writing fluency by writing journals about topics they are interested in.  Students will continue using the writing process.  They will develop knowledge and skills for writing a summary. They will be introduced to social and professional writing.

    CEFR level on entry: B2

    CEFR level on exit: B2+

  • Students whose Michigan EPT score is more than two points below the cut-off score for the next level will not be permitted to contest their placement.  Students whose Michigan EPT score is within two points of the cut-off score for the next level may request to take the test a second time.  The request for a retest must be made via email to academics@instituteace.org within the first five days of class.  The second test will decide the student’s placement; no additional student appeal will be considered.

    Teachers may recommend a reevaluation of a student’s initial placement if the teacher feels the student is inappropriately placed.  This request must be made via email to academics@instituteace.org within the first four days of class and must include observations and/or student work in support of the request.  Reevaluations will be performed by the Academic Leadership Team, the Campus Director, and the student’s teachers.  Approved changes in placement must be effected within the first six days of class. 

  • Students can enroll in the ACE Intensive English Program after a term has started. Late F1 enrollees must take a placement test before they can enroll in a course.

    Institute ACE seeks to accommodate our students by offering ongoing enrollment.  Students may be admitted to existing classes at any time with the understanding that the course will continue apace and that advancement to the next level depends on demonstrating adequate progress on all level outcomes, including skills covered before the student enrolled in the course. 

    Students who enroll in classes after the start date do so with the explicit acknowledgement that they have missed important instruction, that the course will continue apace, and that advancement to the next level depends on demonstrating adequate progress on all level outcomes including skills covered before the student entered the class.  It is the student’s responsibility to conform to established class procedures and to procure additional help if needed or desired.  Academic counseling is available through the Academic Leadership Team.

  • Word Processing Skills
    New students may be required to take a word processing skills evaluation.  Students with inadequate word processing proficiency may be assigned mandatory monitored word processing practice and/or be required to attend a word processing skills workshop.  This mandatory additional instruction is not included in the tuition.

    Returning after Extended Absence
    Returning students who have been out of the ACE program for two or more terms must take the placement test before registering again.  These students will be placed according to the guidelines above, NOT according to their last level passed.