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Accuplacer · ESL (English as a Second Language)

For students whose first language isn't English.

ESL combines reading, grammar, and listening-text items. Colleges use it to decide whether you need ESL support classes before regular English. PrepLion's mock gives you a realistic score before test day.

Placement threshold

Varies by institution — your college publishes its own cutoff. Accuplacer is scored 200–300 per subtest — your college publishes its own cutoffs.

Pass Guarantee

Pass your Accuplacer exam or your money back — plus the retake fee.

We'll refund your full subscription and pay your official exam retake fee if you finish the program and still don't pass. No fine print, no hoops.

  • Complete ≥80% of your generated study plan
  • Take at least 3 full-length mock exams with a ≥75 average
  • Submit your exam score within 60 days of the exam date
Read the full terms →

What's on the ESL (English as a Second Language) subtest

Reading Skills
25%
Sentence Meaning / Vocabulary
25%
Language Use / Grammar
25%
Listening (text-approximated in PrepLion MVP)
25%

Common traps on ESL (English as a Second Language)

#1

Literal Translation — answer feels right because it mirrors your first language's grammar

#2

Look-Alike Words — affect/effect, their/there/they're, accept/except

#3

Idiom Trap — grammatically valid sentence that isn't idiomatic in English

Study tip

Read short English articles daily. Accuplacer ESL rewards breadth of exposure more than memorized grammar rules.

Know your ESL (English as a Second Language) score before you sit.

Take the 5-minute diagnostic. Get your predicted placement. Decide what to study — or decide you're already ready.