What is an English Proficiency Exam?

In order to study at English speaking universities around the world, general English proficiency exams are required. If you are a non -  English native speaker you are required to take an English proficiency exam. 

Exceptions  -   please contact your Admissions Officer for further information on :

• Citizens from the United States, Canada, Great Britain and Australia who grew up and attended high schools/universities in these countries
•  Students who have high English IB (International Baccalaureate) results might only have to take parts of the English proficiency exam.
•  Students who have completed their entire Bachelor Degree in English in the US, Canada, Great Britain and Australia

Webster University accepts one of the following English Proficiency Exams: TOEFL or Cambridge Advanced Certificate. The IELTS is accepted but NOT preferred. If a student has IELTS results , (s)he will need to take the internal TWE (Test of Written English) for appropriate English class placement.

The table below indicates the different scores required for acceptance. One of these English proficiency exams is sufficient.

Please be aware that these are minimum scores in order to enter Webster University Vienna. Depending on your scores in the different sections (reading, writing etc.) within these exams, English as a Second Language (ESL) courses might apply. Once you meet with your academic advisor to register you for your classes, you will find out which English classes you have to take as part of your degree. Please be aware that English classes are not additional classes added on to your degree but are incorporated as part of your degree.

Please have your official results sent directly to Webster Vienna from the testing institution. In order to verify your results online in the meantime, please send your admissions officer your log in information (for TOEFL or IELTS results, etc).

What is the "TOEFL"?

The TOEFL® test is the most widely accepted English-language test in the world. No matter where you want to study, the TOEFL test can help get you there. Most students at Webster University Vienna took the TOEFL as their preferred English proficiency exam with its over 7,000 destinations in over 130 different countries. For more information on the TOEFL, including your country and how to register, visit www.toefl.org

This standard multiple-choice test is administered by the Educational Testing Center that assesses grammar, vocabulary, reading and listening comprehension. If your native language is not English, you must complete this test or its equivalent before we can make an admissions decision.  Applicants should also take the TWE (Test of Written English) and TSE (Test of Spoken English) where it is offered with the TOEFL. Only score reports coming directly from the Educational Testing Center are considered official.

To have your score reports sent to Webster University, Vienna, please specify institution code 0547. This TOEFL is valid for 2 years and can be sent to other universities directly from the testing center. Usually it takes 4-6 weeks until Webster University receives your official results from the testing center so please send us your log in information once your results are posted online. That way we can verify them right away while awaiting the official results.

If you live in Austria, you can also take the Webster Vienna’s Institutional TOEFL. Please ask your Admissions Officer for the upcoming dates (Aug, Sept, Nov, Feb). You can only register if you have applied to Webster University Vienna. The Institutional TOEFL is less expensive than the standard official TOEFL, with the difference that the scores are only valid for Webster University. You will not receive an official TOEFL report and can not use it for any other instituion but Webster University. Please be aware that Webster University  Contact our admissions staff for more information and/or registration for this exam. In order not to get confused, please be aware that Webster University Vienna is the testing site for the official TOEFL (sign up through the website) and the institutional TOEFL (sign up with the Admissions staff).

What is the "IELTS"?

The tests are available in more than 120 countries in over 500 locations, with test dates available up to four times a month.

The IELTS test come in two modules:

• Academic – this module is for people wishing to study in English at undergraduate or postgraduate levels, and for those seeking professional registration
• General Training – this module is for people wishing to migrate to an English–speaking country (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK), and for those wishing to train or study in English at below degree level

Candidates are tested in Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. All candidates take the same Listening and Speaking tests. There is a choice between Academic and General Training in the Reading and Writing tests.

The total test time is around 2 hours 45 minutes. The first three tests – Listening, Reading and Writing – must be completed in one day. The Speaking test may be taken, at the discretion of the test centre, in the period seven days before or after the other tests.

The tests are designed to cover the full range of ability from non–user to expert user. Test takers receive a score of 0–9, with 0 being for those who did not attempt the test, and 9 being for the most proficient users. Most universities accept scores between 6–7 as being suitable for undergraduate study in English.

Pleae also have the testing center send the original results directly to Webster University Vienna. In order to verify your results online in the meantime, please send your Test Report Form TRF number to your Admissions Officer.

To find out more information about IELTS, please visit IELTS.

What is the Cambridge Advanced Certificate?

The Cambridge Advanced Certificate is developed by Cambridge ESOL - one of three major exam boards which form Cambridge Assessment Group (Cambridge Assessment). Cambridge Assessment, a not-for-profit department of the University of Cambridge, is Europe’s largest assessment agency. More than 8 million Cambridge Assessment exams are taken in over 150 countries around the world every year.It gives an in-depth assessment of your ability and fluency at level C1/C2. This is the unparalleled qualification to prove that you have mastered English. You are well-placed in dealing with complicated academic and professional tasks in English.

Cambridge English: Advanced has five papers – each carries 20% of the total marks.

• Reading: 1 hour 15 minutes
  Shows you can deal confidently with different types of text.

  Writing: 1 hour 30 minutes
  Requires you to be able to write a variety of different items; such as essays, proposals, reports and reviews.

  Use of English: 1 hour
  Tests your ability to use the right words, tenses and idioms in the right situation, at the right time.

  Listening: 40 minutes
  Requires being able to follow and understand a range of spoken materials; such as lectures, speeches and interviews.

  Speaking: 15 minutes
  Tests your ability to communicate effectively in face-to-face situations. You will take the test with one or two other candidates.

What is the "GMAT"?

The GMAT is the Graduate Management Admission Test. This is a standard international comprehensive test which evaluates the competency of potential MBA students in many areas. The scores are used for advising purposes, so the exam can be taken either before or after admission, within the first term of study at the latest.  For more information, including how to register, visit www.gmat.org.  To have your GMAT results sent to Webster University Vienna, please specify institution code 0613.

If you live outside Austria, you may take the GMAT in your country of residence.  However, you can also apply without the GMAT and take Webster Vienna’s GMAT equivalent during your first term at Webster, if you are accepted.  The GMAT equivalent is free of charge, but the scores are only valid for Webster University.  Contact our admissions staff for more information on this exam.

TOEFL and GMAT practice tests are offered at:
Centre International Universitaire – CIU
Schottengasse 1
1010  Vienna
Phone:  (+43 1) 533 6533

What is the "SAT"?

The SAT test measures verbal and mathematical reasoning ability.  First year/freshman applicants who attended/are attending a U.S. high school or an international secondary school where English is the language of instruction are required to submit their SAT scores. If you attend a U.S. or international school, your college counselor can give you more information about the examination and where it is offered locally.  To have your score reports sent to Webster University, Vienna, please specify institution code 9131. You do not need to have a SAT report in order to be accepted at Webster Vienna, however if you have one, and your SAT Math score is over 500, you might not have to take the math placement testing.

What is the Webster Vienna Math Placement test?

Since Webster Vienna has students coming from over 70 different countries, math levels are very different. Once you are an accepted student and come from a high school or from an accredited university with no College math transfer credits, you will be signed up for the math placement testing.  This test gives us an indication of your mathematical abilities, so based on your results you will be placed into one of 3 classes as part of your degree program - that way we make sure that you are placed according to your mathematical abilities.

0 - 10  / 25    you will need to take MATH 1050

11 - 16 / 25   you will need to take MATH 1430

17 - 25 / 25  you will need to take higher - level mathematics courses

This placement test is a short 60 min. multiple choice quiz (25 questions) which includes questions on quadratics, slopes, logarithmic functions, etc. Basic principles of algebra, geometry and trigonometry are tested. Please bring your calculator and feel free to use it (no calculators on cell phones are allowed).  A good way to prepare for this test is to use a textbook covering these principles, or to use the mathematics section of the book "How to Prepare for the SAT". Again, this book is available in English language bookstores and on Amazon.com.