All new ELS students will take an online level placement test prior to arrival at the center. The placement test will determine what level each new student will begin studies at. The placement test consists of four parts:

• Grammar, Reading and Vocabulary
• Writing
• Listening and Speaking

Students will receive an email with a link to the online test 6 weeks prior to their start date. To take the online placement test, students will need a computer with a camera and microphone. The test must be taken using Firefox or Chrome as the browser. New students may be placed in any one of our levels 101 through 109. True beginners may be placed in our level 100 class.

Each student’s starting level at ELS can only be determined after they have taken the online placement test*.

*ELS will also accept an official TOEFL iBT, IELTS or GTEC test score to guarantee placement into levels 104, 106 or 108, depending on the score. Official test scores must be submitted before the student begins classes at the center. Students will still need to take the online placement test prior to arrival, and final placement will be determined by the placement test. However, students who submit an official TOEFL, IELTS or GTEC score will be placed no lower than the guaranteed placement level. The chart below shows the scores needed to guarantee level placement:

• If you would like ELS to arrange housing for you and you did not request housing in your application form, please review the housing options available at your Center and contact ELS to reserve your housing as soon as possible. Some of our housing options have limited availability and are in high demand.
• Full payment arrangements of a Student Residence Booking is required twenty-eight (28) days prior to Check-in. Full payment arrangements of a Homestay Booking is required fourteen (14) days prior to Check-in. Failure to provide proof of payment by the stipulated dates may result in a Room Release. In the event that a Student needs to change their originally scheduled Check-in and/or Check-out dates for any reason, the Date Change policy applies.
• While ELS will make every effort to accommodate your housing preferences, we cannot guarantee specific room types. However, you will pay the fee for the housing type you are given, and in most cases of substitutions, this fee is less.
• We understand that circumstances may arise where a Student needs to cancel their Booking. The following cancellation provisions will determine the applicable timelines and charges that will apply to a cancelled Booking, which balance the need for the flexibility for the Student with the commitments that ELS makes with Student Residence providers and Homestay families.
• Students will be placed in their accommodation from the Sunday before their course start date until the Saturday after the course start date.
  CANCELLATION BEFORE CHECK-IN (STUDENT RESIDENCE)
  At least 28 days’ notice of cancellation request
  If a Student wishes to cancel a Student Residence Booking and they give us at least twenty-eight (28) days’ notice before their Check-in date, they are entitled to a full refund of the paid accommodation charges.
  Less than 28 days’ notice of cancellation request
  If a Student wishes to cancel a Student Residence Booking and they give us less than twenty-eight (28) days’ notice before their Check-in date, they must pay up to four (4) weeks’ accommodation fee.
  CANCELLATION BEFORE CHECK-IN (HOMESTAY)
  At least 14 days’ notice of cancellation request
  If a Student wishes to cancel a Homestay Booking and they give us at least fourteen (14) days’ notice before their Check-in date, they are entitled to a full refund of the accommodation charges.
  Less than 14 days notice of cancellation request
  If a Student wishes to cancel a Homestay Booking and they give us less than fourteen days (14) days’ notice before their Check-in date, they must pay up to two (2) weeks’ accommodation fee.
  CANCELLATION AFTER CHECK-IN (STUDENT RESIDENCE & HOMESTAY) If a Student wishes to cancel or shorten a Student Residence or Homestay Booking after Check-in:
  (i) Bookings up to four (4) weeks and six (6) days (total 34 days), no refund;
  (ii) Bookings more than 5 weeks (total 35 days), with four (4) weeks Written Notice, they will be entitled to a refund of outstanding amount.
• ELS can only arrange housing for ELS students, and only while they are studying with ELS. Any dependents you bring with you must also be ELS students if you wish for ELS to arrange their housing. If you will bring dependents who will not be studying with ELS, then they will need to make their own housing arrangements.
• ELS arranges all housing to begin 1 day before your session begins (Sunday), and end 1 day after your session ends (Saturday). If your arrival and departure days are different, and you will need additional housing while in the US, you will need to make additional arrangements for that time. (ELS can make special arrangements only for students 17 years old or younger.) Please contact ELS to obtain a list of recommended hotels in the area.
• In America, not all places are located close to each other. Having a 30- to 45- minute commute from your host family or student residence to the Center is quite normal and represents an average American commute time.
• If you have any problems with your accommodations, you must report them to the ELS Center as quickly as possible. The Center staff will be happy to help you resolve any problems and will be able to assist you with all of your housing needs.