Home Linguistics & Semiotics Chapter 10. A survey of English language proficiency requirements for admission to English-medium universities in Arabic-speaking countries
Chapter
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

Chapter 10. A survey of English language proficiency requirements for admission to English-medium universities in Arabic-speaking countries

  • Deena Boraie , Elizabeth Arrigoni and Jonah Moos
View more publications by John Benjamins Publishing Company
To Publisher Page
Applied Linguistics in the Middle East and North Africa
This chapter is in the book Applied Linguistics in the Middle East and North Africa

Abstract

This exploratory study surveyed English-medium universities (EMUs) in the Arabic-speaking countries of the Middle East and Africa about the English language proficiency assessments used to make decisions about admitting and placing students in English language support programs. Data from 95 EMUs were collected and analyzed, showing great variation in the setting of cut-off scores, as well as the amount of language support offered to students. Further inquiry is needed to explore the specific practices of individual EMUs’ interpretation and use of test scores. The study provides a number of implications and guidelines for language instructors, admission officers, and academic programs in Middle Eastern universities.

Abstract

This exploratory study surveyed English-medium universities (EMUs) in the Arabic-speaking countries of the Middle East and Africa about the English language proficiency assessments used to make decisions about admitting and placing students in English language support programs. Data from 95 EMUs were collected and analyzed, showing great variation in the setting of cut-off scores, as well as the amount of language support offered to students. Further inquiry is needed to explore the specific practices of individual EMUs’ interpretation and use of test scores. The study provides a number of implications and guidelines for language instructors, admission officers, and academic programs in Middle Eastern universities.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents vii
  3. Acknowledgments ix
  4. Chapter 1. Applied linguistics research in the Middle East and North Africa 1
  5. Section I. Language in society
  6. Chapter 2. When the president loses his voice, the people capture speech 11
  7. Chapter 3. Religion and identity in modern Egyptian public discourse 37
  8. Chapter 4. English between Egyptians 61
  9. Chapter 5. The age of global English 89
  10. Chapter 6. The linguistic landscape of Cairo from the Rosetta Stone to the Ring Road billboards: Signs of their times 115
  11. Chapter 7. The ongoing rivalry between English and French in Lebanon 161
  12. Section II. Language in education
  13. Chapter 8. A Qatari case for authenticity in the investigation of reading abilities and strategies 185
  14. Chapter 9. The development and validation of an Arabic language test in Saudi Arabia 203
  15. Chapter 10. A survey of English language proficiency requirements for admission to English-medium universities in Arabic-speaking countries 227
  16. Chapter 11. Student teachers’ computer-mediated narratives-in-interaction 249
  17. Chapter 12. Arabic language teacher education 269
  18. Chapter 13. Corpora and the study of Arabic vocabulary 289
  19. Section III. Future directions of applied linguistics in the MENA countries
  20. Chapter 14. Whither Arabic? 307
  21. Chapter 15. A forward-looking conceptual framework for Arabic curriculum design and instructional methodology 343
  22. Chapter 16. Applied linguistics in the MENA countries 363
  23. Biographies 377
  24. Author index 383
  25. Subject index 387
https://doi.org/10.1075/aals.15.10bor

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents vii
  3. Acknowledgments ix
  4. Chapter 1. Applied linguistics research in the Middle East and North Africa 1
  5. Section I. Language in society
  6. Chapter 2. When the president loses his voice, the people capture speech 11
  7. Chapter 3. Religion and identity in modern Egyptian public discourse 37
  8. Chapter 4. English between Egyptians 61
  9. Chapter 5. The age of global English 89
  10. Chapter 6. The linguistic landscape of Cairo from the Rosetta Stone to the Ring Road billboards: Signs of their times 115
  11. Chapter 7. The ongoing rivalry between English and French in Lebanon 161
  12. Section II. Language in education
  13. Chapter 8. A Qatari case for authenticity in the investigation of reading abilities and strategies 185
  14. Chapter 9. The development and validation of an Arabic language test in Saudi Arabia 203
  15. Chapter 10. A survey of English language proficiency requirements for admission to English-medium universities in Arabic-speaking countries 227
  16. Chapter 11. Student teachers’ computer-mediated narratives-in-interaction 249
  17. Chapter 12. Arabic language teacher education 269
  18. Chapter 13. Corpora and the study of Arabic vocabulary 289
  19. Section III. Future directions of applied linguistics in the MENA countries
  20. Chapter 14. Whither Arabic? 307
  21. Chapter 15. A forward-looking conceptual framework for Arabic curriculum design and instructional methodology 343
  22. Chapter 16. Applied linguistics in the MENA countries 363
  23. Biographies 377
  24. Author index 383
  25. Subject index 387
Sign up now to receive a 20% welcome discount
Institutional Access
How does access work?
Have an idea on how to improve our website?
Please write us.
© 2026 De Gruyter Brill
Downloaded on 21.2.2026 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1075/aals.15.10bor/html
Scroll to top button