1. What is the EET?
2. When is the EET offered?
3. Who takes the EET?
4. Why do new international graduate students take the EET?
5. Who enforces the EET?
6. Do I need to register in advance in order to take the EET?
7. What do I need to bring to the exam?
8. When are the results available?
9. What do the results mean?
10. What is the relationship between the EET and the Graduate Writing Exam?
11. What is available for Visiting Scholars and Post-docs at MIT?
12. Whom should I contact with administrative questions?
13. Whom should I contact with questions?

What is the EET?

The EET is a diagnostic test of academic English given before each semester at the request of the Dean for Graduate Students.  The English Language Studies Program administers the EET, which is designed for entering international graduate students whose first language is not English.  It aims to identify weaknesses in academic English that may interfere with course work, teaching and research at MIT. 

The diagnostic takes approximately 2.5 hours to complete and is composed of three parts:

Part 1: Multiple-choice listening, reading, vocabulary and sentence structure test

Part 2: Writing task

Part 3: Short interview

When is the EET offered?

The EET is offered twice annually: once just before the beginning of the Fall Semester and once just before the beginning of the Spring Semester.

The Fall EET is always administered on the Tuesday morning before Registration Day.  For example, for the Fall Semester 2008, it is August 26th.

The Spring EET is always administered on the Wednesday morning before Registration Day.  For example, the Spring Semester 2009, it is January 28th.

For information on the next EET, please click here.

Who takes the EET?

The Institute requires all entering international graduate students whose primary language of instruction from the age of six through high school has not been English to take the EET. 

A student does not need to take the EET if English is not a his/her first language, but s/he has attended all schooling from the age of six in English.  Many students from India, Malaysia, Singapore and other Asian countries, as well as African and Caribbean countries such as South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana and St. Lucia fall into this category.

International students who would normally be required to take the EET but have already done undergraduate or Master’s degrees at MIT or at other comparable universities can discuss the possibility of waiving the EET requirement with departmental advisors.

Why do new international graduate students take the EET?

In accordance with policy established by the MIT Committee on Graduate School Policy (1982), newly admitted international graduate students should take the English Evaluation Test (EET) as a means of determining the current level of their English language skills.

From the moment they enter the Institute, graduates students are expected to be productive members of a lively research community.  They are involved in some or all of the following activities:  participating in interactive seminars; completing coursework that requires presentations and research reports; teaching recitation or lab sections; interacting with representatives of industry; presenting research to peers, sponsors, and experts at meetings and conferences; as well as writing proposals, reports and journal papers.  Few international students have experience with these types of communication tasks in English.  Many have little experience even in their first languages.  The EET provides new students and their advisors with key information to help them prepare for success in their graduate activities at MIT.

Who enforces the EET?

Individual departments determine their policies regarding the EET.  Members of the English Language Program are not responsible for policies and regulations concerning who takes the exam or what happens if an international student is not able to be present the day it is given.

If students cannot be present for the EET before their entering semester, they can do the assessment before the next semester or arrange to meet with a member of the English Language Program.  Advisors in individual departments at MIT can determine whether students who need English support can be flexible in scheduling their classes.

Do I need to register in advance in order to take the EET?

Advanced registration for the EET is not required.  Simply arrive at Building 26 Room 100 between 8:30 and 8:55 AM on the day of the exam.

What do I need to bring to the exam?

Examinees should bring a bilingual or English dictionary, several sharpened pencils, and a pen.

When are the results available?

The results of the EET are always available the Friday morning before Registration Day.  Copies of the results for the students in each department are available for pick-up in 14N-305 by departmental administrators between 9:00 AM 12 noon that morning.  (If departmental administrators would prefer to have the results delivered later through Interdepartmental Mail, they can call 253-4771.)  Administrators distribute the results to the students’ advisors before Registration Day.

Students can pick up their individual results and recommendations from outside Room 14N-312 starting on the Friday morning before Registration Day.

What do the results mean?

The EET results are strictly informative.  There is no “passing” or “failing.”  Students taking the EET have been admitted to MIT; the test results will not affect their status as admitted students.  A student’s EET results may indicate that:

1.) One or more English skills are weak enough to need immediate attention.  A particular course is recommended.  Departmental policy and a student’s advisor can decide whether and when a student will act on the recommendation.

2.) One or more English skills could benefit from some attention, but problems with English will probably not interfere with first year activities at MIT.  Registering for a particular course is recommended for the future semester.

3.) A student’s English skills are proficient and should not prevent him/her from engaging fully in studies and research.  No course work is recommended.

What is the relationship between the EET and the Graduate Writing Exam?

There is currently no relationship between the two diagnostic exams.  The English Language Program administers the EET on behalf of the Graduate Students Office; it is an Institute requirement.  The Department of Writing & Humanistic Studies administers the Graduate Writing Exam, designed to test the technical and scientific writing skills of all admitted graduate students, at the request of specific departments.

When, as a result of taking both exams, an international student has recommendations for an English language class and a writing class, s/he should first act on the recommendation resulting from the EET.

What is available for Visiting Scholars and Post-docs at MIT?

Visiting Scholars and Postdoctoral Fellows have full access to the many free materials for English study available in the Language Learning & Resource Center, in Building 16-640.  They are also encouraged to visit the Writing & Communications Center, in Building 32-081, for free, individual consultations about any academic or professional communication task.

Occasionally, visiting scholars and post-doctoral fellows may attend MIT’s English classes provided 1.) that there is room and 2.)  that the courses and the scholars' English level are an appropriate match.  There is a tuition fee of $550.00 per class.  See our web site for more details:  http://web.mit.edu/fll/www/languages/ELS.shtml

Whom do I contact with administrative questions?

Jeff Pearlin (pearlin@mit.edu) 3-9776

Whom should I contact with other questions?

Jane Dunphy, Director of English Language Studies (dunphy@mit.edu)
Patricia Brennecke (pbrennec@mit.edu)
A.C. Kemp (ackemp@mit.edu)
Gennell Lockwood (glockwoo@mit.edu)