About the English Certification Test
The English Certification Test (ECT) is taken by students who are enrolled in or planning to enroll in a degree program at Columbia University, and whose native language is not English. The purpose of the test is to certify students' English language ability for the purpose of admission to a degree program, or for satisfaction of graduation requirements, as determined by individual schools and departments of Columbia University.
The ECT is designed to measure a test-taker’s ability in the areas of grammar, vocabulary, reading, listening, and writing. There is no speaking portion. The test is administered in two parts, taken on the same day. There are 120 multiple-choice questions in the first part, which is completed online in a secure, proctored environment on campus, and test-takers are given two hours to complete it. The second part is an essay that measures writing ability, and test-takers are given 90 minutes to complete it. The results from both parts are considered together in order to give a comprehensive profile of a student's English language proficiency.
Students who are required to take the ECT should consult with their Columbia University department to find out whether a dedicated test is offered for their department or school.
The ECT may be taken no more often than once per six months, and taking the test again without enrolling in English language courses is strongly discouraged.
