CIEP Scale

On this page, you will find the information on the CIEP Grading Scale and CIEP Proficiency Scale.

If you have any questions, please reach out to ciep-assistant@uni.edu

CIEP Grading Scale

At the CIEP, students must receive a final grade of 73% or higher to pass their classes. If a student receives a final grade that is lower than a 73% in a CIEP class, the student will not pass that class and will need to retake it. Items that contribute to a student's final grade in a CIEP class are homework, projects, tests, quizzes, and the final exam. Students who have questions about their grades should talk to their instructor during office hours. See below for our detailed grading criteria:

For advancement to the next level or exit from the program, instructors use the CIEP grading scale to give students a final grade corresponding to performance in class on all tests, quizzes, midterm exams, final exams and other assignments. The grade represents the degree to which students have met all the student learning outcomes.
Grade	Point Value	Meaning
A	100-93 (4.0)	The student exceeds all proficiency expectations and student learning outcomes. Overall, student performance is exceptional. The student passes to the next level.
A-	92-90 (3.66)	The student meets all proficiency expectations and student learning outcomes. Overall, student performance is particularly outstanding. The student passes to the next level.
B+	89-87 (3.33)	The student meets almost all proficiency expectations and student learning outcomes. Overall, student performance is significantly above the average standard. The student passes to the next level.
B	86-83 (3.0)	The student meets most proficiency expectations and student learning outcomes. Overall, student performance surpasses the average standard. The student passes to the next level.
B-	82-80 (2.66)	The student meets many proficiency expectations and student learning outcomes. Overall, student performance fulfills the average standard. The student passes to the next level.
C+	79-77 (2.33)	The student meets some proficiency expectations and student learning outcomes. Overall, student performance fulfills the average standard despite some minor deficiencies. The student passes to the next level.
C	76-73 (2.0)	The student meets the minimum of proficiency expectations and student learning outcomes Overall, student performance fulfills the average standard despite many minor deficiencies. More work and effort may be required in completing assignments to meet the average standard. The student passes to the next level.
C- D+ D D- F	72-70 (1.67) 69-67 (1.33) 66-64 (1.0) 63-60 (0.67) Below 60 (0.0)	Failing. Student performance is poor. The student fails to meet many or all major and minor proficiency expectations and student learning outcomes. The student does not meet the minimum standard for promotion to the next level. The student must continue in the same level.

CIEP Proficiency Scale

CIEP Level	CIEP Proficiency Indicators
CIEP I IELTS – 0-3 TOEFL – 0-30 CEFR – A1-A2 Duolingo – <60 TOEFL PBT – 0-393	Students completing CIEP I will be able to… Write unified paragraphs of 8-10 simple and compound sentences organized around a unified topic; produce original sentences using grammar structures with simple present/progressive tenses with SVO sentence order; Wh- questions with Be, simple past of “to be” and regular verbs; note important concepts in short reading and listening tasks; retell events from personal writing, reading and listening tasks; speak about simple, everyday topics with intelligible consonant, and short and long vowel sounds; apply basic language functions in unscripted conversation and oral presentation; read and understand main ideas and details of short, simple readings.
CIEP II IELTS – 3-3.5 TOEFL – 30 -42 CEFR – A2 / B1 Duolingo – 60-70 TOEFL PBT – 397-460	Students completing CIEP II will be able to… Write unified paragraphs of 10-13 simple and compound sentences in several rhetorical styles with topic and concluding sentences; produce original sentences with simple past and future; modals; count vs noncount nouns, Wh- questions, adverbs of manner; superlative; note important concepts in short reading, writing and listening tasks; discriminate between true/false and fact/opinion statements; express opinions and ideas about a conversation, a talk or written text; apply a variety of speaking and discussion with basic language functions in unscripted conversations and oral presentations; speak intelligibly with proper consonant and vowel sounds, word stress, and reductions; understand short speech in routine social situations and express basic needs; demonstrate proficiency in unscripted academic public speaking; read and understand modified texts in relation to academic topics.
CIEP III IELTS – 3.5-4 TOEFL – 42 -60 CEFR – B1 Duolingo – 65-85 TOEFL PBT – 437-493	Students completing CIEP III will be able to… Write unified paragraphs of 14-17 simple and compound sentences in several rhetorical styles with topic and concluding sentences; produce original sentences using simple past, present, future; present and past progressive, time clauses, present perfect/progressive, nouns: quantifiers and articles, gerunds/infinitives, modals, adverbs, adjective order, reflexive and reciprocal pronouns, and coordinating conjunctions; critically analyze and interpret main ideas from paragraphs, articles, lectures, talks and conversations; note important concepts to create or complete lecture/text notes; summarize and paraphrase main ideas, supporting details and conclusions of a text, talk or conversation; identify support of an author’s or speaker’s opinion; identify lecture language to recognize lecture content and organization; express opinions in relation to a conversation, talk or written text; apply a variety of speaking and oral presentation techniques; speak intelligibly with clear consonant and vowel sounds, word stress, sentence stress and reductions; converse in short and slow speech on general topics and usually be understood such as expressing basic needs, daily activities, and preferences; demonstrate proficiency in unscripted academic public speaking in a 3-5-minute presentation; read and understand moderately complex multi-page texts.
CIEP IV IELTS – 4-5 TOEFL – 53-72 CEFR – B2 Duolingo – 80-95 TOEFL PBT – 477-530	Students completing CIEP IV will be able to… Write unified multi-paragraph essays with simple and compound sentences and several rhetorical styles; these have a funnel introduction, thesis, hook, topic sentences, concluding sentence, effective transitions, and solid details and examples; produce original sentences using perfect tenses, reported speech, passive, indirect speech, embedded questions, adjective clauses, phrasal verbs, and modals; compile appropriate, research material related to the assignment using vetted library resources; paraphrase main ideas, supporting details and conclusions from a text, lecture or talk; relate class topics to personal experience; integrate ideas and concepts from a variety of sources; take and revise lecture notes, e.g., identifying main and supporting ideas of a 7- to 10-minute authentic lecture; participate effectively in academic small group discussions using negotiating, seeking and giving help and clarification, and discussing class topics; demonstrate proficiency in unscripted academic public speaking in a 4- to 6-minute presentation; read and understand slightly adapted and academic texts.
CIEP V IELTS – 5.5-6.0 TOEFL – 65-78 CEFR – B2-C1 Duolingo – 85-99 TOEFL PBT – 513-547	Students completing CIEP V will be able to… Write unified multi-paragraph essays logically divided paragraphs, simple and compound sentences and using logical division, comparison/contrast, argumentation or cause/effect using a funnel introduction, thesis, hook, topic sentences, concluding sentence, effective transitions, details and examples; write longer paragraphs of more than 10 complex, compound and simple sentences; show mastery of sentences with perfect tenses, reported speech, passive voice, indirect speech, noun clauses with embedded questions, adjective clauses, so, too, neither etc.., phrasal verbs, and modals; compile appropriate, research material using vetted library resources integrating ideas and concepts from those sources; cite outside sources while avoiding plagiarizing by using accepted citations conventions with in-text citations and a list of references; relate topics from texts, lectures, talks and research to personal experience; take and revise lecture notes: identifying main ideas, supporting sentences and details, and conclusion of a 10-minute or longer authentic lecture; participate effectively in discussion using negotiating, seeking and giving help and clarification, and discussing class topics; demonstrate proficiency in unscripted academic public speaking in a 5-7-minute presentation of research essay findings; converse with ease on personal and some academic topics at a general level; read and understand unadapted academic literature.