GATEWAY English Test

An academic English test for admissions that universities can trust

Academically Authentic

GATEWAY assesses the test taker’s ability to perform in the situations  they will encounter on campus, such as participating in class or in group discussions. 

Video Interview

Total transparency–Test takers record a 10 to 15-minute unscored interview that allows admissions to get to know the applicant and to observe them using the language.

Designed for Online

Instead of simply transferring traditional question types from paper to online, GATEWAY innovates new, increasingly valid, reliable, secure, and authentic, question types.

Scores in 24 hours

Test takers can upgrade to receive their score within 24 hours. All other scores are available within 5 days. We respond to all customer support questions within 24 hours. 

Why GATEWAY?

Language proficiency is a pre-requisite to a successful university experience. GATEWAY was created to provide accessibility and affordability to the test taker and a trustworthy score universities can rely on for admissions purposes. 

>> View GATEWAY Test Specifications

Proven Testing Methods English
What Admissions Offices Love
"English3 presents a complete linguistic profile of our students. Video interviews allows us to observe students’ using the language and “get to meet” them instead of just receiving a score report.
English3 has drastically improved our graduation and retention rates. Previously our graduation rate was around 66%; after the implementation of English3 it has been consistently around 85%."
jane borisova
Jane Borisova
Director of the Intensive English Program,
University of Northern Colorado
“English3 creates options for applicants and allows for a more diverse pool of students to study at BYU. In addition, the incidence of cheating or misrepresenting English proficiency is much lower—English3 gives us an accurate view of applicant English ability.”
Logan Gillette
Logan Gillette
Assistant Dean, Graduate Admissions and Recruitment,
Brigham Young University
“We require English3 tests for all of our scholars. We opted not to use other tests primarily due to huge problems with cheating. English3 provides a real snapshot of what applicants can do and is actually an easier test than the TOEFL if the applicant knows how to speak English well. English3 tests are designed to determine performance in an academic environment.”
Brenda Campbell
Program Administrator,
Western University of Health Sciences
GATEWAY CEFR Level Description
760-800
C2
Proficient Expert user

Test takers at this level understand with ease virtually everything heard or read. They are able to summarize information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent written or spoken presentation. They express themselves spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in more complex situations.
680-750
C1
Proficient Advanced user

Test takers at this level understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognize implicit meaning. They express themselves fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions. They use language flexibly and effectively for academic purposes. They produce clear, well-structured, detailed spoken and written text on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organisational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices.
640-670
B2+
Independent Strong B2

Test takers at this level understand standard language on both familiar and unfamiliar topics encountered in personal, social, academic or vocational life. They can follow the essentials of lectures, talks and reports and other forms of academic/professional presentation which are propositionally and linguistically complex. They are able to give clear, systematically developed descriptions and presentations, with appropriate highlighting of significant points, and relevant supporting detail. They can produce an essay which develops an argument with appropriate highlighting of significant points and relevant supporting detail.
520-630
B2
Independent Upper intermediate user

Test takers at this level understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics. They express themselves with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that should make regular interaction with other speakers possible without imposing strain on either party. They produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.
480-510
B1+
Independent Strong B1

Test takers at this level understand straightforward factual information identifying both general messages and specific details with reasonable precision. They can produce texts using simple language to list advantages and disadvantages, and give and justify their opinion as well as write short, simple essays. They can summarize, report and give their opinion about accumulated factual information, describe a complex process in some detail, give simple reasons to justify a viewpoint as well as develop an argument well enough to be followed without difficulty most of the time.
360-470
B1
Independent Intermediate user

Test takers at this level understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. They are able to deal with most situations likely to arise in settings where English is the main language. They can produce simple connected text on concrete topics and are able to describe experiences as well as give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.
320-350
A2+
Basic user Strong A2

Test takers at this level understand enough to manage simple, routine exchanges without undue effort. They interact with reasonable ease in structured situations and short conversations. They are able to understand and produce short, simple texts on familiar matters of a concrete type which consist of high frequency language. They are able to follow the general outline of a demonstration or presentation on a familiar or predictable topic, where the message is expressed slowly and clearly in simple language and there is visual support. This level is typically considered too low to succeed in an academic setting, but may be set for Foundation Year courses.

GATEWAY FAQs

We anticipate an initial release in March 2023.

Within 24 hours or 5 business days, depending on the test option chosen.

Up to 2.5 hours. Plan on 10 minutes to complete the test setup and instruction portion.

$99 for most test takers. 

An overall score and subscores for speaking, listening, reading, and writing. 

2 years.

The nature of acquiring a new language and the natural process of language atrophy require the interview score validity to expire after 2 years.

Administrator Dashboard

    • Access scores, interview videos, comments and other resources on your dashboard. This is provided as a free resource.

Email

    • Administrators receive an email notification with the applicant score report as soon as it becomes available.

Student information system integration

    • Interview scores are automatically uploaded to applicant records in Terra Dotta and Sunapsis.

For an in-depth review of test security, click here.

For a test to be valid, it must be secure. As university customers attest, interview scores consistently reflect exchange visitor English ability once they arrive on campus. Critical elements of interview security include:

  • Real-time free response to open-ended questions, simulating real-to-life conversation
  • Facial recognition software ensuring test-taker identity
  • Remote proctoring and scoring by a certified human rater (1:1 proctor to test-taker ration)

  • Randomized questions from an extensive question bank

  • Innovative test item types used to benchmark ability across all responses

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