NOTE TO INDIVIDUALS WITH VISION CONCERNS: The LPI exam is printed in various colours. Anyone with colour-related or other vision concerns should contact the LPI office to ensure that appropriate accommodations can be made. Requests for accommodations must be received before registration and received at least three (3) weeks before the desired examination date.

The Four Parts of the LPI

The LPI is composed of four parts as follows:

Scoring

Sentence structure (Part I), English Usage (Part II), and the multiple choice questions in Paragraph Development, Structure and Content (Part III) are scored by computer. The three paragraph summaries in Part III and the essay in Part IV are evaluated by members of the marking committees, which are made up of veteran teams of secondary and post-secondary English specialists. The paragraph summaries are assessed only once; however, the essay is read and marked by two markers. If both do not place the essay at the same level, it is evaluated and discussed by the committee until a consensus is reached on an appropriate mark. During this process, markers may also consult evidence from the rest of the test in order to aid placement of the essay in the correct level.

The Six Essay Marking Levels

Applying the LPI Essay Scores

Each institution applies the LPI scores in a way that suits its particular needs and course offerings. Some British Columbia community colleges require an essay Level 4 for entry into an English course or specific program. The University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria require a Level 5.

Post-secondary institutions throughout the province may change their admission or registration policies at any time. Examinees are therefore responsible for checking with a particular college or university to determine if LPI scores are required, or if they can be used in lieu of a college's or a university's own language assessment.

Detailed information on a college or university LPI score requirements must be obtained from the Registrar's Office or the English Department at that college or university. Specific information on this is not available from the LPI office.

Test Results

All institutions that make use of LPI scores receive a print-out of results within three weeks of publicly scheduled sittings. Examinees who have not accessed their scores online are sent a copy of their LPI scores by mail within four weeks of the date of writing the test.

If the examinee registered Online for their test and provided a valid email address, notification is automatically sent when the test scores are ready.

The LPI Office does not release test results over the phone.

Who uses the LPI?

The following institutions either require or accept LPI scores:

The University of British Columbia*

• The University of Victoria
• Simon Fraser University (SFU)
• Camosun College
• Capilano University
• Thompson Rivers University
• Douglas College
• Emily Carr University of Art and Design
• NIC - North Island College (All)
• University of the Fraser Valley
• Kwantlen Polytechnic University
• Langara College
• Vancouver Community College
• Vancouver Island University (Nanaimo)
• Vancouver Island University (Powell River)
• Vancouver Island University (Parks./Qual.)
• OC - Okanagan College
• Selkirk College
• Yukon College
• The British Columbia Institute of Technology
• Corrections and Community Justice Division of the Justice Institute
• Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia
• The Real Estate Council of British Columbia
• Abbotsford Police Recruitment Department
• New Westminster Police Recruitment Department
• Victoria Police Recruitment Department
• Port Moody Police Department
• University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC)
• College of the Rockies
• College of New Caledonia
• Okanagan Valley of Massage Therapy

* Information on UBC LPI English Requirements is found HERE.