Exemption Criteria

Exemption Regulations for Undergraduate English Studies

Students who meet any of the following criteria are exempt from the requirement to study English as a Foreign Language (EFL). (See the notes below for the equivalency table of English levels based on various examinations.) 

Exemption Criteria

Students are exempt from undergraduate EFL requirements if they meet one of the following conditions:

1. A score of 134 or higher on the English section of the Psychometric Entrance Examination or the Amiranet placement test. 
2. A score of 670 or higher on the SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) section.
   • Exemption is not granted automatically.
   • Students must submit official documentation to the EFL Unit. 
3. A TOEFL score of 100 or higher. 
4. A high school diploma (matriculation certificate) from an English-speaking country.
   • Exemption is not automatic.
   • Appropriate documentation must be submitted to the EFL Unit. 
5. A bachelor's degree from an Israeli higher-education institution recognized by the Council for Higher Education (CHE).
   • Exemption is not automatic.
   • Appropriate documentation must be submitted to the EFL Unit. 

Notes

Course Registration Following a Level Change

Requests to change course registration as a result of a revised English placement level will not be accepted after the official add/drop period has ended. 

Recognition of Previous English Studies

Students who completed EFL courses as part of a degree program at another recognized higher-education institution may apply for recognition of those studies.

They must submit:

• Proof of their English placement score (Psychometric English score),
• An official transcript,
• A detailed course syllabus,

and documentation confirming that:

1. The course was taught face-to-face.
2. Attendance was mandatory.
3. The final examination was conducted in person rather than online. 

Each application is reviewed individually. Students may register for a subsequent course only after their English level has been officially updated in the university system. 

Validity of Exemption

An undergraduate English exemption remains valid for 10 years from the date it was granted. 

Applicants Whose Previous Studies Are Not Recognized

Applicants whose prior English studies are not recognized by the EFL Unit are not exempt from English studies at Bar-Ilan University.

Their English level will be determined according to:

• The Amiranet placement test, or
• The English section of the Psychometric Examination.