The Douglas College English Assessment (DCOE) is a computer-based assessment that meets the general English requirements for studying at Douglas College. The test takes about two and a half hours to complete. It includes a 20-question multiple-choice reading section and a short academic essay between 300 and 600 words.
- Who should write
- What to bring to the test
- Preparation for the test
- Test results
- Waiting period for DCOE rewrites
- How to book an assessment
Who should write
Any applicant to the College who cannot provide proof of our English proficiency requirement. The DCOE is free for applicants and current students.
What to bring to the test
Please bring:
- Government issued photo identification (ie: a passport, a driver's license)
- Your Douglas College Student Number
- A pen or pencil
- An dictionary (see list below)
Approved dictionaries:
- Oxford Dictionary of Current English
- Oxford Canadian Dictionary of Current English
- Concise Oxford English Dictionary
- Merriam-Webster Dictionary
- Collins English Dictionary or Canadian English Dictionary
We may accept other dictionaries as long as they are not electronic and do not contain a thesaurus.
Preparation for the test
We use ACCUPLACER, a computer-adaptive assessment tool designed to evaluate students' reading and writing skills.
We recommend that you learn more about ACCUPLACER before your assessment. Click here to access some free study materials, and review the Reading Sample Questions and the WritePlacer Guide with Sample Essays.
If you are applying for the Health Care Assisting (Certificate), then we also suggest that you review the Writing Sample Questions.
Test results
You'll usually get your results and meet with an Assessment Services Coordinator right after the test. If results take longer (up to 24 hours), a Coordinator will contact you. If you're not successful, they'll help you explore other options to meet your English requirement.
Your reading score determines whether you move on to the writing module. The reading section is scored out of 300. A score of 275 or higher means you’ve met the requirement and can skip the writing module. If you score between 250 and 274, you’ll move on to the writing section. A score of 249 or below means you have not met the requirement and won’t continue.
The writing module is scored out of 8. Check the chart below to see the scores needed to pass the DCOE:
| Reading Score | Writing Score |
275 - 300 | n/a |
268 - 274 | 5 |
260 - 267 | 6 |
258 - 259 | 7 |
250 - 257 | 8 |
0 - 249 | n/a |
Waiting period for DCOE rewrites
You can rewrite the DCOE four months after your initial attempt, and you are allowed a maximum of two attempts every two years.
How to book an assessment
Visit How to book an Assessment.
You can register up to 48 hours (two business days) before your desired exam date. If you need to cancel, it must be done no later than 24 hours (one business day) before the exam.