Frequently Asked Questions

PIE Online Level 7: English Online for Graduate School Admission

Any international student currently studying abroad who wants to improve their academic English skills in preparation for applying to a graduate program at an American university can take PIE Online Level 7: English Online for Graduate School Admission.

Purdue University and IUPUI both accept successful completion of PIE Online Level 7: English Online for Graduate School Admission as proof of English proficiency for admission!

PIE Online Level 7 is perfect for students outside of the United States who are seeking admission into graduate programs at Purdue University and into many programs at IUPUI (Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis) in Indiana, but who do not yet have the TOEFL or IELTS score needed for admission. You must meet all other admission requirements for that program. Please contact your individual department representative(s) for more information.

PIE Online Level 7 includes five classes:  Listening & Speaking are taught together, Reading & Writing are taught together, and Structure in Use (grammar) is taught as a separate class.

In the combined Reading & Writing courses, reading activities focus on the student’s ability to fluently and accurately comprehend a range of complex texts (often with little to no contextual and extralinguistic support) related to a broad range of themes. In addition, Reading Level 7 heavily focuses on academic topics and types of expository texts which include facts, descriptions, arguments, opinions, implied meanings, and regularly extensive in length. Writing activities focus on the ability to fluently and accurately compose complex texts (e.g. paragraphs and essays) related to a broad range of themes. In addition, Writing Level 7 includes academic essays and reports which summarize, analyze, respond, and discuss, as well as present and argument on a variety of issues. The writing tasks in this course are designed to reflect writing tasks of the university.

In the combined Listening & Speaking courses, listening activities focus on the student’s ability to fluently and accurately comprehend spoken language, i.e. increasingly complex and fluently articulated phrases and longer stretches of discourse, about concrete topics of immediate personal relevance as well as abstract subjects with often little contextual and extralinguistic support. In addition, Listening Level 7 includes regular and deep experiences with academic topics and types of texts which are often considerable in length. Speaking activities focus on the student’s ability to produce comprehensible spoken language, i.e. complex phrases and longer stretches of discourse, about concrete topics as well as abstract subjects with necessary contextual and extralinguistic support. In addition, Speaking Level 7 includes more academic texts types (e.g. presentations to class, presentations, academic conversations, and seminar-style discussions), which expand in both breadth and depth at this level and reflect professional and academic styles of discourse.

The Structure in Use course focuses on raising awareness, practice accuracy, and analyze grammatical structures of the English language. Structure in Use Level 7 places these structures in meaningful academic and professional contexts. This class also focuses on utilizing the most common structures of academic language, especially in writing.

PIE Level 7 online is not a single course; it is a full-time language program that includes eight (8) weeks of instruction (May 11 – July 3, 2020).  Each class is designed to have at least 5 hours per week of asynchronous instruction plus homework, so students should expect to spend more than 20 hours each week on classwork and assignments.

PIE Online Level 7 program participants will be registered as non-degree seeking IUPUI students.

PIE Online Level 7 courses are for no credit. Grades for these courses will appear on official IUPUI transcripts.

Successful completion of PIE Online Level 7 requires:

80% minimum grade average of all classes with no grade below 70%, AND

Appropriate score on the PIE Proficiency Test administered at the end of the course.

If you meet both of these requirements, then you will successfully complete PIE Online Level 7, and we will verify to both Purdue University and IUPUI that you have met the minimum English language proficiency requirements for admission purposes.

NOTE that simply taking the course is not sufficient.  You must meet the above two requirements.

Because PIE Online Level 7: English Online for Graduate School Admission is designed to prepare students for admission into graduate programs at Purdue University and at IUPUI (Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis), students interested in this program must already have a strong level of English; to be successful in this program, you should be able to communicate easily with native English speakers. 

To make sure your English skills are high enough to be successful in this program, we ask that you show us evidence of your current proficiency.  You can do this in several ways. 

Duolingo English Test: The easiest is to take the Duolingo English Test and show a score of at least 92.  You can go to this website to take this test: https://englishtest.duolingo.com/

This test is very convenient because you can take it on your own computer.

TOEFL or IELTS: If you already have a TOEFL score of at least 70 or an IELTS score of at least 6.0, then you meet the proficiency requirements to participate in PIE Online Level 7.

Please send proof of your current proficiency to inpie@iupui.edu

The PIE Online Level 7 courses will be taught “asynchronously,” which means that it is not taught “live”.  Students log into the courses through their computers at whatever time is convenient for them each day.  However, because PIE Online Level 7 is a full-time program, students should plan to spend at least 20 hours per week doing the course work and assignments.

Each week, participants will complete a “module” in the PIE Online Level 7 courses that focuses on a specific skill in the Reading & Writing, Listening & Speaking, and Structure in Use (grammar) courses. Each module will open on the same day of the week and close seven (7) days later. This means that all work must be done the week that it is assigned; students cannot skip a week and then try to catch up the following week.  The topics in this course are meant to be encountered sequentially, meaning that you must complete one module in order to move to the next.

PIE Online Level 7 participants will use Canvas to submit assignments, complete classwork, view grades, and interact with peers and instructors. Canvas is the university’s Learning Management System (LMS). You will have a Canvas “course site” for your Reading & Writing, Listening & Speaking, and Structure in Use courses. All instruction will be completed online through these course sites.

You must have a computer that is no more than three (3) years old, with a web-camera, microphone, AND access to reliable high-speed internet.  You will need a newer computer in order to use the ‘learning management software’ required for the course. 

Please contact Kate at inpie@iupui.edu if you have questions about your computer.

How do I apply for PIE Online Level 7: English Online for Graduate School Admission?

The first step is to complete the online course interest form found at the link below, and then send it as an attachment to Kate at inpie@iupui.edu:

English Online for Graduate School Admission Form

This form asks for some basic information that we can use to contact you. We will review the form and respond to you with further application instructions via the personal e-mail that you provided in the form.

Once you have been admitted to the program, you will have an IUPUI student bursar account. Your bill for all five classes will appear in this account. You can pay your student bill online with a credit card.

You must pay for your classes online no later than Wednesday, May 20, 2020.

If you are unable to pay by May 20, you will be dropped from the program.

Email Kate at inpie@iupui.edu. She will be very happy to answer any questions that you have!  We would love to have you join us in the PIE Online Level 7: English Online for Graduate School Admission program!