<p>Are college admission officers sympathetic towards ESL students with low Critical Reading Scores? </p>
<p>I've been an ESL student for the better part of my life, and I have a low Critical Reading Score.</p>
<p>Reading: 570
Math: 730
Writing: 730
Essay: 12</p>
<p>how long have you been here
???</p>
<p>That is not so low…I believe it is the 78th percentile.</p>
<p>Part of the problem that you may run into is unless you are looking to attend a schol that provides ESL services, there is an expectation that you demonstrate proficiency when it comes to reading and writing in english. </p>
<p>If you are still in ESL, because you have not been able to test out, in your own high school you have shown that you have not demonstrated proficiency according to the standards set by your state.</p>
<p>Do you attribute your low reading score to the fact that english is not your first lnaguage?</p>
<p>What exactly do you mean by “I’ve been an ESL student for the better part of my life”? How many years have you spent in schools where English is the medium of instruction? If you have been studying in English-language schools for five years or less, you should take the TOEFL. Your scores on that exam will demonstrate your proficiency in the kinds of English skills necessary for success in an English-language college or university. </p>
<p>It is entirely possible to do well on the TOEFL, and poorly on the SAT Reading section. Colleges and universities will look at both sets of scores and before making the admissions decision.</p>