Foreign Language Placement Examination

Every incoming student with one or more years of high school foreign language is required to take the placement exam in the language studied in high school if he or she wishes to place out and/or continue in that language. A student who wishes to start a new language, does not need to take a language placement exam.

1. Language placement exams measure whether a student has the language skills equivalent to those students who have taken first-year university foreign language 1010, and/or 1020, as the case may be.
2. Listening and reading comprehension, as well as basic culture and civilization will be tested. Contact the Foreign Language Department for detailed information about exam content.
3. Students with more than 2 years of high school language should not register for the 1010 level language. Foreign language 1010 and 1020 must be taken in sequence, preferably during the student’s first year.
4. Students with more than 2 years of high school credit in the given language and who do not score above 1010 level on the placement test are advised to audit 1010, to review the first six chapters of the text on their own or to begin a different language.
5. Students who completed their secondary education in an English-speaking school, but have learned another language formally or informally, may take a language proficiency exam in the language they know.
6. Students who have completed their education in a non-English speaking school may be exempt from the foreign lange requirement.
7. A student who places out of the foreign language requirement does not receive credit for work done in high school. By placing out a student fulfills the foreign language requirement at North Park University. If your preparation is sufficient, and if you are an international business major or planning on major/minoring in the language, you can take advantage of credit-by-examination for courses above 1020. Basic language credit is also available though CLEP examinations.
8. Language placement exams are offered and evaluated by the respective Foreign Language Departments for French, German, Korean, Spanish, and Swedish. A placement examination will be available during Threshold Week and/or the first week of each semester.
9. Students with Advanced Placement in Foreign Language should see the chair of the Foreign Language Department during registration.

Guidelines and policies are subject to change without notification.