The Language Proficiency Exam is one option students have to fulfill the university’s language graduation requirement. It is not a placement exam; faculty academic advisors help place students into the appropriate level of language classes at Puget Sound. If you are unsure which language class you should take, please contact your advisor.
Likewise, the exam does not fulfill departmental language requirements; students who pass the Language Proficiency Exam have tested out of the university's language graduation requirement by demonstrating prior competence and do not plan on taking any language courses at the university.
Although the structure of the exam differs slightly according to the language, every exam measures students’ proficiency in reading, listening, and grammar. Students who successfully pass the exam typically either have 3-4 years of high-level high school coursework in the language, have studied abroad, or are a native speaker of the language. Students are permitted up to one retake; if after two attempts students are unable to pass the exam, we will recommend that they enroll in an introductory language class.
If you have questions or would like to take the Language Proficiency Exam, please contact the CWL at cwl@pugetsound.edu or at 253.879.3404.