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Language Placement Test

Student Resources

The Language Placement Test matches you with the French, German, Latin, Japanese or Spanish course most suitable for your level. Contact the department for placement in other languages.

We recommend that you take the test if you have any academic or home experience in a language.

If you have college credit in a language, you are not required to take the test. You may choose to take the next course in the sequence instead. 

You should not take the test if you are starting a new language. Sign up for a 101-level course instead.

For accurate placement:

  • Set aside 30 uninterrupted minutes to take the test.
  • Do not use any notes, reference sources, AI, or help from others.
  • Answer the questions you know. Guess randomly when you are unsure. The test will adapt accordingly. The goal is not to get the highest score possible, but rather to show what you know and what you do not.

Allow 24 hours for your score to process before registering for the course you place into. Placement scores remain set for one year. You may not retake the test for a new score before then.

Language Placement Test FAQ

As soon as possible. We advise you to take the test before registering for courses in your first semester. You should complete the language requirement as soon as possible, ideally in your first semester or year at UNCW. Waiting can delay your graduation. 
An internet connection and your student ID (“your 850”).
No. The placement test is an unproctored, online, multiple choice test. It only indicates the course you are likely to learn the most in.  

You should sign up for the course you place into and speak with your instructor about your concerns. You also have the following options: 

  • You may start a new language. 
  • If you have college credit in that language, you may take the next course in the sequence instead. 
  • You may retake the test for a new score in one year, although we advise against this option. It is better to complete your language requirement sooner rather than later. Waiting can delay your graduation. 
FRENCH
Level 1 FRH 102/120 0 - 175
Level 2 FRH 201 176 - 275
Level 3 FRH 202 276 - 349
Level 4 FRH 301, 302, 303 or 308 350+
German
Level 1 GER 102 0 - 200
Level 2 GER 201 201 - 300
Level 3 GER 202 301 - 390
Level 4 GER 301 391+
LATIN
Level 1 LAT 101 1 - 14
Level 2 LAT 102 15 - 20
Level 3 LAT 201 21+
SPANISH A
Level 1 SPN 120 0 - 225
Level 2 SPN 201 226 - 325
Level 3 SPN 202 326 - 375
Level 4 SPN 302-308 376+
SPANISH B (BILINGUALS ONLY)
Level 1 SPN 201 1 - 25
Level 2 SPN 215 26 - 79
Level 3 SPN 315 80 - 89
Level 4 SPN 303 90 - 100

Placement Test Links

If any of the statements below apply to you, take the Spanish B test.

"When I was a child, Spanish was spoken in my home."
"I lived in a Spanish-speaking country for two years or longer."
"My first language was Spanish."
"I speak Spanish, or both Spanish and English, with my family and/or friends."
"My parents and/or grandparents often speak/spoke to me in Spanish."

Otherwise, take the Spanish A test.
WLC Advising Information for Students