Spanish

Placement into the Spanish courses is based on the student's score on the Spanish Placement Exam. Cutoff scores and placement recommendations are derived in collaboration with the Spanish Department and are reviewed annually. The policies below apply to all students entering the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in Summer 2015, Fall 2015, or Spring 2016.

The online Spanish Placement Exam does not award proficiency credit. Only students who do well on the placement test may attempt the proficiency exam. Click here to learn more about the paper-and-pencil Spanish Proficiency Exam.

Test Score

Placement Message


0 - 15


Placed into SPAN 122


16 - 34


Placed into SPAN 103


35 - 45


Placed into SPAN 141 or SPAN 142*


46 - 57


Placed into SPAN 200 and SPAN 204, which are both prerequisites for further study*



*If you do not already have college-level credit in Spanish, you may take the Spanish Proficiency Exam in August 2015 or January 2016 prior to enrolling in a Spanish course.