Testing in Less Commonly Studied Languages

Placement & Proficiency

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For questions or information,
please contact:

Placement & Proficiency
(217) 244-4437
pnp@illinois.edu

OFFICE HOURS

Monday - Friday
8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Testing in Less Commonly Studied Languages (last updated November 5, 2018)

Placement testing is NOT NECESSARY if you have never studied the language. The purpose of placement testing is to identify which Illinois course is most appropriate for you so that you can pick up your studies where you left off. If you are not familiar with a language, you don't need to take any placement test. You will simply enroll in the first elementary-level course.

Placement testing and proficiency testing in a less commonly studied language are carried out by the department that offers the language. The department decides the date and time of the test, the manner in which testing is conducted, and the score. The test administrator determines your level of proficiency as well as your course placement, based on your performance. The department also determines how much proficiency credit, if any, your performance earns. Credit hours are NOT automatically posted to your academic record simply because you took a language proficiency exam. Sometimes passing the proficiency exam fulfills your General Education language requirement but does not earn course credit. Consult with your academic advisor to find out how your academic record will be affected.

Please be aware that a less commonly studied language MIGHT NOT BE OFFERED every semester. Just as course availability depends on instructor availability, placement testing and proficiency testing also depend on the availability of an instructor who is qualified to assess your language skills. Thus, placement and proficiency testing in a particular less commonly studied language might not be offered every semester. If this is the case for you, please check with the department that is responsible for the language to see what your options are.

A fee may be charged to defray the cost of administering and grading a proficiency exam. The student is responsible for paying any fees that the department charges.

CHINESE PROFICIENCY TESTING: This exam serves to fulfill the General Education language requirement. It is now offered online at the Testing Center and consists of listening comprehension, reading comprehension, and writing an essay. Contact Melissa Minarik at the Testing Center at least 5 business days before your desired test date to schedule your appointment.

Language	Department Responsible For Testing
Sub-Saharan African Languages (Swahili and Wolof)	Linguistics Dept. Dr. Mary Gathogo PHONE: 217-333-3563 EMAIL: gathogo@illinois.edu
ASL	Dept. of Speech and Hearing Science. Ms. Susan Dramin Weiss (by appointment only) PHONE: 217-333-2230 EMAIL: sdramin@illinois.edu
Arabic	Linguistics Dept. Dr. Eman Saadah PHONE: 217-244-4515 EMAIL: esaadah2@illinois.edu
Basque	Dept. of Spanish and Portuguese Dr. Jose Ignacio Hualde PHONE: 217-244-7161 EMAIL: jihualde@illinois.edu
Bengali	Linguistics Dept. Dr. Mithilesh Mishra PHONE: 217-333-3563 EMAIL: mkmishra@illinois.edu The next opportunity to take the proficiency exam will be given on January 22, 2019 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Check back later for the online registration form.
Bosnian	Dept. of Slavic Languages and Literatures Dr. Roman Ivashkiv PHONE: 217-244-1063 EMAIL: roman904@illinois.edu Fall testing is finished. For general information about the Slavic placement tests, go here.
Bulgarian	Dept. of Slavic Languages and Literatures Dr. Richard Tempest PHONE: 217-244-4720 EMAIL: rtempest@illinois.edu Placement testing only There are two courses.
Catalan	Dept. of Spanish and Portuguese Dr. Jose Ignacio Hualde PHONE: 217-244-7161 EMAIL: jihualde@illinois.edu
Chinese	Dept. of East Asian Languages and Cultures Dr. Chilin Shih PHONE: 217-244-2725 EMAIL: Please contact Debbie if you have questions about Chinese testing debrice@illinois.edu CHINESE PROFICIENCY TESTING IS NOW ADMINISTERED AT THE TESTING CENTER. Please contact Melissa Minarik at least 5 business days before your desired test date to schedule your appointment.
Czech/Slovak	Dept. of Slavic Languages and Literatures Dr. David Cooper PHONE: 217-244-4666 EMAIL: dlcoop@illinois.edu
Farsi (Persian)	Linguistics Dept. Dr. Eman Saadah PHONE: 217-244-4515 EMAIL: esaadah2@illinois.edu
German	Dept. of Germanic Languages and Literatures. Proficiency testing only! New students must take the online German placement test prior to enrolling in a German course. Continuing students must request a face-to-face testing appointment. All German proficiency exams are administered on an individual basis. Mr. Charles Webster PHONE: 217-333-1288 EMAIL: cwebste@illinois.edu
Classical Greek	Classics Dept.. Dr. Brian Walters PHONE: 217-333-1008 EMAIL: bwaltrs@illinois.edu
Modern Greek	Modern Greek Studies Program Dr. Stefanos Katsikas PHONE: 217-300-7188 EMAIL: skatsika@illinois.edu
Gujarati	Linguistics Dept. Dr. Mithilesh Mishra PHONE: 217-333-3563 EMAIL: mkmishra@illinois.edu There is a fee for this test. The next opportunity to take the proficiency exam will be given on January 22, 2019 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Check back later for the online registration form.
Hebrew	Program in Jewish Culture and Society Ms. Sarah Elder PHONE: 217-333-7978 EMAIL: srwilkin@illinois.edu Dr. Dara Goldman PHONE: 217-333-0986 EMAIL: degoldma@illinois.edu
Hindi	Linguistics Dept. Dr. Mithilesh Mishra PHONE: 217-333-3563 EMAIL: mkmishra@illinois.edu The next opportunity to take the proficiency exam will be given on January 22, 2019 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Check back later for the online registration form.
Italian	Dept. of French and Italian Ms. Laura Callegari Hill PHONE: 217-244-9375 EMAIL: lchill1@illinois.edu Placement tests for Italian are offered face-to-face, not online. An effort will be made to schedule them in combination with the student’s Summer Registration Program. To set up a 30-minute appointment, please contact Laura Hill, Director of the Basic Italian Language Program, at least one week in advance of your desired test date.
Japanese	Dept. of East Asian Languages and Cultures Dr. Misumi Sadler PHONE: 217-244-2725 EMAIL: Please contact Debbie if you have questions about Japanese testing debrice@illinois.edu The next opportunity to take the placement exam will be in January 2019 prior to the start of Spring semester.
Kannada	Linguistics Dept. Dr. Mithilesh Mishra PHONE: 217-333-3563 EMAIL: mkmishra@illinois.edu There is a fee for this test. The next opportunity to take the proficiency exam will be given on January 22, 2019 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Check back later for the online registration form.
Korean	Dept. of East Asian Languages and Cultures Dr. Jeeyoung Ahn Ha PHONE: 217-244-2725 EMAIL: Please contact Debbie if you have questions about Korean testing debrice@illinois.edu The next opportunity to take the placement exam will be in January 2019 prior to the start of Spring semester.
Latin	Classics Dept. Proficiency testing only! New students must take the online Latin placement test prior to enrolling in a Latin course. Continuing students must request a face-to-face testing appointment. All Latin proficiency exams are administered on an individual basis. Dr. Ariana Traill PHONE: 217-333-7661 EMAIL: traill@illinois.edu
Malayalam	Linguistics Dept. Dr. Mithilesh Mishra PHONE: 217-333-3563 EMAIL: mkmishra@illinois.edu There is a fee for this test. The next opportunity to take the proficiency exam will be given on January 22, 2019 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Check back later for the online registration form.
Marathi	Linguistics Dept. Dr. Mithilesh Mishra PHONE: 217-333-3563 EMAIL: mkmishra@illinois.edu There is a fee for this test. The next opportunity to take the proficiency exam will be given on January 22, 2019 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Check back later for the online registration form.
Native American Languages: Quechua	Upon consent from the Associate Director of the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies Mr. Carlos Molina Vital PHONE: 217-333-3182 EMAIL: crm5@illinois.edu
Polish	Dept. of Slavic Languages and Literatures Dr. Roman Ivashkiv PHONE: 217-333-0680 EMAIL: roman904@illinois.edu Fall testing is finished. For general information about the Slavic placement tests, go here.
Portuguese	Dept. of Spanish and Portuguese Mrs. Raquel Castro Goebel PHONE: 217-333-3390 EMAIL: rcgoebel@illinois.edu
Punjabi	Linguistics Dept. Dr. Mithilesh Mishra PHONE: 217-333-3563 EMAIL: mkmishra@illinois.edu There is a fee for this test. The next opportunity to take the proficiency exam will be given on January 22, 2019 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Check back later for the online registration form.
Russian	Dept. of Slavic Languages and Literatures Dr. Roman Ivashkiv PHONE: 217-333-0680 EMAIL: roman904@illinois.edu Fall testing is finished. For general information about the Slavic placement tests, go here.
Sanskrit	Dept. of Religion Dr. Jessica Vantine Birkenholtz PHONE: 217-333-0473 EMAIL: jvanbirk@illinois.edu
Scandinavian Languages	Dept. of Germanic Languages and Literatures Dr. Verena Jessica Hoefig PHONE: --- (Please contact her by email) EMAIL: verena@illinois.edu
Serbian/Croatian	Dept. of Slavic Languages and Literatures Dr. Roman Ivashkiv PHONE: 217-333-0680 EMAIL: roman904@illinois.edu Fall testing is finished. For general information about the Slavic placement tests, go here.
Tamil	Linguistics Dept. Dr. Mithilesh Mishra PHONE: 217-333-3563 EMAIL: mkmishra@illinois.edu There is a fee for this test. The next opportunity to take the proficiency exam will be given on January 22, 2019 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Check back later for the online registration form.
Telugu	Linguistics Dept. Dr. Mithilesh Mishra PHONE: 217-333-3563 EMAIL: mkmishra@illinois.edu There is a fee for this test. The next opportunity to take the proficiency exam will be given on January 22, 2019 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Check back later for the online registration form.
Turkish	Turkish Studies Dr. Ayse Ozcan PHONE: 217-333-3563 EMAIL: aozcan@illinois.edu
Ukrainian	Dept. of Slavic Languages and Literatures Dr. Roman Ivashkiv PHONE: 217-333-0680 EMAIL: roman904@illinois.edu Fall testing is finished. For general information about the Slavic placement tests, go here.
Urdu	Linguistics Dept. Dr. Mithilesh Mishra PHONE: 217-333-3563 EMAIL: mkmishra@illinois.edu The next opportunity to take the proficiency exam will be given on January 22, 2019 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Check back later for the online registration form.
Yiddish	Program in Jewish Culture and Society Ms. Sarah Elder PHONE: 217-333-7978 EMAIL: srwilkin@illinois.edu Dr. Dara Goldman PHONE: 217-333-0986 EMAIL: degoldma@illinois.edu

IF YOUR LANGUAGE IS NOT LISTED ABOVE:

You may make arrangements to take an external exam from one of the institutions whose test results we accept for LOTE purposes, if that institution offers your language. Please note that you are responsible for all proctoring and testing fees. You should plan on taking the exam during Fall or Spring semester, as faculty are not usually available during the summer to administer language tests.

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign accepts test results from the following institutions:

NYU School of Professional Studies - Download and fill out this registration form: NYU lang-prof-registration_UIUC and register for the 12-point exam (not the 16-point exam) in your language.

University of Pennsylvania Language Center - Contact PNP if you have questions about completing their registration form.

Indiana University - Contact PNP for more information.

Brigham Young University - BYU's FLATS exams assess through the third level of a language. Before registering for a BYU exam, please check with your academic advisor to confirm the language requirement that you need to fulfill. All programs in the Gies College of Business, most programs in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, and some programs in the College of Fine & Applied Arts require demonstration of fourth-level proficiency rather than third-level proficiency.

After verifying that the institution offers an exam in the language that you want to test in, your next step is to contact our Testing Center and make arrangements to test under proctored conditions.

For other questions, please contact pnp@illinois.edu or call 217-265-6248 during business hours.

Language

Department Responsible For Testing