Language Proficiency Exams
Already know a foreign language?
Students who have taken one year or more of a foreign language in high school are strongly encouraged to take the Foreign Language Proficiency Exam. Proficiency exams are available in French, German, and Spanish.
Learn more about the Foreign Language Proficiency Exam and State Seal of Biliteracy Policy
Proficiency tests are issued on a walk-in basis, there is no need to make an appointment. This is a one-time test. You may not retake this test to get a higher score.
Location and Hours
Peck Hall 2310, Mon-Thurs 9 a.m. - 4:30 p. m. and Fri 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.*
*Last test is administered 30 minutes before closing
Students who would like to take the placement/proficiency test before the start of the semester should contact the Department of Foreign Languages (618-650-3510, thuntle@siue.edu or jmann@siue.edu) to check summer /break hours and set up an appointment.
Students who are seeking placement or proficiency credit should carefully read the Foreign Language Proficiency Policy before they proceed with placement/proficiency testing.
Students who have taken one year or more of a foreign language should take the online Placement/Proficiency test in the Facilitated Language and Tutoring Center (located in Peck Hall Room 2310). There is no charge to take this exam. Ideally, students should take the proficiency exam before enrolling in a foreign language course. However, students already enrolled, have up to two weeks at the beginning of the semester to take this exam. Students are placed in an appropriate language course based on their scores on the Foreign Language Proficiency Exam. The proficiency grade will either be an A or a B with 4 credit hours earned for each course for which proficiency has been demonstrated, up to 16 hours of proficiency credit. If students obtain a grade of B by proficiency, they have the option of taking the class (rather than accepting the proficiency credit) to possibly obtain a higher grade.
Students are welcome to contact the instructor of the course they feel most closely matches their proficiency level before the start of the term, during the first week of the term, and no later than the second week of the term to discuss taking the online placement/proficiency exam in the Foreign Languages Teaching Center/Lab, Peck 2310, but it is not necessary to have a referral from a faculty member to take the placement/proficiency exam.