Missouri State University uses placement exams to help determine your level of skill in an area of study and your potential to succeed in a specific course. One of the exams the University offers is the foreign language placement exam.

 

Am I required to take the foreign language placement exam?

No, the foreign language placement exam is not required of any student at Missouri State; however, students with foreign language experience (typically one or more years of high school study, or equivalent) in French, German, or Spanish are required to take the Computerized Adaptive Placement Exam (WebCAPE) prior to enrolling in languages courses.

 

What is the foreign language placement exam?  How does it work?

The foreign language placement exam is a computerized, proficiency-oriented exam designed to place students into the most appropriate course level for the language they have studied.  It usually takes about 30 minutes to complete.  The exam's format consists of multiple choice questions with best choice answers; its content covers grammar, vocabulary, and reading comprehension.

 

When is the foreign language placement exam given?

This exam is offered online at www.missouristate.edu/lrc/placementtest.htm and can be taken at any time.  You should take the foreign language placement exam before attending your scheduled SOAR session; doing so will allow you to register for the level of foreign language course most suited for you while at SOAR. 

 

Am I required to take foreign language courses at Missouri State?  Will I have to take a language course during the first semester of college?

Whether students are required to take foreign language courses is determined by their degree, major, or minor; foreign language courses are not required by the General Education Program.  Please consult the Undergraduate Catalog to determine whether foreign language courses will be required of you.

You aren't required to take a language course during your first semester.  Your placement exam results will be good for as long as you remain an undergraduate student at Missouri State.  You may want to consider taking language courses as soon as possible, as language skills learned in high school tend to decrease over time without study or practice.

 

When will the exam results be available? What will the results tell me?

The results are available on the computer screen at the conclusion of the exam. You can also view your placement score on the Academics tab on your My Missouri State page (under the Student Info Resources box, click Student Records, then Test Scores).  The results will note which language course you may place into and put into your course schedule.  You will not need to bring these results with you to SOAR; your advisor will have access to your placement score.

 

I have received college credit for a foreign language courses from another college or university or from the Advanced Placement (AP) exams. Should I still take the placement exam?

If your credit transfers to Missouri State as a Spanish (SPN), French (FRN), or German (GRM) course of level 101, 102, and 201, you will not need to take the foreign language placement exam.  Any subsequent language courses you wish to take will begin at the next highest course level. 

An Advanced Placement score of 4 or higher will give you up to 6 hours of elective credit.  Please contact the Modern and Classical Languages department head to determine placement.

If your courses are transferred from another college or university as electives, please contact the Modern and Classical Languages department head to determine placement.

 

I am unhappy with the results of the placement exam. Can I take the placement exam again?

No.  You may apply to the Department Head for written permission to take the language placement exam a second time.  However, the second exam will be supervised and taken "by appointment only" on campus within the Language Resource Center. You will be required to furnish proof of permission.

 

I have further questions about the foreign language placement exam.  Where can I direct my questions?

If you have further questions, contact the Modern and Classical Languages department head or the Language Resource Center.