FAQs SCHREINER UNIVERSITY SPANISH PLACEMENT EXAM
WHAT'S A "PLACEMENT EXAM?”
A placement exam (aka “proficiency exam”) tests a student’s general level of competency in a language in order to match that skill level with a corresponding level of study. Placement and proficiency tests are designed to evaluate language capacities in a broad way; they are not associated with any single course, textbook, or topic.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
Nada. Unlike many other schools, Schreiner offers this exam at no cost to all SU students! You’ve got nothing to lose.
WHEN CAN I TAKE THE EXAM AND HOW DO I SIGN UP?
Incoming freshmen should not miss the chance to take this exam at Mountaineer Days. During the academic year, the exam is only offered once per semester, typically during the registration period for the following semester’s classes (November/April). Please note that you can’t test out of a class in which you’re currently enrolled. To sign-up during the semester, just email the Program Coordinator for Spanish & Latin American Studies, Dr. Russo ().
WHAT'S ON IT? WHAT’S THE FORMAT?
This is a written exam that lasts approximately 1 hour and evaluates language capacities from a competency standpoint (i.e., it won’t ask you to “identify X verb tense,” it will ask you to demonstrate that you understand meaning in context). The test format includes audio comprehension, reading comprehension, multiple choice questions that test general knowledge, and a writing segment in which you are prompted to share information about yourself and your interests.
WHAT SHOULD I STUDY FOR THIS EXAM?
There is no study guide for the exam because it is a proficiency exam and not a course exam. It tests your general competency for a range of language use. If you wish to refresh your skills or past studies prior to the exam, you can do so with any resources or texts that you like. Those who are looking for a way to structure their independent review may find it helpful to consult the list of “target forms” that summarizes what’s covered in the first 2 semesters at SU.
I TOOK SPANISH FOR [UMPTEEN] YEARS IN SCHOOL – WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR HOW WELL I’LL DO?
Actually, it doesn’t necessarily mean anything. Your performance on a proficiency exam is about your level of knowledge and skill in the language, and that doesn’t always correlate with the amount of years you’ve studied. Some students who have had Spanish throughout high school still place into the intro level at SU, and there is nothing wrong with that.
WHAT DO I NEED TO GET IN ORDER TO ..... ?
Your score will place you into one of the following 5 categories, each of which corresponds to a coursework level at SU:
1. Basic I: placement in SPAN 1401
2. Basic II: placement in SPAN 1402, credit for SPAN 1401
3. Intermediate I: placement in SPAN 2303, credit for SPAN 1401 & 1402
4. Intermediate II: placement in SPAN 2304, credit for SPAN 1401, 1402, & 2303
5. Advanced: placement in any 3000 level SPAN course, credit for SPAN 1401, 1402, 2303, & 2304
HOW MANY TIMES CAN I TAKE THE EXAM?
There are NO RETAKES for the Spanish Proficiency Exam as a general policy. Students may take this exam only once.
WHEN/HOW WILL I FOUND OUT HOW I DID?
Results will be emailed to the student and the Registrar’s office, usually within 1-2 weeks of the exam date.
I HAVE AP CREDITS (OR TRANSFER CREDITS) IN SPANISH, DO I NEED TO TAKE THIS EXAM?
The SU Registrar’s office honors any AP or transfer credits that you have earned, but if you are interested in studying Spanish at Schreiner, it’s strongly recommended that you still take the placement exam. It’s not unusual for students who have studied Spanish elsewhere to find that those levels do not line up exactly with Schreiner’s levels, and the placement exam exists to help you to avoid the problem of being put into a class that’s not the right class for you.
I MISSED THE EXAM THIS TIME AROUND, WHAT DO I DO?
Placement exams are given outside of the scheduled dates only in cases where students can confirm their intent to enroll in a Spanish class regardless of their placement (i.e., they merely need to verify that they are enrolling in the correct level). If you are interested in taking the exam to potentially “test out” and earn credits, and you miss the test date for a given semester, you’ll just need to wait until next time.
DO I HAVE TO TAKE THE EXAM IF I’M SURE I SHOULD BE IN THE FIRST LEVEL?
Nope. You do not need to take the placement exam in order to sign up for SPAN 1401.
I AM A NATIVE SPEAKER. DO I HAVE TO TAKE THIS EXAM?
If you are a native speaker with satisfactory reading abilities, you will likely do very well on the exam, but you do still need to take it if you wish to receive credit for lower-level classes or placement into an upper-level class. The only exception would be for students who hold a high-school degrees earned a Spanish-speaking country.