Language Placement: Language Resource Center

Language Placement

Validity of Placement Results

Each language department determines the length of validity of its Placement Test.

Students participating in summer, semester or year-long language programs in the U.S. or abroad are generally required to retake the placement exam. See Language Placement Procedures for Study Abroad Returnees.

Students should contact the language placement coordinator for advising, especially if continuing language study after a break in language study.

Valid 1 year
Chinese, French, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Urdu

Valid 1.5 years
Latin (each case is evaluated individually), Portuguese, Spanish

Valid 2 years
Arabic, Hebrew, Turkish

Valid 4 years
Czech, German, Polish, Russian

Contact the placement coordinator for Ancient Greek, Swahili

Placement Test vs. Validation Test

Wondering what is the difference between a placement test and a validation test?

Placement test: For students with prior knowledge of a language, this test places students into an appropriate language class. Some language tests include oral and essay writing portions as a part of the placement process.

Validation test: Given after the placement test to students who may be eligible to satisfy the Weinberg two-year language proficiency requirement (LPR). It often consists of a speaking test and/or a writing test. This test may also be necessary when a placement test result is not sufficiently conclusive.

In most cases, if you plan to continue studying a language you started in high school or that you speak at home, you should plan to take the placement exam in that language. If you have taken the Advanced Placement exam in a language, you might be exempt. Check both your Northwestern School's individual language requirements and the language proficiency table to determine whether your score satisfies your language requirement.

If you know multiple languages, you are encouraged to take the placement test in all of the languages that you know. Placement tests are for you to know where you are in the Northwestern curriculum and to find a course that best fits you.

Please click a language name below and read information about their placement test schedule, policies, etc. Incoming first-year students must complete the online placement test process by the stated deadline. Students admitted after that deadline should follow the instruction posted in the language placement test information or contact the individual language placement coordinator for assistance.

If you have questions about placement or opportunities in a particular language, write directly to the placement coordinator in the relevant department. You can find the contact information below or in Language Program Contacts.

GO TO THE Online Language Placement SITE

Language-Specific Information for 2023-2024 academic year. Update for 2024-2025 academic year is expected late May 2024.

*These languages do not currently offer online placement tests.