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World Languages Placement

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Getting Into the Right Language Course

Several academic disciplines on campus require that you have placement into one of their courses, to ensure that you’re ready for the content in that course. To get the proper World Language Placement, we ask that you take the corresponding World Languages Placement Exam.

Foreign Language Placement

World Language Placement Exam Information
Placement Exams: Scores and Course Placement
All Other Languages
Native Speakers
Retroactive Credit

World Language Placement Exam Information

Who should take the World Language Placement Exam?

World Language placement is required for any student with prior language experience who wants to enroll in their first UNO course in Chinese, French, German, or Spanish.

Students with no prior World Language experience do NOT need to take a placement exam.

Native speakers of a language do NOT need to take a placement exam, and neither do students who have earned the Gold level of the Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy. Instead, they should contact a World Language advisor in the Department of World Languages and Literature (301 ASH) for placement and permission to enroll in higher level courses.

How do I register for a placement exam?

Students can register for a world language placement exam via MavLINK (the University Student Information System) through the Academics tab. For more information on how to register and access the world language placement exams, please visit UNO's World Languages and Literature website.

What is the placement exam like?

The World Language Placement Exam is a computer based test. It is untimed. The exam can be taken on any computer with Internet access. You are only allowed to take the placement exam once every 365 days. A second attempt is not permitted for another 365 days after the first placement attempt. Results are valid for 1 year. The test should take approximately 25 minutes to complete. If your test is interrupted, you are able to return to the exam by re-entering your registration information and clicking the resume button.

Other Important Information:

Students can NOT use this exam to be placed out of the language requirement for the Bachelor of Arts degree. Only verified AP and International Baccalaureate scores, or transferable credit will qualify for exemption.


Placement Exams: Scores and Course Placement

Entrance into certain World Language courses is contingent on a student's score on the specific World Language Placement Exam according to the following criteria:
Chinese
French
German
Spanish

Chinese Placement Exam

Placement Exam Score Course Placement
1 (000-199) CHIN 1110
2 (200+) CHIN 1120

French Placement Exam

Placement Exam Score Course Placement
1 (000-159) FREN 1110
2 (160-239) FREN 1120
3 (240-289) FREN 2110
4 (290-339) FREN 2120
5 (340+) FREN 3030, 3040, or 3060

German Placement Exam

Placement Exam Score Course Placement
1 (000-229) GERM 1110
2 (230-319) GERM 1120
3 (320-369) GERM 2110
4 (370-499) GERM 2120
5 (500+) GERM 3030, 3040, or 3060

Spanish Placement Exam

Placement Exam Score Course Placement
1 (000-159) SPAN 1110
2 (160-219) SPAN 1120
3 (220-269) SPAN 2110
4 (270-399) SPAN 2120
5 (400+) SPAN 3030, 3040, or 3060

All Other Languages

Any student with prior experience in Arabic, Japanese, or Latin should see a World Language advisor (in ASH 301) to determine placement for their first UNO course.


Native Speakers

Native speakers of a language do NOT need to take a placement exam. Instead, they should contact a World Language advisor in the Department of World Languages and Literature (301 ASH) for placement and permission to enroll in higher level courses.


Retroactive Credit

Students who complete a foreign language course at the 1120 - level or higher may be eligible for retroactive credit for UNO courses they test out of. The student must earn a final course grade of “C -” or better in the course they are placed into in order to receive retroactive credit. Retroactive credit forms are available in the Department of World Languages and Literature, and only available after successful completion of the UNO Chinese, French, German, or Spanish course into which a student has placed.

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