Placement Test Information

Language placement tests

Placement examinations are required of any student whose most recent language course was not completed at Boston University. *Exception: if last course was in high school and the student received a score of 560 or higher on the SAT II Subject Test (540 if taken before April 1995 as the CEEB Achievement Test), s/he should consult the relevant department and course catalog for placement in literature and culture courses beyond the required level. Placement exams DO NOT fulfill the language requirement.

When you receive the results of the placement test, please see information about interpreting the results.

Please contact Jennifer Cavanaugh regarding placement exams during the summer months.

No advance sign-up required, but please arrive on time!

Placement Test Dates and Times

For further information, please call 617-353-2642.

French and Spanish

French and Spanish are now tested by means of an online examination. The password, once you access the page, is ‘terriers1′. You will need your university ID number when taking this test. Full instructions are provided within the test webpage. You can take this test at any time before the start of classes, from any location. Non-CAS colleges have their own specific requirements. Please do not use dictionaries or other assistance when taking the test. This may result in incorrect placement and you will have to change classes in the first week of the semester.

Italian

Italian is now tested by means of an online examination.  The password, once you access the page, is ‘test’. You will need your university ID number when taking this test. Full instructions are provided within the test webpage. You can take this test at any time before the start of classes, from any location. Non-CAS colleges have their own specific requirements. Please do not use dictionaries or other assistance when taking the test. This may result in incorrect placement and you will have to change classes in the first week of the semester. 

Portuguese

Students with prior study of Portuguese should contact Celia Bianconi, cbianc@bu.edu, Head of the Portuguese Language Program, for determining which course they should take.

SAT II Foreign Language Subject Tests

A student who wishes to take an SAT II exam (in order to fulfill the CAS language requirement) must sign up in the CAS Undergraduate Advising Office, room 105 at 725 Commonwealth Ave. (353-2400).

Interpreting the placement test results

Transfer students who have taken college-level courses in the relevant language before coming to Boston University should see Paula Hennessey in CAS 105, 725 Commonwealth Ave., 353-2400, immediately to have transfer work evaluated for level (required, in addition to CAS credit evaluation). Duplicating previous college work means forfeiting credit!

French

If your score was…	these are the courses that would be appropriate (see course descriptions for further information about these).
Below 231	LF 111, 121
231-310	LF 112, 122
311-350	LF 211, 221
351-460	LF 212, 222
461-500	LF 303
above 500	LF 304

A student with a placement score at the extremes of an indicated range should consult Nicholas Huckle, 718 Commonwealth Ave., room 202A, 353-6241 to consider other factors before shifting to a higher- or lower-level course.

Italian

If your score was…	these are the courses that would be appropriate (see course descriptions for further information about these).
0-35	LI 111
36-46	LI 112
47-57	LI 211
58-68	LI 212
69-80	300-level Italian courses

A student with a placement score at the extremes of an indicated range should consult Claretta Tonetti, 718 Commonwealth Ave., room 306A, 353-6224 to consider other factors before shifting to a higher- or lower-level course.

Spanish

If your score was…	these are the courses that would be appropriate (see course descriptions for further information about these).
lower than 260	LS 111 or LS 121
261-340	LS 112 or LS 122
341-435	LS 211 or LS 221
436-510	LS 212 or LS 222
511-586	LS 303
Above 586	LS 304

A student with placement scores at the extremes of an indicated range should consult Mildred Basker-Seigel, 718 Commonwealth Ave., room 202C, 617-353-6239, to consider other factors before shifting to a higher- or lower-level course.

Students with 560 or higher (540 or higher if taken before April 1995) on the SAT II test: If your BU placement test indicates that you should register for a course at the 212 level or below, consult Mildred Basker-Seigel, 718 Commonwealth Ave., room 202C, 617-353-6239.