Language Placement Testing

The purpose of these tests is to determine which language course best fits the needs of students entering OSU who have previously studied world languages.  The test does not have any impact on your admission to OSU or GRE score.

All students who have had two or more years of the same world language in high school must take the language placement test whether or not they plan to continue language study.

All Heritage Learners (one who speaks another language elsewhere) who graduated from a high school where the main language of instruction was English should also take a placement test. Heritage Learners may choose to test in their heritage language or a world language that they had two or more years in high school.

The Center for Languages, Literatures and Cultures (cllc@osu.edu) is responsible for administering the web-based placement tests in French, German, Spanish, Italian, Swahili, Hebrew, Russian, Latin, Somali, Korean, ASL and Arabic.  If you need to test in another language taught at OSU, please contact the department that oversees that language.

Before August 22, 2023

Students receive EM credit based on their placement test scores. For example, if a student places into 1102 in any language, he or she will receive credit for 1101.   A student who places out of 1103 will have completed their language requirement.  No elementary language credit is awarded to native speakers, i.e., those whose secondary education was in the world language.

Effective August 22, 2023

Students do not receive EM credit based on their placement test scores. Their placement test indicates what level language course they can take, but it is not credit-bearing. NO EM credit is granted for placement tests. Placement tests can still be used to fulfill the GE requirement, for example if a student places out of 1103 they have fulfilled their world language GE requirement, but no credit is awarded. If you would like to test for credit, please reach out to the department of the language you are taking for an EM test. We cannot guarantee that a department with have an EM test for you to take.

Many students take the placement test during Orientation. If you do not take it during orientation, many world language placement tests are available online. Please read this page thoroughly and then refer to the instructional PDF above listed under the language you plan to test for. Contact the cllc@osu.edu or call at 292-4361 if you have any questions. It is strongly advised that you begin your language courses immediately after you have taken the placement test.

When students take the placement test above, results are available immediately.  For other languages, contact the department that coordinates this language.

Students are asked to contact the appropriate language director to discuss their test results.

Students who have successfully passed an Advanced Placement, CLEP, or IB examination are awarded credit and placement proportionate to the score obtained. These students do not normally need to take the OSU placement test, but when going through orientation they should verify that their scores have been received.

These students normally register for the next OSU equivalent course in the sequence. They are not required to take the placement test;* Such students should follow the Office of Admissions procedures for transfer credit and contact the Departmental Transfer Credit Coordinator. (Transfer students without language credit, however, must take the placement test.)

*There are exceptions to this rule. If you are are unsure please email cllc@osu.edu with the context on your situation.

Most American students take world language in 9th and 10th grade, then quit just as they begin to develop usable language skills. They then have a two-year break in language study before entering college. Ideally, students should continue their language study, taking a 3rd or 4th year in 11th and 12th grade. For those who cannot or do not do so, we strongly recommend a review of basic grammar and vocabulary before taking the placement test.

Answers to this question will depend on the degree-granting unit (e.g., ASC, ENG, BUS, etc.). Students should check with their college advising unit, once they have decided on a major.

In the case of students with a learning disability, special arrangements and/or petitions may be initiated through the Office for Disability Services. If students have been out of high school for over five years, the placement test is not required unless students wish to have their language assessed before enrolling in a language course.

The same guidelines generally hold true for all OSU campuses.

Students can only take a placement test once in each language.

If you are a Spanish Heritage speaker please contact the CLLC at cllc@osu.edu. All other world languages should refer to our Validation for World Language page found here. 

No. Do not contact the CLLC because we do not control the Buckeyelink prompts. If an academic advisor in your program has determined that you no longer need the test, the prompt will remain until it automatically falls off when the semester begins.