Foreign Language Exams and Foreign Language Validation
Foreign Language Exams
All students who have taken two or more years of the same foreign language in high school (one or more years if the language is Spanish) should take the language placement test in that language, regardless if they plan to continue language study. Requirements for continuing a foreign language are dependent on your academic program or major.
The Center for Languages, Literatures and Cultures coordinates and administers online placement tests in Spanish, French, German, Italian, Hebrew, Russian, ASL, Korean, Arabic, Latin, Somali, and Swahili. Other languages can be accessed by contacting the department directly or going through the CLLC (cllc@ous.edu). When preliminary results indicate eligibility above the 1103 level, you may be asked to take a supplementary proficiency exam.
Online placement tests through the CLLC are fully remote. Placement tests are also scheduled as part of new student orientation programs. Transfer students without language transfer credit also must take placement tests during orientation or remotely. We recommend taking the placement test at least 2 days in advance of your orientation or during orientation. If you do not take it during orientation, please take it as soon as possible. You can contact the CLLC at cllc@osu.edu for more information or assistance.
Note: It is advised to have a level of knowledge or experience comparable to students who have successfully completed the course you are attempting to test out of.
Foreign Language Exams offered at Ohio State, see which courses have a departmental exam option.
- To take a Departmental Exam, contact the department.
- To take a Departmental Exam at a regional campus, contact your campus advising office.
- Departmental Exams are not repeatable.
Foreign Language Validation
Speakers of languages other than English may be able to fulfill the world language requirement through language validation. Review the ways to validate proficiency in a second language on the CLLC website.