COUNCIL ON LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION

Online placement exams are available in nearly every language taught at Northwestern.  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, check here to determine whether your score may have satisfied the language requirement.  If you have questions about placement or opportunities in a particular language, write directly to the placement coordinator in the relevant department.

Find the placement test information relevant to your language of interest:

https://lrc.northwestern.edu/language-learning/language-placement.html

How do I take the Placement Exam?

1. To begin, you will need a Northwestern University Network ID (NetID) and password to gain access to the testing system.
2. After logging in to the system for the first time, you will be asked to complete a short profile
3. After completing the profile information, you will be presented with a list of available language tests.
4. After selecting a placement exam, you will review the testing agreement that affirms your adherence to the Northwestern honor code and then begin the exam. Some departments make a practice exam available which you should feel free to take.
5. You must finalize the exam if you wish it to be reviewed by a placement coordinator. After finalizing your exam, you will receive a confirmation number that can either be printed out or written down.

• Access the online placement exams and view the instructions. Access placement results.
• For technical support, please email pthelp@madstudio.northwestern.edu   or call 847/491-3101 (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. CDT). 

How long are my placement results valid?

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

Students participating in summer, semester or year-long language programs in the U.S. or abroad are generally required to retake the placement exam.

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

Valid 1 year

Chinese, Czech, French, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Russian, Urdu.

Valid 1.5 years

Latin (Each case is evaluated individually), Portuguese, Spanish

Valid 2 years

Arabic (in most cases)
Hebrew (in most cases)
Turkish (in most cases)

Valid 4 years

German
Placement results in Czech, Polish, Turkish, and Russian that demonstrate native or near-native proficiency levels remain valid the entire four years.

Contact the departments, for information regarding test validity of Ancient Greek (classics@northwestern.edu), Swahili (african-studies@northwestern.edu).

D. LINKS FOR STUDY ABROAD

• Global Learning Office
• Fiedler Hillel at Northwestern University
• Buffett Institute for Global Affairs
• Office of Fellowships
• Undergraduate Language Grants (ULG)

E. OTHER IMPORTANT LINKS

• Undergraduate Catalog
• WCAS Adviser Page
• WCAS Language Requirement
• Standard Ways to Fulfill the Language Requirement 
• Purple Prep
• New Student & Family Programs
• Advising & Support for WCAS Undergraduate Students
  
• AccessibleNU (ANU)
• Career Services (careers in languages and careers in other countries)

F.  CULTURAL STUDENT GROUPS

Northwestern has a wide variety of cultural student groups that also address the interests of international students and students who are interested in world languages and world cultures. Here is the university’s list of cultural groups as part of all the student groups at the university listed on Wildcat Connection!