Placement Testing for Spring Qtr
Testing is limited to specific time frames. Please check your language for details.
Honor Code
While taking any placement test, remember that you are subject to the Stanford Honor Code and Fundamental Standard. Specifically, you are not permitted to receive outside assistance on these examinations. "Outside assistance" means, among other things, the use of books, notes, dictionaries, grammar books, spell checkers, grammar checkers, translation tools, cutting and pasting foreign language items from the web, and composing items in writing before speaking.
It is very important that you do your best on this exam and that you do not receive any help with it. In order to make good judgments about your language placement in Stanford programs, we need good information about your level and knowledge.
Jump down to:
Arabic Placement Testing | Classical Greek Placement Testing | Filipino Placement Testing | French Placement Testing | German Placement Testing | Hebrew Placement Testing | Hindi Placement Testing | Italian Placement Testing | Japanese Placement Testing | Korean Placement Testing | Latin Placement Testing | Modern Chinese Placement Testing | Persian Placement Testing | Portuguese Placement Testing | Russian Placement Testing | Spanish Placement Testing | Vietnamese Placement Testing
Arabic Placement Testing
The placement assessment for Arabic includes both written and oral components and takes place during a scheduled 60-minute one-on-one Zoom meeting with an Arabic instructor. Placement testing for Arabic generally only takes place once per year (during the summer prior to the start of the academic year), so students should plan accordingly.
Please email the languagecenter [at] stanford.edu (Language Center) if you have any questions.
Classical Greek Placement Testing
Placement testing for Classical Greek generally only takes place once per year (during New Student Orientation), so students should plan accordingly.
Please email %20verity [at] stanford.edu (John Tennant) or the classics [at] stanford.edu (Department of Classics) if you have questions about the placement testing process for Classical Greek.
For questions about satisfying the undergraduate language requirement, please contact the languagecenter [at] stanford.edu (Language Center).
Filipino Placement Testing
The placement assessment for Filipino includes both written and oral components and generally only takes place once per year (during the summer prior to the start of the academic year), so students should plan accordingly.
Please email the languagecenter [at] stanford.edu (Language Center) if you have any questions.
French Placement Testing
French Placement Testing
Placement testing for this language is offered during a limited time during Fall and Winter quarters. Students are expected to take the placement test during the specified time frame below.
To complete the placement process, you must take both the online text component and oral test. The online text component should be completed before the oral test.
Online Text Component
February 1 - 12, 2024
This online exam represents step one of the French Placement Test and covers listening, grammar, and typing short answers.
Please complete the online text component and sign up for the oral assessment no later than February 12. We cannot guarantee appointments or placements for students who miss the deadline. Testing will conclude February 23.
Important: You will have only 60 minutes to complete the test once you log in and begin. Please allow enough time to take the entire test in a single sitting, as you cannot log out and log back in. When you are ready to take the online text component, click on the link below that says "Take online text component test here," sign in with your SUNet ID and password, then click "Enroll in Course."
Oral Portion
February 12 - 23, 2024
Note: you must take the online text component before you take the oral test.
The next step of the placement process is an oral interview. This will be a live, one-on-one interview with a certified tester, one of the instructors in the program. Please sign up for your interview using the link provided on the introduction page of the French placement test (link above for online text component). NOTE: At the time of your interview, you will need a photo ID, your Stanford ID number, and SUNet ID.
Receiving your Placement
Your placement will be emailed to you within a week to 10 days after completion of the exam. The placement result will be a class, not a grade (for example, FRENLANG 21C). Students must enroll in the class in which they are placed, rather than trying to self-place in another level. If you have questions/concerns about your placement, please contact the coordinator of the language program.
German Placement Testing
German Placement Testing
Placement testing for this language is offered during a limited time during Fall and Winter quarters. Students are expected to take the placement test during the specified time frame below.
To complete the placement process, you must take both the online text component and oral test. The online text component should be completed before the oral test.
Online Text Component
February 1 - 12, 2024
This online exam represents step one of the German Placement Test and covers listening, grammar, and typing short answers.
Please complete the online text component and sign up for the oral assessment no later than February 12. We cannot guarantee appointments or placements for students who miss the deadline. Testing will conclude February 23.
Important: You will have only 60 minutes to complete the test once you log in and begin. Please allow enough time to take the entire test in a single sitting, as you cannot log out and log back in. When you are ready to take the online text component, click on the link below that says "Take online text component test here," sign in with your SUNet ID and password, then click "Enroll in Course."
Oral Test
February 12 - 23, 2024
Note: you must take the online text component before you take the oral test. (Schedule appointment after taking Online Text Component)
The next step of the placement process is an oral interview. This will be a live, one-on-one interview with a certified tester, one of the instructors in the program. Please sign up for your interview using the link provided on the introduction page of the German placement test (link above for online text component). NOTE: At the time of your interview, you will need a photo ID, your Stanford ID number, and SUNet ID.
Receiving your Placement
Your placement will be emailed to you within a week to 10 days after completion of the exam. The placement result will be a class, not a grade (for example, GERLANG 21). Students must enroll in the class in which they are placed, rather than trying to self-place in another level. If you have questions/concerns about your placement, please contact the coordinator of the language program.
Hebrew Placement Testing
The placement assessment for Hebrew includes both written and oral components and takes place during a scheduled 60-minute one-on-one Zoom meeting with a Hebrew instructor. Placement testing for Hebrew generally only takes place once per year (during the summer prior to the start of the academic year), so students should plan accordingly.
Please email the languagecenter [at] stanford.edu (Language Center )if you have any questions.
Hindi Placement Testing
The placement assessment for Hindi includes both written and oral components and takes place during a scheduled 60-minute one-on-one Zoom meeting with a Hindi instructor. Placement testing for Hindi generally only takes place once per year (during the summer prior to the start of the academic year), so students should plan accordingly.
Please email the languagecenter [at] stanford.edu (Language Center) if you have any questions.
Italian Placement Testing
Italian Placement Testing
Placement testing for this language is offered during a limited time during Fall and Winter quarters. Students are expected to take the placement test during the specified time frame below.
To complete the placement process, you must take both the online text component and oral test. The online text component should be completed before the oral test.
Online Text Component
February 1 - 12, 2024
This online exam represents step one of the Italian Placement Test and covers listening, grammar, and typing short answers.
Please complete the online text component and sign up for the oral assessment no later than February 12. We cannot guarantee appointments or placements for students who miss the deadline. Testing will conclude February 23.
Important: You will have only 60 minutes to complete the test once you log in and begin. Please allow enough time to take the entire test in a single sitting, as you cannot log out and log back in. When you are ready to take the online text component, click on the link below that says "Take online text component test here," sign in with your SUNet ID and password, then click "Enroll in Course."
Oral Test
February 12 - 23, 2024
Note: you must take the online text component before you take the oral test. (Schedule appointment after taking Online Text Component)
The next step of the placement process is an oral interview. This will be a live, one-on-one interview with a certified tester, one of the instructors in the program. Please sign up for your interview using the link provided on the introduction page of the Italian placement test (link above for online text component). NOTE: At the time of your interview, you will need a photo ID, your Stanford ID number, and SUNet ID.
Receiving your Placement
Your placement will be emailed to you within a week to 10 days after completion of the exam. The placement result will be a class, not a grade (for example, ITALLANG 21A). Students must enroll in the class in which they are placed, rather than trying to self-place in another level. If you have questions/concerns about your placement, please contact the coordinator of the language program.
Japanese Placement Testing
Japanese Placement Testing
Placement testing for this language is offered during a limited time during Fall and Winter quarters. Students are expected to take the placement test during the specified time frame below.
To complete the placement process, you must take both the online text component and oral and written test. The online text component should be completed before the oral and written test.
Online Text Component
February 1 - 12, 2024
This online exam represents step one of the Japanese Placement Test and covers listening, grammar, and typing short answers. Please see below for guidelines on when to take the online test.
Please complete the online text component and sign up for the oral assessment no later than February 12. We cannot guarantee appointments or placements for students who miss the deadline. Testing will conclude February 23.
Important: You will have only 60 minutes to complete the test once you log in and begin. Please allow enough time to take the entire test in a single sitting, as you cannot log out and log back in. When you are ready to take the online text component, click on the link below that says "Take online text component test here," sign in with your SUNet ID and password, then click "Enroll in Course."
Oral and Written Test
February 12 - 23, 2024
(Schedule appointment after taking Online Text Component)
Note: you must take the online text component before you take the oral and written test.
The next step of the placement process is an online oral interview and writing test conducted during a scheduled 60-minute Zoom session. This will be a live, one-on-one interview with a certified tester, one of the instructors in the program. Please sign up for your interview using the link provided on the introduction page of the Japanese placement test (link above for online text component).
At the time of your Zoom interview, please be sure to have the following items at hand:
1. Pen/pencil and blank paper
2. Your Stanford ID number
3. A photo ID
4. Your SUNet ID
Receiving your Placement
Your placement will be emailed to you within a week to 10 days after completion of the exam. The placement result will be a class, not a grade (for example, JAPANLNG 21). Students must enroll in the class in which they are placed, rather than trying to self-place in another level. If you have questions/concerns about your placement, please contact the coordinator of the language program.
Korean Placement Testing
The placement assessment for Korean includes both Online Text Component and an Oral and Written test during a scheduled one-on-one Zoom meeting with a Korean instructor. Placement testing for Korean generally only takes place once per year (during the summer prior to the start of the academic year), so students should plan accordingly.
Please email the languagecenter [at] stanford.edu (Language Center) if you have any questions.
Latin Placement Testing
Placement testing for Latin generally only takes place once per year (during New Student Orientation), so students should plan accordingly.
Please email %20verity [at] stanford.edu (John Tennant) or the classics [at] stanford.edu (Department of Classics) if you have questions about the placement testing process for Latin.
For questions about satisfying the undergraduate language requirement, please contact the languagecenter [at] stanford.edu (Language Center).
Modern Chinese Placement Testing
Modern Chinese Placement Testing
Placement testing for this language is offered during a limited time during Fall and Winter quarters. Students are expected to take the placement test during the specified time frame below.
To complete the placement process, you must take both the online text component and oral and written test. The online text component should be completed before the oral and written test.
Online Text Component
February 1 - 12, 2024
This online exam represents step one of the Chinese Placement Test and covers reading, grammar, and vocabulary. Please see below for guidelines on when to take the online test.
Please complete the online text component and sign up for the oral assessment no later than February 12. We cannot guarantee appointments or placements for students who miss the deadline. Testing will conclude February 23.
Important: You will have only 90 minutes to complete the test once you log in and begin. Please allow enough time to take the entire test in a single sitting, as you cannot log out and log back in. When you are ready to take the online text component, click on the appropriate link below (Simplified Characters or Traditional Characters), sign in with your SUNet ID and password, then click "Enroll in Course."
Oral and Written Test
February 12 -23, 2024
Note: you must take the online text component before you take the oral and written test. (Schedule appointment after taking Online Text Component)
The next step of the placement process is an online oral interview and writing test conducted during a scheduled 60-minute Zoom session. This will be a live, one-on-one interview with a certified tester, one of the instructors in the program. Please sign up for your interview using the link provided on the introduction page of the Chinese placement test (link above for online text component).
At the time of your Zoom interview, please be sure to have the following items at hand:
1. Pen/pencil and blank paper
2. Your Stanford ID number
3. A photo ID
4. Your SUNet ID
Receiving your Placement
Your placement will be emailed to you within a week to 10 days after completion of the exam. The placement result will be a class, not a grade (for example, CHINLANG 3). Students must enroll in the class in which they are placed, rather than trying to self-place in another level. If you have questions/concerns about your placement, please contact the coordinator of the language program.
Persian Placement Testing
The placement assessment for Persian includes both written and oral components and takes place during a scheduled 60-minute one-on-one Zoom meeting with a Persian instructor. Placement testing for Persian generally only takes place once per year (during the summer prior to the start of the academic year), so students should plan accordingly.
Please email the languagecenter [at] stanford.edu (Language Center) if you have any questions.
Portuguese Placement Testing
The placement assessment for Portuguese includes both written and oral components and takes place during a scheduled 60-minute one-on-one Zoom meeting with a Portuguese instructor.
Please use the following link to schedule a placement assessment:
Please email the languagecenter [at] stanford.edu (Language Center )if you have any questions.
Russian Placement Testing
The placement assessment for Russian includes an online text component, followed by an oral and written exam conducted in person or on Zoom. Placement testing for this language generally only takes place once per year (during the summer prior to the start of the academic year), so students should plan accordingly.
Please email the languagecenter [at] stanford.edu (Language Center) if you have any questions.
Spanish Placement Testing
Spanish Placement Testing
Placement testing for this language is offered during a limited time during Fall and Winter quarters. Students are expected to take the placement test during the specified time frame below.
To complete the placement process, you must take both the online text component and oral test. The online text component should be completed before the oral test.
Online Text Component
February 1 - 12, 2024
This online exam represents step one of the Spanish Placement Test and covers listening, grammar, and typing short answers. Please see below for guidelines on when to take the online test.
Please complete the online text component and sign up for the oral assessment no later than February 12. We cannot guarantee appointments or placements for students who miss the deadline. Testing will conclude February 23.
Important: You will have only 75 minutes to complete the test once you log in and begin. Please allow enough time to take the entire test in a single sitting, as you cannot log out and log back in. When you are ready to take the online text component, click on the link below that says "Take online text component test here," sign in with your SUNet ID and password, then click "Enroll in Course" to take the test.
AP Note: If you are an incoming freshman who received a 4 or 5 on the AP Spanish Language Exam, you do not need to take the online written portion of the Spanish placement test. If you plan to continue in the language, you simply need to complete the oral portion of the placement test (please be sure to upload your qualifying AP score report in Canvas). See instructions below for completing the oral portion of the test. This exemption applies only to incoming/current freshmen, and does not apply to students applying for any BOSP program for which a Spanish placement test is needed.
Oral Portion
February 12 - 23, 2024
The next step of the placement process is an online interview. This will be a live, one-on-one interview with a certified tester, one of the instructors in the program. Please sign up for your interview using the link provided on the introduction page of the Spanish placement test (link above for online text component).
At the time of the interview, please be sure to have your photo ID, Stanford ID number, and SUNet ID ready to present to the interviewer.
Receiving your Placement
Your placement will be emailed to you within a week to 10 days after completion of the exam. The placement result will be a class, not a grade (for example, SPANLANG 11). Students must enroll in the class in which they are placed, rather than trying to self-place in another level. If you have questions/concerns about your placement, please contact the coordinator of the language program.
Vietnamese Placement Test
The placement assessment for Vietnamese includes both written and oral components and will take place during a scheduled 60-minute one-on-one Zoom meeting with a Vietnamese instructor. Placement testing for Vietnamese generally only takes place once per year (during the summer prior to the start of the academic year), so students should plan accordingly.
Please email the languagecenter [at] stanford.edu (Language Center) if you have any questions.