Placement Test

A placement test is strongly recommended for students who have taken German in high school and wish to continue study of German in college. This test is administered by the Educational Assessment Center in Schmitz Hall.

When students want to register for courses, the following table may serve as a guideline for preliminary placement until final placement is determined by the placement test score. However, if a student decides not to take the placement test, she/he must adhere to this guideline for self-placement.

The placement test is an important diagnostic tool but not a perfect one. The Department of Germanics strongly urges students to also self-place guided by the table above. If in doubt, a student should try a higher level rather than a lower one. This holds true in particular for students whose placement test score comes close to the cut-off points which at present are as follows:

Students with a high school background in German of two years and above who intend to register for German 101 should be aware that they will not receive credit for 101 towards graduation provided German was the language of admission.

Proficiency Requirement

All students who first enrolled in college anywhere in autumn of 1985 or later and who are earning their first bachelor's degree from the College of Arts and Sciences, Education, or Social Work, or with a major in Occupational Therapy from the School of Medicine, must satisfy a foreign language proficiency requirement prior to graduation. To satisfy the proficiency requirement, a student must demonstrate first year competency in reading, listening, writing, speaking, grammar, vocabulary and culture.This proficiency requirement may be satisfied in the following ways:

Proficiency Test

The proficiency test consists of three parts. Part 1 (identical with the placement test) is administered in the Educational Assessment Center. A student has to receive a minimum of 57 points before taking part 2 (writing) and 3 (speaking) in the Department of Germanics.

Credit by Exam

In regard to challenging courses, i.e. credit by exam, the following rules apply:

Diagnostic Test on the Major Level

The Department administers a diagnostic test given regularly to all students who register for German 301 and 401. Its purpose is to place students more accurately within the 203-403 language sequence. Any student who wishes to do so may take this test. Students who score very high may be exempt from having to take a language course.

Advanced Placement Credit

For more information about foreign language programs and requirements, consult the General Education and Basic Skills Requirements page on the University of Washington Student Guide web site.