Placement in Language Courses

The Placement Test is designed to gauge a student's language proficiency and suggested course of action. It is not a challenge exam, nor does it result in credits being granted.

Typically, Placement Tests are only necessary when students have acquired some untutored knowledge of the language (through travel, family or non-credit courses) and want to advance, or wonder whether they should advance, to courses for which they do not have official credits or prerequisites.

You don’t need to take the Placement Test if you are one of the following:

• A continuing UBC student who has successfully completed a prerequisite course in their language of study
• A transfer student from a post-secondary institution with transfer credits for their language of study
• A new student that has studied the language in high school (I.e., AP, IB, or Grade 12)
• A new student with no prior background in the language of study

If you have taken courses in the past and officially have the prerequisites (i.e., AP, IB, Grade 12 or transfer credits) to advance to the next level, you normally have to do so, even if arguably you may feel unprepared. In these cases, please use the Language Placement Questionnaire Tool above.

The online placement test will be delivered during these four dates for the courses taking place in 2023W:

• May 22, 2023
• June 7, 2023
• June 14, 2023
• July 19, 2023

Please complete this webform to request a Placement Test. You will receive a link on the first day of each Placement period.

Once you complete the online placement test, you can typically expect to receive the result and a course recommendation via Canvas within a week. Normally, you don’t need to attend an oral interview to accompany your results and you may register for the recommended course at any time.