Spanish Placement Guidelines
For students with…
Take "SPAN 101: Beginners' Spanish I".
If Spanish is your strongest language, you may register in any upper-level courses, with the exception of "SPAN 301: Intermediate Spanish I" and "SPAN 302: Intermediate Spanish II".
Otherwise, request a placement test to determine the course of action to be taken.
If you completed up to Grade 9 or 10 Spanish:
Students having taken any of these courses in high school are still considered beginners.
Take "SPAN 101: Beginner's Spanish I" (3 credits).
If you completed up to Grade 11 Spanish:
Grade 11 Spanish is equivalent to "SPAN 101: Beginners' Spanish I" (3 credits) and "SPAN 102: Beginners' Spanish II" (3 credits).
Take either:
a) "SPAN 103: Intensive Beginners' Spanish" (3 credits) — if you'd like a refresher course
b) "SPAN 101: Beginners' Spanish I" (3 credits) followed by "SPAN 102: Beginners' Spanish II" (3 credits) — if you are not confident with your present language skills due to unpreparedness or lapse of time
If you completed up to Grade 12 Spanish:
Grade 12 Spanish is equivalent to the combination of "SPAN 201: Elementary Spanish I" (3 credits) and "SPAN 202: Elementary Spanish II" (3 credits).
Take either:
a) "SPAN 301: Intermediate Spanish I" (3 credits) followed by "SPAN 302: Intermediate Spanish II" (3 credits) — if you feel confident with your present language skills and are ready to take them to the next level
b) "SPAN 203: Intensive Elementary Spanish" (3 credits) — if you would like a refresher of Elementary Spanish before moving on to the next level
c) "SPAN 201: Elementary Spanish I" (3 credits) followed by "SPAN 202: Elementary Spanish II" (3 credits) — if you would like to slowly re-initiate your language study due to unpreparedness or lapse of time
d) "SPAN 103: Intensive Beginners' Spanish" (3 credits) — if you are not confident with your present language skills due to unpreparedness or lapse of time
AP Spanish varies from school to school, but may be equivalent to the combination of "SPAN 201: Elementary Spanish I" (3 credits) and "SPAN 202: Elementary Spanish II" (3 credits).
Take either:
a) "SPAN 221: Introduction to Hispanic Literature" (3 credits) or "SPAN 301: Intermediate Spanish I" (3 credits) — if you feel confident with your present language skills and are ready to take them to the next level
b) "SPAN 203: Intensive Elementary Spanish" (3 credits) — if you'd like a refresher of Elementary Spanish before moving on to the next level
c) "SPAN 201: Elementary Spanish I" (3 credits) followed by "SPAN 202: Elementary Spanish II" (3 credits) — if you are not confident with your present language skills due to unpreparedness or lapse of time
If you took IB Spanish ab initio:
IB Spanish ab initio is equivalent to Grade 11 Spanish.
Take either:
a) "SPAN 103: Intensive Beginner’s Spanish" (3 credits) — if you’d like a refresher of Beginner’s Spanish before moving on to the next level
b) "SPAN 101: Beginners' Spanish I" (3 credits) followed by "SPAN 102: Beginners' Spanish II" (3 credits) — if you are not confident with your present language skills due to unpreparedness or lapse of time
If you took IB Spanish Standard Level (SL):
IB Spanish Standard Level (SL) with a grade of 5 is equivalent to Grade 12 Spanish.
Take either:
a) "SPAN 203: Intensive Elementary Spanish" (3 credits) — if you’d like a refresher of Elementary Spanish before moving on to the next level
b) "SPAN 201: Elementary Spanish I" (3 credits) followed by "SPAN 202: Elementary Spanish II" (3 credits) — if you are not confident with your present language skills due to unpreparedness or lapse of time
If you took IB Spanish High Level (HL):
IB Spanish High Level (HL) with a grade of 5 is equivalent to Grade 12 Spanish or beyond (depending on the program).
Take either:
a) "SPAN 221: Introduction to Hispanic Literature" (3 credits) or "SPAN 301: Intermediate Spanish I" (3 credits) — if you feel confident with your present language skills and are ready to take them to the next level
b) "SPAN 203: Intensive Elementary Spanish" (3 credits) — if you’d like a refresher of Elementary Spanish before moving on to the next level
c) "SPAN 201: Elementary Spanish I" (3 credits) followed by "SPAN 202: Elementary Spanish II" (3 credits) — if you are not confident with your present language skills due to unpreparedness or lapse of time
If you were at UBC or given specific transfer credits for Spanish courses:
Students can use the prerequisites for our 100-level and 200-level Spanish courses as a guide to select the sequel to a post-secondary course that they have already taken at UBC, or for which UBC has given them course-specific transfer credit.
If you are uncertain or have questions about the recommended course, book a placement test.
If you were not at UBC but were/will be given specific transfer credits for Spanish courses:
See the BC Transfer Guide for equivalencies.
If you are uncertain or have questions about the recommended course, book a placement test.
If your course(s) had a CEFR language-level attached (e.g. Cervantes Institute courses) or you have a CEFR certificate (e.g. DELE):
The CEFR levels of our courses are:
A1: SPAN101 & 102 and SPAN 103
A2: SPAN 201 & 202 and SPAN 203
B1: SPAN 301 & 302
B2: SPAN 401 & 402
Begin with:
SPAN 102 if you have completed an A1.1 level course.
SPAN 103 if you have completed A1.1 and A1.2 level courses, and would like to brush up on your Beginner’s Spanish skills.
SPAN 201 if you have completed A1.1 and A1.2 level courses and feel confident moving on to the next level.
SPAN 202 if you have completed a course at an A2.1 level course.
SPAN 203 if you have completed the A2.1 and A2.2 level courses, and would like to brush up on your Elementary Spanish skills.
SPAN 301 if you have completed a course at Level A2.2
SPAN 302 if you have completed a course at Level B1.1
SPAN 401 if you have completed a course at Level B1.2
SPAN 402 if you have completed a course at Level B2.1
If your course(s) did not have a CEFR language-level attached or you do not have a CEFR certificate:
Request a placement test to determine the course of action to be taken.
Spanish Placement Test
The Spanish 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 Spanish Placement Test if you are one of the following:
- A continuing UBC student who has successfully completed a Spanish prerequisite course
- A transfer student from a post-secondary institution with Spanish language transfer credits
- A new student that has studied Spanish in high school (I.e., AP, IB, or Grade 12)
- A new student with no prior Spanish language background
If you have taken Spanish 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 see the Spanish Placement Guidelines 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 Spanish 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.