Challenge Exam

The Department of Languages, Literatures & Cultures offers an opportunity for students to receive college credits for language proficiency they may have acquired through life experiences, personal study and/or military course work. Students can elect to test for a total of 6 credits in Arabic, American Sign Language, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish. 

This exam is not the same thing as the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exam given through the College Board. The Department of Languages, Literatures & Cultures does not recognize CLEP credits.

The Challenge Exam is usually offered once a year, in November, for most languages. An additional date in the Spring may be added for some languages upon request.  Contact if you are interested in taking the Challenge exam for Spanish in the Spring and to inquire about additional dates for other languages.

FAQs

It’s an exam for students who have acquired language proficiency through life experiences, personal study and/or military course work. Students can elect to test for a total of 6 credits at the 301/302 level in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish, and at the 205/304 level in American Sign Language. The challenge exam tests oral and written proficiency in spoken languages and signacy in American Sign Language.

If you don’t see your language listed above, sorry, we do not test for it.

We do NOT test for elementary or intermediate level credit. If you score an “A” on the exam you can earn either 6 credits for both the 301 & 302 courses in a spoken language and the 205 & 304 courses in American Sign Language or 3 credits for the 302 or 304 level only. If you score a “B” on the exam, you earn 3 credits for 301 only in a spoken language and 205 only in American Sign Language. If you score lower than a “B” you earn zero credits.

No, the test grade does NOT show on your transcript. Only the Course Name  and the credits appear on your transcript. The exam does NOT raise or lower your Grade Point Average (GPA.)

For 3 credits...$90 *posting fee + $30 per credit = $180.00

For 6 credits...$180 *posting fee + $30 per credit = $360.00

Credits for a 301 course in a spoken language satisfy Core Requirement 5 and credits for a 302 course satisfy Core Requirement 12.


* If you submit your application but don’t take the exam for any reason (illness, etc.) you do not owe the application fee. If you take the exam and don’t pass it, you still MUST pay the application fee.

How do I apply?

  1. Fill out the Challenge Exam Application (located on the Right hand side of this page).
  2. Submit the application in-person to the Department of Languages, Literatures & Cultures main office in LA 4210 or email it to .  The deadline to apply is Friday, October 27, 2023.  No applications will be accepted after Friday, October 27, 2023.
  3. Take the exam on the date given (no make-up exam for any reason.)

 

Challenge Exam Dates (Fall 2023)

LANGUAGE

INSTRUCTOR

TEST DATE & TIME

LOCATION
ASL TBA

In November, by appointment

 TBA
Arabic Ziad Bentahar Fri. Nov. 10  from 12p - 3p LA 4118
Chinese TBA TBA TBA
French Katia Sainson Fri. Nov. 3 from 12p - 3p LA 5360
German TBA TBA TBA
Hebrew TBA TBA TBA
Italian TBA TBA TBA
Japanese TBA TBA TBA
Spanish Diego del Pozo Fri. Nov 17 from 10a - 12p LA 5360