Foreign Language Placement Exams

If you are planning on taking language classes in certain languages, you need to take a language placement exam called an evaluation. The evaluations are administered for Spanish, French and German. For other languages, evaluations are not required. The language evaluations are free, and the amount of time to take the test depends on your knowledge level. Advisors can guess where you belong based on the number of classes you took in high school, but we cannot tell how much you learned in those classes. An evaluation will place you at the right level. You might be surprised to find out that you place into a higher class than you expected.

When should I take a placement evaluation?

You cannot stay in a language class without an evaluation. In some cases, you will not even be allowed to register for a foreign language course without having already taken a placement evaluation. You are strongly encouraged to take a placement exam prior to orientation and bring your results with you to orientation. You will not have time during orientation to take a placement exam. Read below for more information taking foreign language placement exams.

Spanish Placement Evaluation

Spanish Placement Evaluations are required for course enrollment. All UNM students who choose Spanish to fulfill their language requirement(s)must take a Spanish Placement Evaluation for placement at the appropriate level. The Spanish Placement Evaluation is now available on‐line at: https://esurvey.unm.edu/opinio/s?s=214

Upon completion of the evaluation, print your placement results before logging out of the website
If you loose or misplace the printed placement results, it will be necessary for you to re‐take the placement evaluation
Bring your placement results with you to the first day of class

Any student enrolling in a Spanish language course (100 & 200 level) should know:

A placement evaluation should be taken BEFORE enrolling in a Spanish class – especially if taking a Spanish course for the first time – or – enrolling in a beginning Spanish course (101 or 111)
Students who do not have a print out of their placement results when the semester begins will be dropped from the course.
Placement evaluation scores are valid for one year only. If a student has not taken the course they placed into within a year's time, the student will have to retake the placement evaluation
It is recommended for students who are fulfilling Arts and Sciences group language requirements, that these classes be taken in successive semesters.

The Department of Spanish and Portuguese has two Spanish language programs that address the needs of diverse language learners:

Spanish as a Heritage Language (SHL) Program
Spanish classes 111, 112, 211, and 212 are designated for students who have a cultural connection to the Spanish language. This is a comprehensive program that is designed to accommodate students at all phases of learning: from true beginners to those who are more fluent and are polishing their skills. By drawing upon our connection to the language, we make the study of Spanish more relevant to SHL learners; this serves as a significant motivating factor in language learning.

Spanish as a Second Language (SSL) Program
This program is designed for students of Spanish whose native home language is not Spanish.

For more information about the Spanish Placement Evaluation, visit the Department of Spanish and Portuguese website or call 505-277-5907.

French Placement Evaluations

All UNM students entering French 101 or French 275 are required to take the French placement exam for placement at the appropriate level. This exam is administered in the Language Learning Center located in Ortega 124. You can call (505) 277-3106 for more information. Your placement evaluation results must be turned in to your instructor during the first week of class. Students entering French language classes beyond 101 may take the exam for placement advisement. If you would like assistance in interpreting the results, please call the lower-division language coordinator at (505) 277-0525.

German Placement Evaluations

All students enrolling in German 101, 102, 275, 201, 202 and 276 who have not already taken German courses at UNM are required to take an online placement test. The exam results must be turned in to your instructor during the first week of class. For information about German placement, call the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures at (505) 277-7367.

Other Languages

For information on other foreign languages, contact the Department of Foreign Languages and Literature, Ortega Hall, Room 229, (505) 277-4771.

Math, English, and Reading Placement Exams

Students have the option of taking Compass Placement Exams to determine where they place for Math, English, and Reading Courses. Click here for information about the Compass Exams.

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