Language Information
Spanish Placement Test Information
2023-2024 Academic Year Information — For test and results link, READ AND SCROLL DOWN TO BOTTOM OF THE PAGE.
All first-year students who plan to fulfill a language requirement or would like to continue with their study of Spanish, and all transfer students who plan to take Spanish MUST take the online placement test before registering for courses, UNLESS they have the indicated AP Spanish scores (see below.)
The Spanish Placement Test is offered online over the summer and during the academic year.
*FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS MUST COMPLETE THE SPANISH PLACEMENT TEST July 31st.
Please note: If you take the placement test before July 31st, your results will be posted here by August 2nd.
All late acceptance and transfer students must take the placement exam by July 31st. These results will be posted here on or before Aug. 2nd.
Seats reserved for first-year students taking Spanish 101-1, 121-1, 125-0, 201-0 and 204-0 in Fall 2023 will be available during New Student Registration period. Please click on the Course Notes in CAESAR for more details.
************************************************************************************************
*If you score high enough on the online portion, you will earn “reassessment” on the placement exam. The “REASSESSMENT” (oral interview and written composition) will be required to confirm your level of proficiency. This follow-up exam will determine whether you have satisfied the Weinberg language requirement and/or qualify for 200-level Spanish courses.
Spanish Reassessment Session
(Open to all students who earned "reassessment" on the online placement exam.)
Date: Thursday, Sept. 7th
Time: 11-12pm
Location: Zoom, Students who have earned a “reassessment” on the online placement exam will be emailed the Zoom information.
Other than the September session, Reassessment of the placement test will be held once per quarter with Elisa Baena, the Placement Coordinator, contact her to sign-up for those sessions.
************************************************************************************************
Before registering for Spanish courses at Northwestern, you MUST take the online Spanish placement test UNLESS you have no prior experience with Spanish or any of the following applies to you:
Your AP exam score in Spanish language AND literature is a 5.
You have satisfied the Weinberg language requirement in Spanish. We encourage you to continue your Spanish studies at Northwestern. You have fulfilled the prerequisites to now take Spanish 205-0, 206-0, 208-0, 250-0, 251-0, 260-0, 261-0, 280-0, 281-0, or 302-0. If you have questions, please consult any departmental undergraduate adviser.
Your AP exam score in Spanish language OR literature is a 5.
And you are a heritage language student. You have satisfied the Weinberg language requirement in Spanish. We encourage you to continue your Spanish studies at Northwestern. You have fulfilled the prerequisites to now take Spanish 205-0, 206-0, 208-0, 250-0, 251-0, 260-0, 261-0, 280-0, 281-0, or 302-0. If you have questions, please consult any departmental undergraduate adviser.
Your AP exam score in Spanish language OR literature is a 5.
And you are a second language student. You have satisfied the Weinberg language requirement in Spanish. We encourage you to continue your Spanish studies at Northwestern. Please register for SPANISH 204: Advanced Spanish II: Artivism in Times of Political Change. If you have any questions, please email Denise Bouras (dbouras@northwestern.edu).
Your AP exam score in Spanish language and/or literature is a 4.
You have satisfied the Weinberg language requirement in Spanish. To continue your Spanish studies at Northwestern, you'll need to register for SPANISH 200-0 Advanced Spanish for Heritage Language Learners (for heritage language learners) or SPANISH 201: Advanced Spanish I: Contemporary Latin America (for second language learners). First-year students are advised to take this course in the fall quarter. If you have any questions, please email Julia Oliver Rajan (julia.oliverrajan@northwestern.edu) about 200-0 or Reyes Morán (mr-moran@northwestern.edu) about Spanish 201-0.
Your AP exam score in Spanish language is a 3.
You will satisfy the Weinberg language requirement in Spanish by taking Accelerated Intermediate Spanish (SPANISH 125, or SPANISH 127 for heritage learners) and passing the course with a C- or better. All new students should take this course immediately in fall, as it is offered ONLY in Fall Quarter. If you have any questions, please email Irene Finestrat Martinez (irene.finestrat@northwestern.edu) about Spanish 125-0 and Julia Oliver Rajan (julia.oliverrajan@northwestern.edu) about Spanish 127-0.
You took high school Spanish for less than two years. To continue your Spanish studies at Northwestern, you may register for SPANISH 101-1, offered ONLY in fall quarter. If you have any questions, please email Eider Etxebarria (e.etxebarria@northwestern.edu).
The Spanish placement test is given online only. You should take the test before coming to campus in the fall. If you don’t have access to the internet, you may take the placement test on a computer in your student residence or in a computer lab as soon as you arrive on campus.
If you have Spanish placement questions, please email Elisa Baena, Spanish Placement Coordinator (e-baena@northwestern.edu).