University of South Carolina

The Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures requires that each student have a Foreign Language Placement score before taking a foreign language class at the University of South Carolina.

A Placement test is required for most students; Take the placement test in the language you studied. The University of South Carolina requires that entering undergraduate students take a foreign-language proficiency (placement) test in the language they studied before entering USC. This placement test is to be taken before the student begins a USC foreign language course.
If the student took a foreign language in High School, he/she should register to take the Placement exam in that language.

For some students, a test is not required but recommended for correct placement:
If your most recent language class was five (5) or more years ago, a placement test is not required, the score of 0 will be recorded for you, and you should take the introductory language course.  You must complete and return the Form to Request Exemption from Foreign Language Placement Exam to receive the score of 0.  After completing this form, it should be returned to Mrs. Dee Dee Cronise in room 815 of the Welsh Humanities Office Building.  However, if you wish to start at a more advanced level, you must take the placement test to determine which class would be appropriate.

For most transfer students with foreign language transfer credit from another university (excluding USC regional campuses), you are highly encouraged to take the Foreign language placement exam.  Transfer students studying French, however, are required to take the placement exam unless transferring from either a campus within the USC system or from Midlands Tech.  Placement exams administered at the University of South Carolina are aligned with our curriculum and allow for better placement into our foreign language courses.

Students transferring from a USC regional campus with foreign language transfer credit may not take a foreign language placement exam.   Courses taken at regional campuses are considered USC courses.   Once a student begins a specific language course sequence, he/she should continue with the same sequence at USC.  These students must, however, complete the Form to Request Exemption from Foreign Language Placement Exam to receive the correct placement score.

Students who successfully completed the College Board Advanced Placement Program (AP) or the higher-level International Baccalaureate (IB) exams in high school may receive foreign language credit.   Based on a student's scores on these exams, he/she may not be required to take the Foreign Language placement exam.   However, even students who are exempt from the Placement exams are highly encouraged to take them.  These assessments administered at the University of South Carolina are aligned with our curriculum and allow for better placement into our foreign language courses. 

 Students will earn credit based on their AP/IB scores according to the tables below.

AP Program

• Students who score a 1 or 2 on the AP exam must take the Foreign Language placement exam.
• Students who score higher on the AP exam are highly encouraged to take the Foreign Language placement exam.  

You will receive credit based on the scores below:

IB Program

• Students who score a 1, 2 or 3 on the IB exam must take the Foreign Language placement exam.
• Students who store higher on the IB exam are highly encouraged to take the Foreign Language placement exam.  
• Students receiving credit through IB foreign language examinations may not receive additional advanced-standing credit for 100-level courses.

You will receive credit based on the scores below: