Language Placement Test

General Information

If you plan to study a language at Rice’s Center for Languages and Intercultural Communication (CLIC), you must take the Language Placement Test (LPT) to determine the most appropriate level for you. Even if you have no prior experience with that language, you must take the LPT to confirm that you should take the first-semester course. The LPT is not required for 300 and 400-level courses in French and German nor for 330 or higher Spanish courses. Online testing will be available during the specific dates listed below for all languages offered at CLIC.

Next testing periods:

  • October 29, 2024 - January 17, 2025

Important:

Even if you have no prior experience with that language, you must take the LPT to confirm that you should take the first-semester course. You will only need to answer a few questions and it will take 2-3 minutes. If you indicate that you have no prior knowledge of a language, you will be finished with the test for that language and will be able to register for the first semester (141) course for that language. It may take 48 hours for your result to upload. We offer accelerated (106) beginning courses in some languages. Please contact clicplacement@rice.edu if you are not sure which beginning course you should take. Note that the placement test is not required for French and German classes at the 300-level or above courses in French or German, nor for 330 or above Spanish courses.

You will receive emails with the links to the full placement test in Canvas for each language for which you indicate prior knowledge. The full test takes approximately 30 - 40 minutes to complete but is not timed. Please do not start the test unless you plan to finish it. Expect it to take up to three days to receive your placement result and two to three business days before you are able to enroll online. Tests will be graded as quickly as possible during busy times of year such as winter break so it may take longer than usual to receive your result. The instructor grading your test will email you your result.

Tests taken in June will be graded in July and you will have your result by August 1. Please contact clicplacement@rice.edu if you have any questions or need a Special Registration Form signed.

Access the Language Placement Tests Here.

Click on the link below to access a brief survey about your language knowledge. Answer for all of the languages on the list. After completing this section, you will be sent links to the placement tests in Canvas for all languages of which you have prior knowledge. Check your email and take the Canvas test for the language(s) you want to study. If you have no prior knowledge of a language, you will be finished with the test for that language and will be able to register for the first semester (141) course for that language. We offer accelerated (106) beginning courses in some languages. Please contact clicplacement@rice.edu if you are not sure which beginning course you should take. Your placement is valid for four years.

Results

Each test is graded individually. Expect it to take up to three days to receive your placement result and two to three business days before you are able to enroll online. Tests taken over winter recess might not be graded until January. Please take the test as early as possible during the test period to ensure that you receive your score before registration closes. You may contact clicplacement@rice.edu with any questions or if you need a Special Registration Form. Tests taken during winter recess might not be graded until the semester starts.

Note:

Email CLICplacement@rice.edu to request access to the test (for non-Rice students) or with any questions you may have about the placement test.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who should take the Language Placement Test?

Students who want to take a course with CLIC in one of the languages we offer must take the LPT. Students with prior knowledge of French or German may take courses at the 300 level or above nor for Spanish courses numbered 330 or higher without taking a placement test. Visit cultures.rice.edu for more information about upper-level French, German, or Spanish courses.

2. Who should not take the LPT?

Students with native fluency in a language should not take the placement test for that language. Students who will take 300-level or above courses in French or German and students who will take 330 or above Spanish courses. Students who are continuing to study the same language may register for the next course in the sequence without re-taking the placement test.

3. What is the format of LPT (Language Placement Test)?

The LPT has two main parts, one in Qualtrics and one in Canvas. The first section is a brief survey about your experience with each of the languages we teach. Depending on your responses to the survey, you may be directed to take the other sections in Canvas, covering listening, speaking, reading, and writing. It takes about 30-45 minutes to complete the Canvas test.

4. For how long are the results of the LPT valid?

The results of the LPT are valid for 4 years.

5. Can I take the placement test again if I fail it?

You cannot fail the placement test since the score you get is used for placement purposes only. The test allows us to determine the most suitable language course for you.

6. Can I take more than one placement test?

If you intend to study more than one language at Rice, you may take the LPTs in all the languages you plan to study.

7. Can I receive credit for language courses I have taken before coming to Rice?

“Rice University awards transfer credit for certain college preparatory exams. Students are required to submit official score reports for any exams for which they wish to receive credit. The score reports will remain with the Office of the Registrar and become a part of the student's file at Rice University.” (Registrar’s website). The exams most likely to be used for language credit, and officially recognized by Rice, are the AP and the IB exams. Please visit the Registrar’s website for more information.

8. I received Rice Equivalency Credit for Spanish 142 based on coursework taken at another university. Do I still need to take the Language Placement Test?

No, you have satisfied the prerequisite and can enroll in the next course in the sequence, which in this case would be Spanish 263. As it may take some time for the Registrar’s Office to process the transfer credit information, please email clic@rice.edu if you are having trouble enrolling.

9. How many credit hours can I receive for my AP/IB exam?

You can receive up to three course credit hours (but not distribution credit) if you earned a score of 4 or 5 on the AP exam or 5-7 on the IB exam. The credit is given through course number 222 in the following languages: Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish. Please go to the Registrar’s website for more information.

10. Do I need to take the Rice Placement Test if I already have AP/IB credit?

If you are interested in studying any language at Rice CLIC, you must take the placement test to determine the most appropriate course for you. Students with prior knowledge of French or German may take courses at the 300 level or above without taking a placement test. Visit cultures.rice.edu for more information about upper-level French, German, and Spanish courses.

11. I took SPAN 263 in the Spring and then participated in the Loewenstern Fellowship this summer, spending 9 weeks in Salta, Argentina working. Although I did not earn academic credit for this experience, my knowledge of Spanish improved considerably. Can I take the Language Placement Test to see where I should be placed for this fall?

Yes. The Language Placement Test will be the most efficient way to determine the most suitable language course for you.

Contact:

CLICplacement@rice.edu