Language Proficiency Testing Program
<p>Grounded in the guidelines established by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (<a href="https://www.actfl.org/resources/actfl-proficiency-guidelines-2012">ACTFL</a>), we offer proficiency exams for more than 30 languages. Point scoring is equivalent to undergraduate-level language study at US colleges, and is used by many universities to grant academic credit or advanced placement in your language of study. The test also may be used for those who require it for professional purposes, such as teachers who need certification or verification of language proficiency; government or law enforcement officials who seek career advancement; or individuals who wish to establish linguistic competence for business objectives, such as a promotion or job placement.</p>
<p>New York University is a member of the Association of American Universities and is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. (Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104; (215) 662-5606). Individual undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs and schools are accredited by the appropriate specialized accrediting agencies. Graduate and professional accrediting agencies recognize its degrees in all categories.</p>
The Exams
<p><span class="p-body">NYU School of Professional Studies offers three different language-testing examinations to evaluate an individual’s knowledge of a language and to assign points equivalent to undergraduate credit at US colleges. The points scale is guided by <a href="https://www.actfl.org/sites/default/files/guidelines/ACTFLProficiencyGuidelines2012.pdf">ACTFL's Proficiency Guidelines</a> and suggests college-level language equivalencies. Exam results are valid for three years.</span></p>
<p><span class="p-body">Dictionaries and other reference materials may not be used. These tests do not require knowledge of technical terms or specialized vocabulary.</span></p>
<p><span class="p-body"><b>12-point Exam<br />
</b>The 12-point exam assesses reading, writing, listening and oral proficiency. It consists of multiple-choice questions, short answers, one essay, one translation, two short audio sections, and two oral responses.</span></p>
<p><span class="p-body"><b>16-point Exam<br />
</b>The 16-point exam comprises the 12-point exam, as well as advanced oral and written components. In the oral component, students listen to a recorded statement in the target language, then record a maximum two-minute oral response in the target language, taking a stance on the statement and defending their point of view. The written component of the exam consists of an extended 350-word essay on a more complex topic. Students are asked to write about abstract ideas, support an argument, hypothesize, and compose longer paragraphs.</span></p>
<p><span class="p-body"><b>4-point Exam<br />
</b>The 4-point exam is available to those who have achieved a score of at least 8 on the 12-point exam and who wish to earn up to four additional points. The exam consists of advanced oral and written components (also components of the 16-point exam). In the oral component, students listen to a recorded statement in the target language, then record a maximum two-minute oral response in the target language, taking a stance on the statement and defending their point of view. The written component of the exam consists of an extended 350-word essay on a more complex topic. Students are asked to write about abstract ideas, support an argument, hypothesize, and compose longer paragraphs.</span></p>
<p><span class="p-body">**It is important to note that the actual number of credits granted is at the sole discretion of the institution receiving the results. Students are strongly urged to discuss credit awards with the institution’s adviser prior to taking the exam. All test results are final and may not be appealed. Official letters will not be mailed to institutions for tests that are more than three years old.</span></p>
<p><span class="p-body">The chart on the next page illustrates how the total possible number of cumulative points earned on one of our exams corresponds to the number of semesters of college level language study and the corresponding ACTFL proficiency levels.</span></p>
Oral Template PWM Language Proficiency Test Score to College Credit Equivalency
<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<tbody><tr><td width="43" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body"><b>Part</b></span></p>
</td>
<td width="141" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body"><b>Test section task and corresponding (ACTFL-guided) content level</b></span></p>
</td>
<td width="66" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body"><b>Possible points for section</b></span></p>
</td>
<td width="78" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body"><b>Cumulative points thus far in test</b></span></p>
</td>
<td width="126" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body"><b>Undergrad semester timing benchmarks</b></span></p>
</td>
<td width="162" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body"><b>Corresp. ACTFL proficiency level anticipated by this point in undergrad</b></span></p>
</td>
<td width="132" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body"><b>Corresp. undergrad. semester credits earned</b></span></p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td width="43" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body"><b>1</b></span></p>
</td>
<td width="141" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">Int low reading</span></p>
</td>
<td width="66" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">.75</span></p>
</td>
<td width="78" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">.75</span></p>
</td>
<td width="126" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body"><i>Beginning sem. 1</i></span></p>
</td>
<td width="162" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">Novice mid</span></p>
</td>
<td width="132" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body"><i> </i></span></p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td width="43" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body"><b>2</b></span></p>
</td>
<td width="141" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">Int low reading</span></p>
</td>
<td width="66" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">.75</span></p>
</td>
<td width="78" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">1.5</span></p>
</td>
<td width="126" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body"><i>Nearly halfway through sem. 1</i></span></p>
</td>
<td width="162" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">Novice mid/high</span></p>
</td>
<td width="132" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body"> </span></p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td width="43" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body"><b>3</b></span></p>
</td>
<td width="141" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">Int low speaking<b></b></span></p>
</td>
<td width="66" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">.75</span></p>
</td>
<td width="78" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">2.25</span></p>
</td>
<td width="126" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body"><i>Halfway through sem. 1</i></span></p>
</td>
<td width="162" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">Novice high</span></p>
</td>
<td width="132" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body"> </span></p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td width="43" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body"><b>4</b></span></p>
</td>
<td width="141" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">Int low listening</span></p>
</td>
<td width="66" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">.75</span></p>
</td>
<td width="78" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">3</span></p>
</td>
<td width="126" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body"><i>Nearly completed sem. 1</i></span></p>
</td>
<td width="162" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">Novice high/Int low</span></p>
</td>
<td width="132" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body"> </span></p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td width="43" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body"><b>5</b></span></p>
</td>
<td width="141" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">Int mid rdg</span></p>
</td>
<td width="66" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">1.25</span></p>
</td>
<td width="78" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">4.25</span></p>
</td>
<td width="126" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body"><b>Completed 1 semester</b></span></p>
</td>
<td width="162" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">Int low</span></p>
</td>
<td width="132" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body"><b>Earned 4 credits</b></span></p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td width="43" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body"><b>6</b></span></p>
</td>
<td width="141" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">Int mid rdg<b></b></span></p>
</td>
<td width="66" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">1.25</span></p>
</td>
<td width="78" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">5.5</span></p>
</td>
<td width="126" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body"><i>Nearly halfway through sem. 2</i></span></p>
</td>
<td width="162" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">Int low/Int mid</span></p>
</td>
<td width="132" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body"> </span></p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td width="43" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body"><b>7</b></span></p>
</td>
<td width="141" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">Int high speaking</span></p>
</td>
<td width="66" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">1.25</span></p>
</td>
<td width="78" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">6.75</span></p>
</td>
<td width="126" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body"><i>Over halfway through sem. 2</i></span></p>
</td>
<td width="162" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">Int mid</span></p>
</td>
<td width="132" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body"> </span></p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td width="43" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body"><b>8</b></span></p>
</td>
<td width="141" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">Int high listening<b></b></span></p>
</td>
<td width="66" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">1.25</span></p>
</td>
<td width="78" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">8</span></p>
</td>
<td width="126" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body"><b>Completed 2 semesters</b></span></p>
</td>
<td width="162" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">Int mid/Int high</span></p>
</td>
<td width="132" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body"><b>Earned 8 credits</b></span></p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td width="43" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body"><b>9</b></span></p>
</td>
<td width="141" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">Writing: 100 wd (Int high/Adv low level)</span></p>
</td>
<td width="66" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">2</span></p>
</td>
<td width="78" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">10</span></p>
</td>
<td width="126" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body"><i>Halfway through sem. 3</i></span></p>
</td>
<td width="162" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">Int high</span></p>
</td>
<td width="132" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body"> </span></p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td width="43" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body"><b>10</b></span></p>
</td>
<td width="141" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">Translation (Adv low)</span></p>
</td>
<td width="66" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">2</span></p>
</td>
<td width="78" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">12</span></p>
</td>
<td width="126" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body"><b>Completed 3 semesters</b></span></p>
</td>
<td width="162" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">Int high/Adv low</span></p>
</td>
<td width="132" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body"><b>Earned 12 credits</b></span></p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td width="43" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body"><b>11</b></span></p>
</td>
<td width="141" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">Adv mid speaking</span></p>
</td>
<td width="66" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">1.6</span></p>
</td>
<td width="78" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">13.6</span></p>
</td>
<td width="126" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body"><i>Nearly halfway through sem. 4</i></span></p>
</td>
<td width="162" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">Adv low/mid</span></p>
</td>
<td width="132" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body"><b> </b></span></p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td width="43" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body"><b>12</b></span></p>
</td>
<td width="141" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">Adv mid writing: 350 words</span></p>
</td>
<td width="66" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">2.4<b></b></span></p>
</td>
<td width="78" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">16</span></p>
</td>
<td width="126" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body"><b>Completed 4 semesters</b></span></p>
</td>
<td width="162" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body">Adv mid</span></p>
</td>
<td width="132" valign="top"><p><span class="p-body"><b>Earned 16 credits</b></span></p>
</td>
</tr></tbody></table>
<p><span class="p-body"> </span></p>
<p><span class="p-body"><i>→ Cumulative NYU SPS test scores can be seen to align closely with corresponding benchmarks of undergraduate language credits earned after 1, 2, 3 and 4 semesters of language at NYU (4 credits per semester; semester benchmarks correspond to 4, 8, 12, and 16 cumulative test points).</i></span></p>
<p><span class="p-body"><i>→ Based on ACTFL guidelines, anticipated proficiency levels attained at the end of 1, 2, 3 and 4 semesters also align with the ACTFL-based difficulty levels of corresponding test tasks.</i></span></p>
<p><span class="p-body"><i>→ Note: A few of the NYU SPS test levels at these 4 point increments may indicate one sub-level higher than the corresponding college-level proficiencies. The assumption is if a test-taker earns ALL points up through a certain level, they have demonstrated their ability to place solidly on the higher end of what we might expect students to attain over the corresponding semesters’ duration.</i></span></p>
Exam Results
<p><span class="p-body">An official letter stating the results of the examination will be mailed to the designated institution within three weeks after the test is taken. The student will receive an unofficial copy of the letter.</span></p>
<p><span class="p-body">Allow two extra weeks during winter break. Though the official letter is sufficient for most institutions, should an official transcript be required, it can be obtained from the<a href="https://www.nyu.edu/registrar/transcript-form.html"> </a><a href="https://www.nyu.edu/registrar/transcript-form.html">NYU Transcript Office</a>.</span></p>
<p><span class="p-body">For more information or to register to take a language proficiency exam, please click on the <a href="/content/sps-nyu/about/academic-divisions-and-departments/center-for-publishing-writing-and-media/online-language-proficiency-testing.html#Proficiency-exams-43519">language exam</a> you wish to take. Language proficiency tests are offered exclusively online through a convenient, remotely-proctored platform. Results for exams are issued within two to three weeks of the testing date, and scores are valid for three years. Please email us at sps.flpe@nyu.edu with any questions.</span></p>
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