Language Placement Guidelines

Placement Information

Unsure which course is for you? Please contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies of the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures:

Dr. Yulia Bosworth, bosworth@binghamton.edu

The Director of Undergraduate Studies can usually provide proper placement information and course recommendations in response to your email. Because students come to campus with diverse backgrounds in a foreign language, the Undergraduate Director will often recommend a brief placement meeting (in person or virtually) to better assess skill levels and to make suggestions about courses in Romance Languages and Literatures. If you are arriving as a first-year or transfer student, we recommend that you begin by contacting the Director of Undergraduate Studies (see above).

Below are the general guidelines for language placement. These guidelines serve primarily as a reference and do not always reflect correct course equivalencies or guarantee placement. For accurate and customized placement, please contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies.       

General Guidelines for Language Placement

Spanish

Education/ Experience Level for Course Registration
No experience or 1 year high school 111
2 years of high school 115
3 years of high school 211
More than 3 years of high school 215

AP credit

AP Spanish Language

  • A score of 3: start at SPAN 215 (you will receive credit for SPAN 211)
  • A score of 4: start at SPAN 250 (you will receive credit for SPAN 215)
  • A score of 5: start at SPAN 251 (you will receive credit for SPAN 250)

AP Spanish Literature

  • A score of 3: start at SPAN 251 (you will receive credit for SPAN 250)
  • A score of 4 or 5: start at SPAN 344 (you will receive credit for SPAN 251)

IB credit

IB Spanish (Standard Level):

  •  A score of 4:  start at SPAN 215 (you do not receive credit hours)*
  • A score of 5: start at SPAN 250 (you do not receive credit hours)
  • A score of 6 or 7: start at SPAN 251 (you do not receive credit hours)*

IB Spanish (Higher Level)

  • A score of 4 or 5 on IB (HL):  start at 251 (for scores of 4 or 5, you receive 4 college credits, which will count as SPAN 250)
  •  A score of 6 or 7 on IB (HL): start at Spanish 344 (for scores of 6 or 7, you receive 8 college credits, which will count as SPAN 250 and SPAN 251)

*The General Education requirement for foreign language is satisfied by a score of 4-7 on either the Standard Level or Higher Level exams.

CLEP

CLEP exams transfer as generic electives. Please speak with an advisor if you have taken a CLEP exam.

If you received a passing score for:

  • Level 1: start at SPAN 211 (no credit awarded toward minor or major for Level 1 passing exams)
  • Level 2: start at SPAN 215 (you may be able to receive credit for SPAN 211; please contact an advisor)  
Spanish native and heritage speakers (Bilingual speakers/Hispanic background)

Cannot take SPAN 111, 115, 211, 215 or 250. Can take SPAN 212,213, 252 and often 344.*

 **Note: Students who successfully complete SPAN 212 fulfill the university's language requirement for entrance.

Italian

Education/Experience

Level for Course Registration
No experience or 1 year of high school 111
2 years of high school 115
3 years of high school 211
More than 3 years of high school 215
AP credit 
  • A score of 3: start at ITAL 215 (you receive credit for ITAL 211)
  • A score of 4 or 5: start at ITAL 241 (you receive credit for ITAL 215)
IB credit or prior college credit
  • A score of 4 on IB-HL: start at ITAL 215 (you receive 4 college credits, which will count as ITAL 211)
  • A score of 5 on IB-HL: start at ITAL 241 (you receive 4 college credits, which will count as ITAL 215)
  • A score of 6 or 7 on IB-HL: start at ITAL 241 (you receive 8 college credits, which will count as ITAL 211 and ITAL 215)

*The General Education requirement for foreign language is satisfied by a score of 4-7 on either the Standard Level or Higher Level exams.

Italian native speakers

 Cannot take ITAL 111, 115, 211, 215 or 251. Can take most 300- and often 400-level courses.*

Italian Heritage Speakers 

 See an advisor in the department about placement.

French

Education/ Experience

Level for Course Registration
No experience or 1 year high school 111
2 years of high school 115
3 years of high school 211
More than 3 years of high school 215
AP credit

  • A score of 3: start at FREN 215 (you receive credit for FREN 211)

  • A score of 4 or 5: start at FREN 241 (you receive credit for FREN 215)
IB credit

IB French (Standard Level):

  • A score of 4:  start at FREN 215 (you do not receive credit hours)*
  • A score of 5: start at FREN 241 (you do not receive credit hours)*
  • A score of 6 or 7: start at FREN 341 or 351 (you do not receive credit hours)*

 IB French (Higher Level)

  • A score of 4 on IB-HL: start at FREN 215 (you receive 4 college credits, which will count as FREN 211)
  • A score of 5 on IB-HL: start at FREN 241 (you receive 4 college credits, which will count as FREN 215)
  • A score of 6 or 7 on IB-HL: start at 341 or 351 (you receive 8 college credits, which will count as FREN 215 and FREN 241)

*The General Education requirement for foreign language is satisfied by a score of 4-7 on either the Standard Level or Higher Level exams.

French heritage speakers

French native speakers

Heritage speakers (such as those with a French-speaking parent) and others with significant exposure to French outside of a classroom setting may find they can skip one or more lower level FREN courses and should consult with French faculty or the Undergraduate Director for guidance in choosing a FREN course that is right for them.

Native speakers (those who grew up speaking French and were educated in French) cannot take 100- or 200- level courses and are encouraged to take 300- or 400-level FREN courses.
  1. Students who have received a score of 85 or more in the Regents exam should begin at the 211 level.
  2. Students who have AP credit cannot take 211 for credit.
  3. Students who earned a 3 on the IB exam can take 211 for credit.
  4. Students who have credit from a language or literature exam must consult an advisor for specific guidelines for placement.

Please be advised that students may be removed from the course(s) if they exceed the level of experience for the particular course they have enrolled in. It is also important to consult with a departmental advisor for additional questions.

*Consult with a departmental advisor about course needs for native speakers.

Optional Language Placement Test

If a student has met with the Director of Undergraduate Studies or an appropriate language advisor in the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures and would still like to take a language placement test, they are able to do so using our . The cost of the test, to be paid for by the student, is currently under $20. The exact pricing is available at the link provided. 

Test results must be available before the end of the Add/Drop period. The typical turnaround time for taking the test and obtaining the results is approximately one week. 

Please note that the results of the placement test will be used as a guideline and not as a definitive placement decision. Upon obtaining the results, the student is expected to consult the Director of Undergraduate Studies or the language advisor assigned to them in the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures, who will make the final determination.

For more information

Please visit the Foreign Language Requirements page