Incoming freshmen with prior knowledge of a foreign language,
who wish to build on that knowledge while at St. John's University
or to satisfy core language requirements, must take a placement
test.
The purpose of the placement test is to evaluate incoming
students' proficiency in grammar, vocabulary, reading and listening
comprehension, so that they may be placed at the right level of
instruction.
Students with no prior knowledge of the language they wish to
take are naturally exempt from the placement test and placed at
level one.
Placement tests are administered for the following
languages:
- French
- German
- Modern Greek
- Italian
- Russian
- Spanish
Administration of Placement
Test
Placement tests are administered at the Language Laboratory,
located in St Augustine Hall room B 48, during office hours.
Appointments are advisable to make sure that students can be
accomodated at busy hours in the lab. In the summertime
–June, July and August- appointments are necessary due to limited
available staff. Please call (718) 990-6293 for an
appointment.
Come during office hours and be ready to show a photo ID . The
test should take approximately 45 minutes and requires no prior
preparation. Results are made available within 48 hours, allowing
students to register without delay. Students who place at an
advanced level will have to consult with the Dept. of Languages and
Literatures coordinator for that language for advice on
suitable courses (see Coordinators: under
"Administration").
There are no placement tests at this time for Latin or Arabic.
Students interested in building on their prior knowledge of these
languages should contact Departmental Administration at (718)
990-6314 in order to make an appointment for evaluation by an
appropriate instructor.
Students interested in Asian languages (Chinese, Japanese and
Korean) should contact the Institute of Asian Studies at
St. John's University.
Staten Island Students
Students at the Staten Island Campus should consult the
Dean's office for placement guidelines.