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    Placement Testing information

    With Previous Language Study
    The Department of Modern Languages requires all students who have studied French, German, or Spanish elsewhere and who wish to continue with those languages at Carnegie Mellon to take a placement test.

    This testing procedure helps assure the placement into the appropriate level language course. The examinations are computerized and test reading knowledge as well as knowledge of grammar and vocabulary in French, German, and Spanish. These tests evaluate written but not spoken language skills, though in some cases a separate oral interview with a faculty member may be deemed appropriate in order to better place the student.

    This applies to all students who have already studied a foreign language and who wish to continue study of that same language at Carnegie Mellon.

    With No Previous Language Study

    Students with no previous language study should enroll in the regular first-semester introductory courses.

    Languages

    The placement tests are currently available in French, German, Russian and Spanish only. Students in Italian, Japanese, and Chinese who have studied those languages elsewhere and need to know their placement level should see a faculty member in that language.

    Instructions

    French, German, Spanish and Russian placement tests are available on-line world wide. To take the placement exams you need the following information:

    Go to the following URL: http://webcape.byuhtrsc.org/?acct=cmu
    The Password is: tartans1 (ends with the digit one (1))

    OR, you can also go directly to a specific language by using the following links:
    http://webcape.byuhtrsc.org/?acct=cmu&lang=fr
    http://webcape.byuhtrsc.org/?acct=cmu&lang=gr
    http://webcape.byuhtrsc.org/?acct=cmu&lang=sp

    If you wish to take the Placement exam for Russian, please contact
    Charlene Castellano in order to obtain the URL and Password.
     

    For placement in Chinese, Italian, and Japanese, contact the following faculty members of that language:

    Chinese: Suemei Wu or Yueming Yu

    Italian: Jan Vairo or Giovanni Puppo

    Japanese: Sono Takano Hayes

    After completing the test, students should print out the results page and bring it to the Department of Modern Languages in Baker Hall 160 to have their test evaluated and if needed, a pre-requisite waiver issued.