Skip to main content

Language Placement

Fulfilling the Language Requirement

To fulfill the WCAS Language Requirement in French or to enroll in French classes for the first time, please follow the instructions below.

French Online Placement Test

All students including first-year students and transfer students who have previously studied French and who plan to fulfill a language requirement or want to continue with their study of French MUST take the online French placement test before registering for French courses at Northwestern.

If you have an AP of 5, you have satisfied the Weinberg foreign language requirement in French. We encourage you to continue your French studies at Northwestern. Please take the online French placement test prior to registering for an advanced French course. If you have questions, please consult the Director of Undergraduate Studies for French.

If you take the French Placement Test during the academic year, your results will be posted at https://placement.madstudio.northwestern.edu within 72 hours of your submission. If you have any questions, please contact Prof. Dominique Licops.


Other than during Wildcat Welcome, placement interviews and Validation of Proficiency interviews will be held by appointment only. Once you have retrieved your placement exam results online (indicating “Reassessment” or "Validation of Proficiency), email Prof. Dominique Licops, to make an appointment.

FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS MUST COMPLETE THE FRENCH PLACEMENT TEST BY JULY 31st.
The French placement test is given online only. There are many advantages to taking it by July 31:

Placement Test Online
Placement Results
When you take the placement test before July 31, your results will be posted online at https://placement.madstudio.northwestern.edu by August 15. Your results will show which course to register for, or you will be asked to complete a reassessment or validation of proficiency test.

 

Reassessment

If you earn “Reassessment” on the placement test, you will be required to confirm your level by taking an oral interview, C-test and written composition.  This 30 minutes follow-up test given on a first come first serve basis will determine for which course you can register.

Date: Wednesday September 13, 2023 (Wildcat Welcome Week)
Time: 1:00–4:00pm
Room: Kresge 2-415

This reassessment will determine which course you can register for. The results will be posted to the online placement test website at the latest by Thursday, September 15th at 3:00pm.


Validation of Proficiency

Congratulations! Your test results are high enough that you qualify for the validation of proficiency test, which will determine whether you have satisfied the Weinberg foreign language requirement and/or qualify for an intermediate or advanced course. 

The validation of proficiency consists of an oral interview, C-test and written composition. This 30 minutes follow-up test given on a first come first serve basis will determine whether you have satisfied the Weinberg foreign language requirement and/or for which course you can register.

Date: Wednesday September 13, 2023 (Wildcat Welcome Week)
Time: 1:00–4:00pm
Room: Kresge 2-415

The results will be posted to the online placement test website at the latest by Thursday September 15th at 3:00pm.


Sample Placement Test Questions

A sampling of the types of questions on the placement test is available. Please review the sample questions before taking the test.

If you have...
a score of 5 on the Advanced Placement French Exam: Congratulations! You have satisfied the WCAS Language Proficiency Requirement in French. We encourage you to continue your French studies at Northwestern. Please take the online French placement test prior to registering for French 210 or French 211. Please e-mail Prof. Cynthia Nazarian for advice on choosing a French Minor or Major.
a score of 3-4 on the Advanced Placement French Examination (AP Exam): Great! Welcome to the French Language Program. You must take the French Placement test. You will have either 1 course to take (French 201) or 2 courses (French 125-2 and 3), or you may even be certified proficient and eligible to take French 202 or 203. Please contact Prof. Dominique Licops or Prof. Margaret Dempster for information.
a score of 1 or 2 on the Advanced Placement French Examination or any prior knowledge or study of French: Great! Welcome to the French Language Program. You must take the French Placement test. You will be placed in the appropriate course for your level, French 111-1, French 115-1 or French 121-1. Please contact Prof. Dominique Licops or Prof. Margaret Dempster for information.
never studied any French before: Welcome to the French Language Program. You will need six courses to satisfy the WCAS Language Proficiency Requirement in French. You may place yourself into 111-1 Elementary French (given only in the Fall).

 

Instructions For All Other Students

If you are an incoming or transfer student who intends to register for a French course (either to satisfy the WCAS Language Proficiency Requirement or to simply continue studying French), you MUST take the French Placement Exam before being allowed to register for any French course at Northwestern University.

Additional Information

If you need additional information, contact Professor Dominique Licops, d-licops@northwestern.edu