Spanish Placement

The Spanish Placement Test does not serve as proof of achievement for the purpose of fulfilling the language requirement. This test is only intended to assist instructors in placing students in the appropriate Spanish courses at Swarthmore.

The placement test is required for all students, regardless of prior experience, who plan to take Spanish courses at Swarthmore, including those with AP/IB scores. Additionally, all incoming students interested in enrolling in Spanish courses must begin by taking the placement test to ensure they are placed at the appropriate level.

The placement test is an online, multiple-choice assessment that you can take at your convenience. It covers vocabulary, grammar, and reading comprehension, with no oral or listening section. As an adaptive test, its length varies, with an average time of twenty minutes. Upon completion, you will receive a score and placement recommendation, allowing you to register for the designated course during the registration period unless an oral interview is required.

The test must represent your own work. When taking it, you will be bound by Swarthmore College's Code of Academic and Personal Integrity. You may take this test only once. Please remember to complete the language survey that appears at the beginning of the test.

The online placement test and survey are intended solely for diagnostic purposes and may be supplemented by your instructor’s evaluation during the first week of classes, which could lead to a recommendation for a course level adjustment if necessary.

• First-year students and new transfer students must log into Moodle after July 11 and select the New Student Orientation course. In the Placement Exams section of the course, you will find detailed instructions on how to access placement exams. It is important that you complete the language survey that appears at the beginning of the test. Upon completion of the exam, students can register in the designated course during the registration period, unless an oral interview is required.
• If an oral interview is needed, the department will contact you in August for a Zoom interview. Students with placement scores at the extremes of a suggested range should consult the course instructor to discuss other factors before shifting to a higher- or lower-level course.
• Upper-class students interested in taking the test should contact the Department of Spanish for information and instructions at spanish@swarthmore.edu.

For technical questions about your placement test, contact the Language Resource Center at lmc@swarthmore.edu.

For course registration inquiries or to schedule an oral interview, reach out to our Administrative Assistant at spanish@swarthmore.edu.

For score and placement questions, please consult the department chair.