Overview of language placement evaluation options

	Emmersion LPE (placement test)	FLATS	CLEP
Register for advanced courses?	✓	X	X
BA language requirement met?	X	✓	✓
College credit earned?	X	X	✓
Test cost	$0	$50 $0 (paid by GVSU)	$90
Test length	15-30 minutes	1-2.5 hours	1-2 hours
Registration method	https://noteforms.com/forms/gvsu-emmersion-lpe-request-form	https://noteforms.com/forms/gvsu-flats-request-form	https://clep.collegeboard.org/register-for-an-exam

<aside> <img src="/icons/info-alternate_blue.svg" alt="/icons/info-alternate_blue.svg" width="40px" /> Each test is designed with a specific purpose in mind, so please continue reading for further information on each assessment and what it is primarily used for, in order to choose the option that best meets your needs.

</aside>

Emmersion LPE: simple placement test used to register for higher-level courses;
FLATS: proctored exam used to test out of the BA world language proficiency requirement
CLEP: proctored exam used to receive college credit toward a degree program

Supported languages

	Emmersion LPE?	FLATS?	CLEP?
Arabic	X	✓	X
Chinese	X	✓	X
French	✓	✓	✓
German	✓	✓	✓
Italian	✓	✓	X
Japanese	X	✓	X
Spanish	✓	✓	✓
Latin	X	X	X
Ancient Greek	X	X	X
—	—	—	—
Korean	X	✓	X
Polish	X	✓	X
Portuguese	X	✓	X
Russian	✓	✓	X
Vietnamese	X	✓	X
Etc…	X	✓	X

<aside> <img src="/icons/warning_yellow.svg" alt="/icons/warning_yellow.svg" width="40px" /> For Arabic placement testing : please reach out to the Arabic Section Coordinator, Majd Al-Mallah ([email protected]) to discuss placement testing options for the GVSU Arabic program.

For Chinese placement testing (Mandarin-Simplified): please reach out to the Chinese Section Coordinator, Meghan Cai ([email protected]) to discuss placement testing options for the GVSU Chinese program.

For Japanese placement testing: please reach out to the Japanese Section Coordinator, Jeremy Robinson ([email protected]) to discuss placement testing options for the GVSU Japanese program. See here for additional information on Japanese placement testing at GVSU.

For Latin & Ancient Greek placement testing: please reach out Charles Ham ([email protected]) in the Classics Department to discuss placement testing options for GVSU Classics programs.

</aside>

Emmersion LPE (placement test)

<aside> <img src="/icons/info-alternate_blue.svg" alt="/icons/info-alternate_blue.svg" width="40px" /> Place into a specific language level to be able to register for a higher-level course.

place into higher-level courses (e.g. for a language major/minor)
BA requirement cannot be completed
college credit cannot be earned

$0 test fee (free evaluation)
15 to 30-minute self-assessment taken online or in the LRC
Emmersion LPE registration request form

Language Placement Evaluation info for students

</aside>

FLATS

<aside> <img src="/icons/info-alternate_blue.svg" alt="/icons/info-alternate_blue.svg" width="40px" /> Complete the BA requirement.

BA requirement can be completed
college credit cannot be earned

$50 test fee covered by GVSU
1 to 2-hour proctored test taken online
$20 fee for online proctor option (Proctor360), covered by student
FLATS registration request form

FLATS exam info for students

</aside>

CLEP

<aside> <img src="/icons/info-alternate_blue.svg" alt="/icons/info-alternate_blue.svg" width="40px" /> Complete the BA requirement, and/or receive college credit.

BA requirement can be completed
college credit can be earned (8 or 16 credits)
- register for higher-level courses

$90 test fee not covered by GVSU
1 to 2-hour proctored test taken online
test scores usable at any national institution that recognizes CLEP
CLEP self-registration </aside>

Further resources

Language Placement Evaluation - Modern Languages and Literatures - Grand Valley State University

Credit by Exam - Grand Valley State University

Exam Topics – CLEP | College Board

FLATS exam info for students

Frequently Asked Questions

Untitled Database

February 2, 2024