Overview of language placement evaluation options

	Placement test (Emmersion LPE)	FLATS	Stamp4S	CLEP
Register for advanced courses?	✓	X	X	X
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree 3rd-semester proficiency requirement met?	X	✓	X	✓
International Relations major 4th-semester proficiency requirement met?	X	X	✓	X
College credit earned?	X	X	X	✓
Test cost	$0	~~$50~~ $0 (paid by GVSU)	~~$50~~ $0 (paid by GVSU)	$90
Test length	15 - 30 minutes	1.5 - 2.5 hours	2.5 - 4 hours	1 - 2 hours
Registration method	LPE registration request form	FLATS registration request form	Contact Chris Cirefice at [email protected]	CLEP self-registration

<aside> <img src="/icons/info-alternate_blue.svg" alt="/icons/info-alternate_blue.svg" width="40px" /> Each assessment option 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.

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Placement test (Emmersion LPE): simple placement test used to register for higher-level courses;
FLATS: proctored exam used to test out of the BA language proficiency requirement;
Stamp4S: proctored exam used to test out of the International Relations major 4th-semester language proficiency requirement;
CLEP: proctored exam used to receive college credit toward a degree program

Supported languages

	Placement test?	FLATS?	Stamp4S?	CLEP?
Arabic	X	✓	✓	X
Chinese	X	✓	✓	X
French	✓	✓	✓	✓
German	✓	✓	✓	✓
Italian	✓	✓	✓	X
Japanese	X	✓	✓	X
Spanish	✓	✓	✓	✓
Latin	X	X	X	X
Ancient Greek	X	X	X	X
American Sign Language (ASL)	X	X	X	X
———	———	———		———
Korean	X	✓	✓	X
Polish	X	✓	✓	X
Portuguese	X	✓	✓	X
Russian	✓	✓	✓	X
Vietnamese	X	✓	✓ (2S)*	X
Etc…	X	✓	✓	X

Placement testing for highlighted languages

<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.

For American Sign Language placement testing: please reach out Misti Ryefield ([email protected]) in the Allied Health Sciences to discuss placement testing options for the GVSU American Sign Language program.

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Placement test (Emmersion LPE)

<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)
B.A. 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
LPE registration request form
see Language Placement Evaluation info for students and the Modern Languages and Literatures LPE page for further information </aside>

FLATS

<aside> <img src="/icons/info-alternate_blue.svg" alt="/icons/info-alternate_blue.svg" width="40px" /> Complete the B.A. 3rd-semester language proficiency requirement.

B.A. requirement can be completed
college credit cannot be earned

$50 test fee covered by GVSU ($0)
1.5 to 2.5-hour proctored test taken in-person in the Language Resource Center or online through Proctor360
- $20 fee for online proctor option, covered by student
FLATS registration request form
see FLATS exam info for students for further information </aside>

Stamp4S (”4 Skills”) assessment

<aside> <img src="/icons/info-alternate_blue.svg" alt="/icons/info-alternate_blue.svg" width="40px" /> Complete the International Relations 4th-semester language proficiency requirement.

IR 4th-semester proficiency requirement can be completed
B.A. requirement cannot be completed
college credit cannot be earned

$50 test fee covered by GVSU ($0)
2.5 to 4-hour proctored test taken in-person in the Language Resource Center
contact Chris Cirefice ([email protected]) to request a Stamp4S assessment </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
see GVSU Credit by Exam and College Board CLEP exams for further information </aside>

Frequently Asked Questions

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May 1, 2024