<p>I have to agree that giving credit for a language requirement for a standard test, as UVa does to measure actual mastery, vs simply giving exemption for number of years taken in high school, the standard test makes far more sense. Four years of instruction in one high school can be vastly different from another. You can earn exemption from the standardized UVa language test, SAT2, or AP test. It’s actually pretty flexible for those that have studied a language in hs. </p>
<p>Admission guidelines to UVa requires four years of FL, and recommends five. With a holistic admissions review, and students with schedule conflicts, certainly not all admitted students have four years. However I would guess very few have to start at year one unless you are starting a new language.</p>