<p>I'm an incoming freshman.</p>
<p>First, taking the placement exam for a language doesn't require me to study that language at Stanford later on, correct? Also, do our placement results hold throughout our undergraduate years (i.e. we don't have to start classes right away)?</p>
<p>Secondly, must we take the placement exams as freshmen, or can we take them later?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>No, taking a placement exam will not force you to study that language at Stanford. You could take a different language, or you could pass on taking a language at all (and presumably pass out of the req. some other way).</p>
<p>Language placement exams are a strange beast. They're more of a suggestion than anything. No one will really stop you from taking a language at whatever level you want, especially if you've already gotten some experience in the language. You still have to sign up for the class on Axess, taking the language placement test doesn't automatically place you or anything. Most people take the suggestion of the placement exam, or they err on the cautious side and go a level down, but you don't have to.</p>
<p>When I took the placement exam I was put into a special Spanish for Home Background speakers. It didn't give me a class placement like everyone else, it simply said SFHBS. I twice emailed and tried to meet with the lady in charge of the placement tests to figure out what the hell this program was, but she no-showed both times. I ended up giving up on Spanish right then and there.</p>