<p>Who on CC has knowledge of what the verification exam is like? D miraculously has qualified to take this exam on Friday and potentially have the choice of opting out of having to study foreign language as a graduation requirement. D is concerned that having done no Spanish since the beginning of the summer that her skills have gone down The e-mail she received states "no need to study" but, where the possibility of flexibility is important to her passing, she is now upstairs studying (before going to work and trying to pack for tomorrow). Any feedback? Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>The exam is at the level of the equivalent SAT II language with listening
test (the one in October); the grammar is more advanced (AP level)</p>
<p>Do you recall how the verification exam compared to the original placement exam? D never took the SAT II so she has no reference for it and then did not score well, despite her efforts, on the AP exam. She was shocked this morning to find the Harvard e-mail stating that she did well on her preliminary test.</p>
<p>I got the same email. I remember reading somewhere, perhaps on the FDO website, that the exam is brief and has an oral section, as opposed to the initial placement test. I don’t think I want to be exempt from my language requirement but I might take it anyway incase I change my mind.</p>
<p>D is hoping to place out because right now she has too many pre-requisite type courses that she is trying to fit into freshman year. Testing out will give her options. Her brother was at another school. He had no language requirement (engineer) but chose to take two years beginning with his sophomore year. Having to fit a year of language into freshman year really messes with pre-requisites.</p>
<p>PS Dwight - congrats on the e-mail though I’m guessing you expected yours. D began screaming when she found hers because she/we figured there was no way she would test out.</p>
<p>Smoda, since you said you were in MA, maybe you can get your D the Barron’s
SAT II book which has Audio CDs for listening - I found them truly helpful for passing
out of the reqs. Also the grammar review in there is helpful.</p>
<p>You are correct that language requirements alter the schedule significantly and
also add to the workload if taken as courses (Lang courses are quite intense at
all levels).</p>
<p>Thanks, at this point though, D is on campus, I am home and her test is at 9 something. She got her placement scores last night. She got a 610 with a passing score being 600. She at least understands that she is right on the edge of passing. When I talked to her last night though, she told me that one roommate is fluent and another is a very strong Ap Spanish student. I sounded like they might try and work with her.</p>
<p>Got the call. She passed. If I understood right, the tests were very comparable.</p>
<p>Yeah the test was just the first test with like half of it missing.</p>