Hi CC,
I did the CAE (Cambridge English: Advanced certificate) and got 202 out of 210 points. That is a grade A and CEFR level C2 (which is the highest level possible and should be the level of a native speaker).
Also i got 80.5 out of 100 points on the DELF (Diplôme d’Etudes en langue française) niveau B2.
Should I mention these scores on my application? Are they competitive enough?
If yes, where should I mention them? (There is no specific space on the commonapp)
Thanks in advance
P.S.: I have two subject test scores: A 760 in Chem and a 720 in Maths II. That means I don’t have any SAT 2 in a language.
No. English proficiency is not an accomplishment - it is the norm. The language of instruction at Harvard is, of course, English, so the expectation is that all applicants have the needed proficiency.
You can list French under languages known; Harvard is not going to ask for proof. Again, the norm is that applicants educated in Europe will speak multiple languages. While it’s a great life skill, it’s nothing special for the admissions process.
@skieurope
Ok that makes sense. I mentioned French under the language section.
Even if harvard doesn’t ask for proof, wouldn’t it be wise to include the DELF in the application? (Additional infromation section?)
After all Harvard isn’t the only school I am going to apply to and other universitys might ask for proof.
Thanks
In the extremely unlikely event that a college asks for proof, you can send them your DELF certificate. You can certainly list it in the additional info section. If you choose to do so, omit the score; you passed which is all that anybody would care about, if they cared at all.
@skieurope
Thank you; I will list that I passed DELF B2 in the additional information section.
Hi @goldenmaster,
Please don’t get this wrong, but I just want to make sure that you don’t get your hopes up too high about your language diplomas.
I went to a Swiss high school, and every of its 4000 students is required to pass the DELF B2 and Cambridge CAE exam in order to graduate. I also know from many other Swiss high schools that their students are required to pass these exams. Therefore, I don’t think that they are in any way something remarkable to admission officers.
@nadinem123
Don’t worry, I am not getting my hopes up solely on these language diplomas.
I am educated in Germany (theoretisch könnten wir Deutsch miteinander reden :D) and, while the diplomas are not required, everyone who participates usually passes. So it’s not that impressive.
I just thought that the DELF might be able to replace a language SAT subject test.
Well, you didn’t ask that before, but no, it would not replace a Subject Test. Know that the Subject Test tests at the A2 level with a bit of B1 thrown in, so you should score very well on it if you were to take it. That said, having a foreign language Subject Test vs. not having one will not be the deciding factor, IMO.
@skieurope
OK thx.
I will just list it anyway.