<p>Hi guys,
I have a question. I am fluent in English, French (I live in Switzerland), Dutch (I am Dutch), Spanish (I've had 4 years at school & been to Spain twice for 3 months) and German (thanks to Dutch, very similar, and 8 years at school).</p>
<p>I really don't want to do the SAT Subject Tests -- no time, don't wanna pay again twice, etc.
What is the best way to prove I actually speak those languages? Through my school?
And how much of an advantage in an application is it?</p>
<p>You’ll have to take either the SAT subject test, the AP, or if its offered a proficiency test offered by your school. You’d have to find out if they offer it. I don’t think you have to prove french, german, or spanish though, since you’ve taken them at school/are native languages.</p>
<p>There’s no way to prove it without a standardized test. Period. End of story.</p>
<p>You can take SAT II/AP for Spanish, French, and German. AP would be better since it tests to the B1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages where the SAT II tests to A2.</p>
<p>Alternatively, you could be certified by the national proficiency tests: DELE for Spanish, DALF for French, TestDaf for German. I’m not sure what to say about Dutch. You could do the NT2 test, but if that’s your native language, I’m not sure what would be the point.</p>
<p>If you plan on applying to an American university, you’ll most likely need to take TOEFL, as well.</p>
<p>@‌skieurope thank you for that. I didn’t know what the proficiency tests are like for other countries and I completely forgot about TOEFL… We have proficiency tests in my state that I believe are through the state, but I don’t know what tests exist outside of those.</p>
<p>Take the TOEFL. The rest I don’t think matter. You’ll list on your app what languages you speak at home, and the rest you’ve taken in school, so you really don’t need to prove fluency, they won’t care. They may be impressed that you’ve studied so many languages, but they wouldn’t require you to prove fluency.</p>
<p>For admissions. taking the test is probably not worth it, although the AP’s could get you college credit, if you desire. If that’s not important to you, don’t bother. For exemption from a college’s foreign language requirement, you could just take the free placement test on-campus vs. spending $119 on the AP exam.</p>
<p>Many colleges trust you on the honor’s system if you say you are proficient in that langauge. Alternatively, you could use standardized testing to prove it. However, if just for placement purposes, you could also just take a placement test at the beginning of your first college semester.</p>
<p>I would suggest to take the SAT2 after you have a satisfy SAT1 score as you don’t really need much time to prepare for them. The cost for taking 3 SAT2 subject test in one sitting would be cheaper than ordering 4 SAT score reports to schools while you will get them for free.</p>
<p>You shouldn’t take a SAT Subject or proficiency test in your native language. However if you’ve been living in another country, it can be good to get it certified through a recognized test (see with a cultural center) and the SAT Subject should be very easy (ie, 800 without studying) whereas the DELE, DELF/DALF, etc., are rather complicated. So essentially when you take your 2 subject tests to enhance your application, take the third one in Spanish and/or German since it’ll be a “free 800” score for you to add to your application.
Speaking lots of languages and getting your fluency certified IS a bonus when you apply, but it’s especially appreciated if you apply for international relations or to a school with strong language programs (such as Middlebury) and indicate your plans to minor in one. Obviously if you pick a school with a small, less commonly taught language such as Dutch (or, to a certain extent, German), mention you want to minor in it and contact the professor there.</p>
<p>There is no problem to take the SAT subject test on your native language, but just bare in mind that it may not be counted as part of the SAT2 requirement.</p>
<p>MYOS: well, to be honest I don’t plan on studying in somethin with international relations at all. I’m, surprisingly, more of a science guy (CS… A lot of programming already ).
So I thought it could be interesting as a complement. I guess it’s not really worth taking all the Subject Tests then? If it has nothing to do with my study?</p>
<p>Not really. It may still be a plus when this may make you stand out from the crowd. Just like other students with music talent but are not applying to music major.</p>
<p>Yep I know that one ! ETH and EPFL, both top 20 in the world in CS. That’s why I’m only applying to MIT, Stanford, Berkeley & co. Otherwise I’ll just stay there and go to those.</p>
<p>Well, thanks for the answers. I’ll just see if I have the time to do the Subject Tests, and if I do, I’ll take them.</p>
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