<p>Do I really need to take the language placement test? I have three of Spanish from my high school and I will be entering the ACES College and going for pre-vet so do I really need the language test? The info that I was given is kind of confusing so can somebody clarify for me</p>
<p>I assume you mean you have had 3 years of Spanish in high school. In that case, the answer is currently no, you need not take the language placement test unless you want to take Spanish at the college level. The explanation:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>The university requires 2 years of a single foreign language to get admitted. If you only have 2 years you must take the placement test.</p></li>
<li><p>The university then requires all students to have 3 semesters of college language courses to graduate from UIUC. However, if you have 3 years of high school language that requirement is waived and you therefore need not take a placement test.</p></li>
<li><p>The College of ACES then also has its own language requirement. However, that is currently 3 semesters college level, the same as the university requirement, and thus if you have 3 years of a single language in high school, that requirement is waived and you need not take a placement test.</p></li>
<li><p>Conclusion: your three years meets all requirements and you need not take the placement test because you need not take foreign language in college.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Caveat: If you ever decide at UIUC that you want to switch to another college, you will then be required to meet that college's language requirement; for engineering it is three semesters and thus you are safe but for Arts & Sciences, it is four semesters and that means you will have to take the fourth semester of college Spanish (at a time you will probably have forgotten everything), or start all over with a language and take 4 semesters; that is avoided by completeing four years of language in high school.</p>
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Caveat: If you ever decide at UIUC that you want to switch to another college, you will then be required to meet that college's language requirement; for engineering it is three semesters and thus you are safe but for Arts & Sciences, it is four semesters and that means you will have to take the fourth semester of college Spanish (at a time you will probably have forgotten everything), or start all over with a language and take 4 semesters; that is avoided by completeing four years of language in high school.
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<p>Eww.... lets say I want to major in mathematics at UIUC. This (Junior Year) will be my third and FINAL (thank god) year of spanish for me in high school. Do i still need the fourth semester of spanish in college?!?!</p>
<p>Yes, the math major is part of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, which requires 4 semesters of a single foreign language or 4 years of high school language. If you have a good Spanish teacher, you might try to place out of the 4th semester by placement exam.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Yes, the math major is part of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, which requires 4 semesters of a single foreign language or 4 years of high school language. If you have a good Spanish teacher, you might try to place out of the 4th semester by placement exam.
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<p>Oh, lord! <em>Quickly crosses UIUC off my college list</em></p>
<p>Are you saying if I do well on the placement exam, I am exempt from taking the fourth semester of Spanish? If so, what is the placement test like? Are there sample questions I can find online?</p>
<p>Suppose your high school class covers slightly more than UIUC covers in 3 semesters of college. Then if you score at the level of a 4th semester Spanish student, you'll pass out of the foreign language requirement and be done with it. I took 2 semesters of Chinese over a summer at Berkeley and their class was so advanced that I was able to place out of all 4 semesters at UIUC. That said, it's pretty sad if just one extra Spanish class is enough to cross a college off your list.</p>
<p>Ok, I took 2 years of Spanish in high school but intend to take Chinese in college. Do i need to take a placement test?</p>
<p>No, you only need to take the placement test if you intend to continue the same foreign language you took in high school, or you want to place out of the foreign language requirement (3 or 4 semesters).</p>