UVA Spanish Placement Test

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Virginia
1

<p>So being the genius that I am, I took the placement test more than once (I didn't know that I couldn't take it more than once) and the tests were so different for each of them difficulty wise. The first one I took I got placed into 2010 (and it's the only valid one) and the others I took placed me anywhere from 1060 to exemption (they don't count). I guessed on half the questions for most of the tests so I think I'll fail 2010 if I get placed into it. </p>

<p>I got an email telling me to stop taking the placement tests and if I take anymore I get reported to the Honor Council? I didn't really know you couldn't take it more than once cause it kept letting me take it and I figured it would lock me out of trying to take it more than once if there was a limit. And the email seemed like she understood that I didn't know I couldn't take it more than once.</p>

<p>Is there anyway for me to start at Spanish 1060 instead of 2010? I'm definitely going to fail 2010...</p>

2

<p>ROFL. Ya, you should of only taken it once given its a placement test lol. But, I feel the same I either want to take the test and guess my way to get a high enough score to get exemption or just start at the most basic level of the language because I definitely did not learn it correctly in highschool.</p>

3

<p>In a perfect world, they would give you one informal practice version you could take, before the test that counts.</p>

4

<p>I’d send an email that 1) makes 100% clear that you didn’t understand you could only take it once, and apologize for the mistake, and 2) give reasons why you believe you would be best placed in 1060, and not a higher level. There is not reason for the dept. to push someone into a higher level class that they don’t believe they can handle - it is harder on the prof.</p>

5

<p>The directions are quite clear that you cannot take it more than once. Also, you can sign up for any class that is at the level you tested in to or lower. It is your decision.</p>

6

<p>Any new student reading this thread should note today is the last day to take the Spanish Placement test online. I don’t think it is offered at Orientation, although it may be.</p>

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<p>Woosah is very knowledgeable on UVa academics, so she is probably correct on being able to place down in Spanish. But, since that is somewhat contrary to what is listed online by the Spanish Department, I’d call and check.</p>

<p>See Spanish Dept. page, [UVA</a> Department of Spanish, Italian & Portuguese Placement<a href=“see%20Spanish%20Placement%20Grid%20link%20at%20bottom%20of%20page”>/url</a>. The formatting doesn’t copy and paste, so you need to look at the page. But note the following verbiage –</p>

<p>“Note: The College requires that if you take more than one test/exam and you place at two different levels, you must use the highest placement.” </p>

<p>For a somewhat different recitation of the placement criteria, see also – [url=&lt;a href=“http://artsandsciences.virginia.edu/college/requirements/competency/language_placement_index.html#spanish]Foreign”&gt;http://artsandsciences.virginia.edu/college/requirements/competency/language_placement_index.html#spanish]Foreign</a> Language Placement Index — Undergraduate, College of Arts & Sciences, U.Va.](<a href=“http://www.virginia.edu/span-ital-port/resources/placement]UVA”>http://www.virginia.edu/span-ital-port/resources/placement), from the College of Arts and Sciences web site.</p>

<p>For students with prior Spanish language instruction, you will be hard-pressed to start Spanish at UVa below 1060, in any event.</p>

<p>It is also worth noting that the grading scale in Spanish classes at UVa is tougher than most other classes. E.g., need a 96 for an A. </p>

<p>[UVA</a> Department of Spanish, Italian & Portuguese Spanish 1010-2020](<a href=“http://www.virginia.edu/span-ital-port/spanish/spanish-101-202]UVA”>http://www.virginia.edu/span-ital-port/spanish/spanish-101-202)</p>

7

<p>^ Not to contradict however I do not believe today is the deadline for the Spanish placement test. The Summer Orientation website states the following regarding foreign language placement tests:</p>

<p>

[University</a> of Virginia | Summer Orientation](<a href=“http://www.virginia.edu/orientation/summer/]University”>http://www.virginia.edu/orientation/summer/)</p>

<p>The Spanish departement link does not mention a deadline of today, 6/10, either. I could be wrong but other deadlines prior to orientation are clearly stated on the Summer Orientation website.</p>

8

<p>Well, that’s part of the confusion with the multiple pages with info on Spanish Language placement . . . . Because the grid on the CLAS website states the following –</p>

<p>For Spanish placement –
“New students must take the online test by June 10.” </p>

<p>Makes sense to let the students wait a bit, since some will take June SAT II’s, AP results are not even available by phone until July 1, and Orientation sessions don’t start until July this year. But, that June 10th date is still out there in cyberspace.</p>

9

<p>^ Well that certainly is confusing AVA :confused:</p>

10

<p>I explained my situation and she replied back and said that I wasn’t in any trouble or anything. She said she understood… so I definitely wasn’t the only one that did it by accident >.></p>

<p>Here’s part of the email:</p>

<p>"Dear _________,</p>

<p>Our departmental and College-level policy is that students must take the course they place into. For this reason we would prefer that you take SPAN 2010."</p>

<p>They prefer, but that might mean that I could still take 106. If not, I’m just going to start Latin 101-102-201-202, only one more semester.</p>

11

<p>Ya, I am not having foreign language mess up my GPA. </p>

<p>I am choosing between spanish or latin, since they are the most similar to English… unless someone else knows an “eaiser” language to learn.</p>

<p>Sign language seems fun but I can see some potential set backs…</p>

12

<p>I’ve heard German is the most like English.</p>

13

<p>You can take the one you place into or lower. If you go lower you need to get approval, which is not that difficult. What language you take is a personal decision based on what you find of interest and your abilities. Some people are great with picking them up with ease others have a more difficult time. </p>

<p>Again, some will relate better to spanish, others to german and so on. It truly is a personal decision. Just remember if you are starting a new language you will most likely have 3-4 semesters of a language and most incoming 1st years do not always get into a class for the Fall. There is a lot of shifting in the beginning of the academic year so keep an eye on SIS for any openings.</p>

14

<p>Spanish and Latin are Romance languages, English is Germanic. They are not similar.</p>

15

<p>Yes, German and English come from the same branch of languages. However, German is one of the least useful languages for the future because most Germans speak better English than Americans do. (I studied German because I couldn’t roll my r’s)</p>

<p>(English King George was literally imported from Germany, because the English royal family had no acceptable heirs. George I didn’t speak English).</p>

<p>Spanish, Latin, Italian and French come from another branch of languages.</p>

<p>As other people have noted, most Americans find it much more difficult to learn non-European languages. Before a person commits to studying a non-western language that they have never learned before, they should spend time on a website or with a set of DVDs to find out if they have an aptitute for it.</p>