The noncredit proficiency exam allows a student to demonstrate foreign language proficiency to fulfill the language requirement for their major. Students are tested on the four areas of language acquisition: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Exam results are sent directly to a student’s academic adviser to be reflected on the student’s degree audit. There is a one time fee of $60 to take the exam.
Visit the individual language pages to see when and where exams are offered. Learn more about taking an exam for languages that are not taught at Penn State.
One-on-one exams are available for the following languages.
Due to high demand, some exams are administered to multiple students at a time.
No, the noncredit proficiency exams for all languages are only offered during the fall and spring semesters–not during summer session or during winter break.
No, the $60 payment is a one-time fee.
An examiner for any LCTFL, including faculty, teaching faculty, graduate students (Masters, Doctoral students), members of staff, must be currently affiliated (employed) with/by Penn State in order to administer a noncredit proficiency exam.
No, since this is a noncredit exam, it will not affect your GPA, and will not appear on your transcript. After the results are provided to your academic advisor or College records administrator, they enter your results (reflecting your language proficiency level) into your academic audit.
