UChicago’s Advanced Language Proficiency Assessment^TM measures test takers’ ability to functionally use a foreign language in a wide variety of settings, including all personal settings and many academic or professional settings. Both the College and graduate students across all Divisions and Schools at the University of Chicago can take the Advanced Language Proficiency Assessment to earn Advanced Language Proficiency Certification. This certification documents what a test taker can do with the language in a meaningful and impactful way and how their language abilities–listening, reading, speaking, and writing–will serve them in their professional and academic careers. The Advanced Language Proficiency Certification will also strengthen test takers’ resumes and expand their career opportunities.

Eligibility Criteria

Reaching Advanced proficiency in any language is a significant achievement. Our goal is to ensure success on this assessment. Therefore, test takers should carefully read these guidelines to determine their eligibility to sit for an Advanced Language Proficiency Assessment. The path to Advanced proficiency for heritage language learners may be slightly different. Details about each language are below.

1. Chinese: Test takers must have completed or be in the process of completing at least one fifth-year language course (e.g., CHIN 20601, CHIN 20602, or CHIN 20603).
2. French: Test takers must have completed or be in the process of completing at least two courses beyond the second year and taught entirely in French. At least one of those courses must be FREN 20500 and the other must be a FREN 206 course.
3. German: Test takers must have completed or be in the process of completing at least two courses beyond the second year and taught entirely in German. These courses could include language courses at the third-year level and/or literature/culture courses taught entirely in German, including GRMN 21803, GRMN 21103, GRMN 21203, GRMN 21403, GRMN 21703, GRMN 21303, GRMN 21603.
4. Italian: Test takers must have completed or be in the process of completing at least two courses beyond the second year and taught entirely in Italian. These courses include ITAL 204, ITAL 206, ITAL 20605.
5. Persian: Test takers must have completed PERS 20502-NEHC 22502/32502 and must have completed or be in the process of completing two courses beyond the second year, e.g., PERS 30331 and SALC 22604 /32605.
6. Portuguese: Test takers must have completed or be in the process of completing at least two courses beyond the second year and taught entirely in Portuguese. At least one of those courses must be 20600 and the other must be another advanced language course (e.g., PORT 21500 or PORT 21600)
7. Spanish: Test takers must have completed or be in the process of completing at least two courses beyond the second year and taught entirely in Spanish. These courses include SPAN 20401, 20402, 20501, 20602, 20702, 21100, and 21150.

Test takers are also recommended to have had a significant immersive experience in the target language and culture where they used the language on a daily basis for an extended period of time and in a variety of personal, academic and professional settings. This may include working abroad or studying abroad OR using the language as a heritage language learner in a variety of personal, academic, and professional settings.

Test takers who believe their situation represents an exception to these criteria should get a recommendation from the language program.

FLPC Advanced exams are not administered to test takers who attended school since childhood where the target language has been the primary language of communication OR were enrolled as a fulltime student at an accredited post-secondary institution where the target language was the language of instruction.

Policies

1. The exam fee is $90, but it is currently waived for College students and graduate students in the Humanities Division.
2. A test taker may only take a UChicago Language Proficiency Assessment in a given language once within a twelve-month period.
3. Test takers can only register for one exam each test administration cycle.
4. Native speakers of a given language are not eligible to take a Language Proficiency Assessment in that language.
5. The Office of Language Assessment has the right to determine each student’s eligibility, based on the criteria above.
6. Since these assessments take significant planning and proctoring, no makeup dates or rescheduling can be provided.

For questions about these policies, visit the FAQ page or contact languageassessment@uchicago.edu.

Taking the Advanced Language Proficiency Assessment^TM

The Advanced Language Proficiency Assessment will be administered once in the Autumn quarter and once in the Spring quarter each academic year. Test dates for the 2024 – 2025 academic year:

• Autumn 2024: Wednesday, Nov 13, 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
• Spring 2025: Wednesday, April 16, 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Languages offered in Spring 2025: 

• Chinese
• French
• German
• Italian
• Persian
• Portuguese
• Spanish

Registration and Deadlines

Registration for Spring 2025 will open on Monday, February 24th.

Please reach out to flpc@uchicago.edu for inquiries.