How do I sign-up for the placement test?

You do not need to register in advance for a placement test. All tests are in-person, walk-in, and held in the Language Building, room 106 on various days during the semester. You will need a photo ID to take the test. View the current test schedule here.

Students needing ODA accomodations, please email SPAN@unt.edu  for further instructions on securing accomodations for your test.

Can I take the test on a day not listed on the schedule?

We offer the placement test on various days and times during the semester to best accommodate student schedules. Please choose a test date from the current test schedule.

Please be aware of enrollment deadlines if you are planning to take the placement test to enroll in a course for next semester. View the UNT academic calendar here.

Can I take the test online from a remote location?

No. We offer the placement test on campus on various days and times during the semester to best accommodate student schedules. Please choose a test date from the current test schedule.

Is there a cost to take the test?

The placement test is free to take. If you test out of any classes and need the credit posted to your transcript, UNT charges $53 to post any credit hours you earn. The fee can be paid online at my.unt.edu.

What materials do I need to take the test?

All test materials will be provided to you on the day of the exam. Remember to bring a photo ID with you and know your 8-digit student ID number. You may not use any supplementary materials such as textbooks, dictionaries, other devices, etc.

What will I be tested on?

The test covers concepts taught at the beginner and intermediate level (1010 - 2050), including grammar, reading, and comprehension. There are four sections to the exam each with 25 multiple-choice questions.

How many credit hours can I earn with the placement test?

You may earn up to 12 credit hours of language credit.

How long does it take to complete the test?

The total time it takes to complete the test depends on your proficiency in the language. Generally, students take 45 minutes - 2 hours to complete the Spanish placement test.

Is there a time limit to complete the test?

You have until the scheduled end-time according to the placement test schedule to complete the test. Please arrive at the test locationt no less than 30 minutes before the test is scheduled to end. If you think that you will not be able to finish the test in 30 minutes, plan to arrive earlier or attend a different testing date.

Can I take the test more than once?

You may only take the Spanish placement test once and in one sitting.

Does the Department of Spanish provide study guides for the placement test?

We do not have study guides. The test is designed to determine your language proficiency and place you at the appropriate level.

I am having technical issues. What should I do?

Contact the UNT Help Desk at (940) 565-2324 if you experience any technical issues with Canvas or Lockdown Browser. If the issue is not resolved right away, contact our office at (940) 565-2404 and let us know.

When will I receive my test results?

Canvas will automatically grade your test and you should be able to see your results when you are finished. Please see the proctor before you leave the testing room to verify your results.

What score do I need to receive credit?

A score of 20 or higher is required on sections 1 - 3 to earn credit for SPAN 1010, 1020, and 2040. A score of 23 or higher is required to earn credit for SPAN 2050.

How do I get credit posted to my transcript?

Credits are not automatically posted to your transcript. Before you leave the testing room, you must let the proctor know you wish to have the credit applied to your transcript and provide your signature.

If you took the test online/remotely during the Fall 2023 semester or prior, you recieved an email to your UNT email address with your test results after finishing the exam. This email asks if you would like the credit posted to your transcript. You must reply to this email to confirm that you accept the credit and the $53 fee. You can pay the fee at my.unt.edu. Contact us if you need to accept credits from an online exam.

I did not accept my credits on the day of my exam. Can I accept my credits at a later time?

Yes. We keep a record of your placement test results. If you decide at a later time that you need the credits on your transcript, email us at SPAN@unt.edu and let us know.

How long will it take for my credit to appear on my transcript and degree audit?

After accepting credit, it takes approximately four to six weeks for credit to be posted to student transcripts. Several UNT departments are responsible for processing credit by examination. If you need language credit to graduate, please be aware of this process and plan to take the placement test early in your academic career.

Do I have to wait for my credit to be posted to my transcript and pay the fee before enrolling in a course?

No. If you have accepted your credits, we can enroll you in a course while your credits are being processed. Please email SPAN@unt.edu with your student ID number, course number, and the section number of the course you need to enroll in.

Do I have to pay the fee before my credits are posted to my transcript?

No. The fee and credits are processed separately by different UNT departments. The Department of Spanish is not responsible for taking payments or updating transcripts; however, if you accepted your credits and they have not been posted to your transcript in 4-6 weeks, contact us at SPAN@unt.edu and we can try to determine the issue.

Will accepting my credits affect my GPA?

No. Credit by exam does not have a letter grade assigned when posted to your transcript and does not affect your GPA.

I accepted my credits and they have not been posted to my transcript. What do I do?

First, make sure you accepted and signed for your credits during the in-person test. If you took the test online/remotely during the Fall 2023 semester or prior, you recieved an email to your UNT email address with your test results after finishing the exam. Credits are not automatically posted without your confirmation. If you did not confirm that you wanted your credits on test day, email SPAN@unt.edu with your UNT ID number and let us know you need your credits.

If you did accept your credits, wait 4-6 weeks from the day you accepted for your credits to be processed. Several UNT departments are responsible for processing credit by examination, and processing times may be longer during busy periods in the semester.

If your credits have not been posted to your transcript in 4-6 weeks, contact us at SPAN@unt.edu and we can try to determine the issue.

If I already have AP or CLEP credit, can I take the placement test?

Yes. If you already have credit from a different exam, you may still take our placement test to try and test out of a higher-level course. Be aware that UNT charges $53 to post any credits earned through the placement test. If you have AP credit and earned more credit with our placement test, let us know at the time of accepting your placement test credit.

Can I take a placement test for a language not taught at UNT?

We only offer placement tests for languages taught at UNT; however, you may be able to take a proficiency exam for other languages to satisfy your major's language requirement. Your major's college will determine if you are able to satisfy your language requirement with proficiency credit. Learn more about proficiency testing here.