Department of Modern Languages and Literature Placement Summary

Foreign Language Placement
Students are normally placed in language courses on the basis of years of a language taken in high school, CEEB Achievement Test score, or the departmental equivalent (instructor’s test, interview, or questionnaire). Students may change levels within a language during the first two weeks of class. Students who consider themselves capable of higher–level performance may apply to the instructor during the first two weeks of the semester for more advanced placement. They may also be allowed by the departmental chair to be admitted for credit to a lower level language course after consultation with the instructor. Students who have had three years or more of a language in high school and drop to first–semester level will not receive credit for the course unless written exemption is obtained from the chair of Modern Languages and Literature.

Advanced Placement credit
Credit based on Advanced Placement or SAT-II exam scores is only awarded for courses at the Intermediate level. Credit is not awarded for Elementary I or II (language 001 or 002).

 

Exam score	Credit
AP score of 2 or SAT-II score of 510-520	0 credits placement in 002 (Elementary II), 2nd semester
AP score of 3 or SAT-II score of 520 to 590	0 credits placement in 011 (Intermediate I), 3rd semester
AP score of 4 or SAT-II score of 600 to 690	4 credits placement in 012 (Intermediate II), 4th semester
AP score of 5 or SAT-II score of 700 or above	8 credits maximum

Guidelines for placement based on previous language study
These guidelines indicate the student's minimum placement level for continuation of language study at Lehigh.

Previous Language Study	Minimum Placement
0 to 2 years before grades 11 and 12	Elementary I level for French, German, or Spanish 001
0 to 2 years at any time	Elementary I level for Arabic, Chinese, Hebrew, Japanese, or Russian 001
3 years total or 2 years in grades 11 and 12	Elementary II level for Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Japanese, Russian, or Spanish 002
3 to 4 years	Intermediate I level for Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Japanese, Russian, or Spanish 011
5 years, AP score of 3, or  SAT-II score of 520 to 590	Intermediate II level for Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Japanese, Russian, or Spanish 012
AP score of 4 or 5 or SAT-II score of 700 or above	Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or Spanish 141; French 143 German 163, 165, 167