Who should take a World Languages Placement Test (WLPT)?

• If you completed four years of the same world language in high school, you do not need to take the WLPT unless you plan to continue studying the same language at The University of Iowa.
• If you completed fewer than four years of the same world language in high school, discuss what you need to take with your adviser. If your major is in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, refer to the General Education Program requirements for your major. You will need to take the WLPT if your high school course work does not satisfy the General Education Program World Language requirement for your major.
• If you are an open major and completed fewer than four years of the same world language in high school, you should take the WLPT.

Test Description and Guidelines

• The tests are multiple-choice and cover grammar, reading, and vocabulary. The tests are adaptive, meaning the question difficulty will vary depending on how you respond. You will not be able to review an item once you have submitted your answer.
• Complete the test in one sitting. There is no time limit but you should set aside a minimum of one hour.
• You may not use books, notes or any other resource materials.

Scoring and Placement

Your score will appear at the end of your test. Save the score page to a file to print a copy. If you do not see a score, login again and click on resume to complete your test.

The test results will help you and your advisor determine the best level for your first enrollment in a language course.

Placement factors considered (in addition to your WLPT score) include how long you have studied the language; strength of instruction; grades earned; experience abroad or with native speakers; and length of time since the language was studied.

Students may be eligible to earn incentive credit toward graduation through the Furthering Language Incentive Program (FLIP). If you are interested in earning FLIP credit, you should meet with your academic adviser to discuss the options and to determine whether or not you are eligible. Credit hours awarded through FLIP are ungraded, and are not included in GPA calculations, but count toward the hours required for graduation.

These are recommended placements. The best placement for you depends on the strength of your previous course work, your enjoyment of Spanish, and whether or not you have been exposed to the language and culture in other ways, such as travel. If you are unsure about your placement, call the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at (319) 335-2241 or talk with your academic adviser and ask for help (contact the Academic Advising Center at: advising@uiowa.edu).

If you have technical difficulties, contact the ITS Help Desk at 319-384-4357 or Help Desk Online Chat.