Foreign Language Proficiency Assessment
The next FLPA Exams in French, German, and Spanish will take place in the Fall of 2009.
The Graduate School administers Foreign Language Proficiency Assessments for graduate students who have a foreign language proficiency requirement as part of their degree program. The assessments are offered as an alternative to coursework (601/602 language courses) for those students who have proficiency in a language but may not have a documented means of showing it.
The assessments are reading proficiency exams equivalent to a final exam in a 602 course. Principally, the exams include the translation of a prescribed general interest text and a section focused on reading comprehension skills.
Assessments are automatically offered in French, German, Latin and Spanish. The Graduate School will work to make accommodations for other foreign languages upon request, but cannot guarantee availability.
Assessment Schedule
The Foreign Language Proficiency Assessments are offered once a semester, typically in November and April.
Registration
Registration for all Foreign Language Proficiency Assessments is accomplished online. Once you register, you will receive an email confirmation of your registration. If you choose not to pay online by credit card, please bring or mail a check for the required fee to Jamie Snow at the Graduate School (200 Bynum Hall or CB# 4010 Campus Mail).
General Guidelines for the FLPA
All students must present a valid photo ID (UNC One Card or Driver’s License) to take the assessment. Students without a valid ID will not be allowed to sit for the assessment.
The maximum time allowed for completion of the assessment is three hours. Students who show up late may take the assessment, but will not be allowed any extra time. Students who finish early may leave upon completion of the exam.
Students are expected to sign (on their assessment) that they are aware that the UNC Honor Code applies to this exam.
Students should check with the language department administering their assessment to see if they may bring a foreign language dictionary to the exam. Students taking the French and Spanish FLPA are allowed to use foreign language dictionaries during the exam.
Grades
Grades are reported as Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory and will generally be reported within two weeks of the assessment date. Satisfactory proficiency is at a skill level equivalent to a 70 percent comprehension or competence of a final exam in a 602 course. Results of Satisfactory are reported by the Graduate School to the student and student’s home program. Unsatisfactory results are reported only to the student. A student may take the assessments as often as they wish, subject to the fee for each seating.
If you have questions please contact Jamie Snow.