Placement and proficiency exams for modern languages

Kenyon is committed to providing an education that promotes an understanding of the "world and all who inhabit it." One step toward this goal is our advocacy of learning a second language. The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures offers a wide range of languages: American Sign Language, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish.

If you have studied a foreign language for which an exam is offered, we suggest you take the placement and proficiency exam. The exam benefits you in two important ways:

  • Passing the placement exam at Orientation is one way to satisfy the language requirement. Read about other options for fulfilling the requirement, including AP tests. Learn more about qualifying AP scores.

  • The exam will help you and your advisor and professors to determine which course in the language sequence best suits your needs if you plan to continue studying the language. 

In addition to taking the exam, please feel free to reach out to a professor of the language in question for a conversation. We are eager to help. We also encourage you to explore the course catalog to learn more about our offerings. You may be surprised to find that we have courses taught in English as well.

Placement and proficiency exams for classical languages

The Department of Classics offers Latin and ancient Greek.

Students hoping to fulfill the second-language requirement by passing the Latin proficiency exam on the basis of previous study are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the format demonstrated in this sample test (PDF). Students who find the exam difficult should enroll in Elementary Latin (LATN 101-102). The exam is also recommended, though not required, as a starting-point for the placement conversation for students interested in taking an upper-level course in Latin (LATN 201 or 301). 

Students interested in taking the Greek proficiency exam should contact Professor Carolin Hahnemann at hahnemannc@kenyon.edu.

Students with requested AP or SAT II scores

Students whose AP or SAT II scores are already on file with the Registrar are not required to take the placement exam, but are still encouraged to do so. If the AP or SAT II scores are not on file with the Registrar by the start of registration, the placement test is necessary. Learn more about qualifying AP scores.

Students whose first language is not English

Typically, international students whose first language is not English will not need to take a placement test in order to satisfy Kenyon’s language requirement. However, if international students hope to take advanced language study in a third language besides English and their native language, they should also register for a placement exam.

How to sign up

To sign up for the language placement and proficiency exams, please use this form. You also will be able to sign up during Orientation.