The Entrance Proficiency Test (EPT)

To earn an undergraduate degree from the College of Liberal Arts, you are required to meet the college's second language requirement.  

The University offers placement testing (called the Entrance Proficiency/Placement Test or EPT) for students who have studied French, German, Hindi, Somali, Spanish, or Urdu and wish to test into courses above 1001 (or equivalent).  

French, German, or Spanish: Take the EPT if you have studied the French, German, or Spanish for 3 or more years in high school or one year in college. 
Hindi, Somali, or Urdu: Incoming freshman and transfer students wanting to complete the language requirement in Hindi, Somali, or Urdu should take the EPT. For more information, read about course placement in the respective languages. 

For placement into languages other than French, German, Hindi, Somali, Spanish, and Urdu: Contact the appropriate language department directly. See Languages at the UMN for a list of most languages offered at U of M, including American Sign Language.

If you wish to study a new language that you have never studied previously, you do not need to take a test. You may enroll in the first semester course (1001 or equivalent) without a placement test.

Note: If you have already completed 2 years of college-level language instruction, you do not need the EPT.  You need to take the Language Proficiency Exam (LPE).  

If you have already passed the LPE through College in the Schools (CIS) or otherwise, you do not need the EPT. 

To view your EPT results, click on the "Login" button on the EPT Home Website. Results will not be emailed to you.

If results show “Incomplete,” it is because one or more sections of the test have not been graded yet. Please check back later. 

Once you receive your results, you are not automatically registered for the course. You must go through the appropriate channels to register for the course you received placement in. If you had previously registered for the course, you do not need to register for the course again - you already have a seat in the course.

Note: EPT results do not appear on the student checklist (our website does not sync with the student checklist); however, your adviser will have access to your EPT results.

Please send us an email at [email protected] with a copy of your accommodations letter to receive further instructions on how to take your test.

If you do not have an accommodations letter, please contact the Disability Resource Center (DRC) at [email protected].

 

No, tests from other institutions are not intended for language course placement at U of M. The only tests calibrated for language course placement at U of M are the EPT for placement into second-year language courses (1003-1004), and the LPE for placement into third-year language courses (3000-level).

Ideally, you should complete the entire EPT online at least two weeks before coming to campus for orientation.

If you are unable to take the EPT before orientation, the Orientation Staff can direct you to a computer lab on campus where you can take the EPT. It is very important that you complete the EPT on the FIRST day of your two-day freshman orientation. If you do not complete the EPT on your first day of orientation, there is no possibility for you to have results by the second day of orientation when you meet with your advisor to register for classes. You need to complete the EPT prior to registering for your first language course.

You may not register for a second-year language course (1003 or 1004 in French, German, or Spanish) or the accelerated course (SMLI 1225) without first passing the EPT. 

If you do not complete the EPT by the time you are scheduled to register for classes, your registration for a language course will be delayed.

Update: Some computer labs on campus may not be open. Please review computer labs on campus before visiting.

If you want to take the EPT on campus, you may use the public computer labs in either B60 Coffman Memorial Union or 135 Jones Hall.

You should contact the appropriate language department and follow their course placement procedures.

See Languages at the UMN for a list of most languages offered at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, including American Sign Language. 

The CLA Language Testing Program does not administer placement tests for Mathematics or Chemistry, and results of these tests are not posted on our website. Please contact Orientation & Transition Experiences for assistance.