The Language Proficiency Exam (LPE)

Table of Contents

 

 

 

View Test Content for available languages

 

Eligibility

To be eligible to take the LPE, you must have at least the following experience:

  • 5+ years of intensive pre-university language study, and/or
  • Completed a fourth-semester college language course (including College in the Schools) with a C- (or S) or better. 

Details about LPE Eligibility

Cost

There is no charge for the Language Proficiency Exam (LPE). Some restrictions may apply.

 

Registration

The LPE is offered at various times throughout the academic year - typically once at the beginning and once at the end of the semester.

Some languages are not offered every test session. For specific details on when a language will be offered, scroll down to the LPE FAQ section, and click on When is the LPE offered?

In order to take the LPE, you must pre-register for the Exam during the designated registration period. LPE test dates, registration dates, and results posting dates are listed on the LPE Test Registration and Dates page. As soon as future test dates are determined, they are posted.

View LPE Test Registration and Dates

LPE FAQ

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When is the LPE offered?

The LPE is offered at various times throughout the academic year. Below is the general timeline for each language. Please contact us if you have any questions.

Note: LPE testing at the end of the semester is approximately one month before the semester ends.  Registration begins approximately 2 months before the semester ends.

French, German, and Spanish LPEs:  

  • At the beginning and end of fall semester,
  • At the beginning and end of spring semester,
  • and once during the summer 

Arabic and Portuguese LPE: 

  • At the beginning and end of fall semester,
  • and the end of spring semester

Hindi, Somali, and Urdu LPEs:

  • At the beginning and end of fall semester,
  • and at the beginning and end of spring semester

Italian and Korean LPEs:

  • At the end of fall semester,
  • and the end of spring semester

Hmong LPE: 

  • At the beginning of fall semester,
  • and at the beginning of spring semester

Hebrew and Japanese LPEs: 

  • Only at the end of spring semester

Chinese, Dutch, Finnish, Norwegian, Russian, and Swedish LPEs:

  • At the beginning of fall semester,
  • and at the end of spring semester

When will I get my LPE results?

Go to LPE Test Registration and Dates and locate the Results by section.

To view your results, go to My Tests > View My Results.

If your Overall Status says "Incomplete," it is because you haven't taken at least one or more parts of the LPE yet or you are pending result for one or more parts of the LPE. 

The LPE has four (4) parts: Reading, listening, writing, and speaking.

Note: LPE results will not be emailed to you.

How do I take my test with accommodations?

The CLA Language Testing Program provides equal opportunities for all students to demonstrate proficiency in a second language, including students whose language is not taught on campus, and students with documented disabilities. Review information and procedures on the Test Accommodations page.

Do I still need to take the LPE if I pass my 1004 language course?

Earning a C- or better (or S) in 1004 fulfills the CLA Second Language Requirement. You do not need to pass the LPE unless you intend to continue into third-year language courses. Passing the LPE is required for most third-year language courses. See your 1004 syllabus for details.

In many languages, all or part of the LPE is taken during 1004 for a course grade. While enrolled in 1004, you must take all parts of the LPE as assigned in your syllabus, or you will receive a zero for that assignment, even if you have taken parts of the LPE prior to 1004. Prior LPE results do not count toward the 1004 course assignments. 

By passing the LPE, you will also earn a text line on your transcript endorsing your language proficiency.

Important: Students who drop the course, stop attending, or do not pay for the course fee will be disqualified from the LPE.

After I pass the LPE, when will the text line endorsing my language proficiency be on my transcript?

Please allow up to three months for the text line to appear on your transcript, although it may appear sooner.

The text line appears on your official transcript, not on an unofficial transcript.

The milestones which trigger the transcript line are batch-processed periodically by the University. The Language Testing Program does not control the timing of the milestones.

I took College in the Schools (CIS) and need to finish the LPE. How do I do this?

Spanish 1004 CIS

Students who took SPAN 1004 through College in the Schools need to complete the LPE Speaking.

 

French 1004 CIS

Student who took FREN 1004 through College in the Schools need to complete the LPE Writing and Speaking, though it is not required. You may continue to advanced French classes (3000-level and higher) without completing the writing and speaking tests; however, it is recommended to earn the transcript line endorsing your proficiency in French. You can go ahead and register for the next course in the sequence and consider taking the LPE at a later date.

 

German 1004 CIS

Students who took GER 1004 through College in the Schools need to complete the LPE Reading and Listening.

 

All CIS Students

To register for the LPE test you need, visit LPE Test Registration and Dates for registration details and test dates.

Important: Make sure your test scores from class were sent to the Language Testing Program. To view your results, go to My Tests > View My Results. If you do not see results on the page, email us at [email protected] with your first and last name, your high school, and your high school teacher's name to help us locate your results.