Learn more about LPE eligibility below:
Students who have never taken the language at U of M
Students who have never taken a course in the LPE language at U of M may attempt the LPE one time.
Students enrolled in the fourth-semester language course
Students currently enrolled in the fourth-semester language course may take the LPE during their enrollment in the fourth semester. Important: Students who drop the course, stop attending, or do not pay for the course will be disqualified from the LPE.
Students currently enrolled in 1003-4 Intensive may take the LPE during their enrollment in the 1004 portion of the course. Students who drop the course prior to completion (e.g., after 1003) must pass the LPE Screening Test prior to attempting the LPE.
Students who have earned a C- or better in the fourth-semester language course may take the LPE at a later date or retake any portions of the LPE they failed. Students who earn less than a C- in the fourth semester may not take or retake the LPE; they are required to retake the fourth-semester language course and earn a C- or better in order to fulfill the CLA second language requirement.
Students enrolled in French, German, and Spanish 1003
Students who are currently enrolled in or have completed French, German, and Spanish 1003 may attempt the LPE after passing the LPE Screening Test. The 1003 syllabus also contains specific information regarding Screening Test registration.
Students taking the LPE during 1003 will acknowledge the retake policy (detailed at the top of this page) which states if they fail, they must take 1004 or the equivalent. In addition, students who want to take 3000-level courses must take 1004 (earning a C- or better in 1004 is a prerequisite for taking 3000-level courses). Students who do not take 1004 will not receive credit for 1004.
Students who have already attempted the LPE may not attempt the LPE again during 1003; they must complete 1004 as stated on the retake policy they acknowledge when registering for the LPE.
1003 students enrolled in their first language course at U of M who actually belong in 3000-level courses should speak to their 1003 instructor. If the cancel/add deadline has passed, the instructor may initiate a petition process through the Testing Program. If approved, the student will receive permission to attempt the LPE and take the 1004 final examination as a precursor to continuing in 3000-level courses. This is an extremely rare situation; any such petition process must begin by the sixth week of enrollment in 1003. 1003 students who fail the LPE are required to complete 1004 prior to retaking the LPE.
Students enrolled in French, German, and Spanish 1001, 1002 or 1022
Students who are enrolled in or have completed French, German, and Spanish 1001, 1002, or 1022 must pass the LPE Screening Test prior to attempting the Language Proficiency Exam (LPE).
Students enrolled in the first three semesters of LCTLs
Students taking any of the Less Commonly Taught Languages (LCTLs), which are all except German, French, and Spanish, will take the LPE exclusively during the fourth semester.
Students enrolled in the third semester of LCTLs who are in extraordinary situations with regard to their language education or the completion of their language requirement should contact the CLA Language Testing Program to discuss their options.
Students who begin language study at U of M and finish their courses elsewhere
Students who took some U of M language courses but finished the equivalent of the fourth semester elsewhere may attempt the LPE.
Students who began French, German, and Spanish language courses at U of M then took additional courses elsewhere, yet did not complete the fourth semester, must pass the LPE Screening Test prior to attempting the Language Proficiency Exam (LPE).
LCTL students who took language courses at U of M and took additional courses elsewhere, yet did not complete the fourth semester, should contact the CLA Language Testing Program to discuss their options.
Students registered in the fourth semester under Visitor status
Grading and Transcripts: Twin Cities, Crookston, Morris, Rochester policy states:
Auditing a course. There will be a symbol V, visitor, indicating registration as an auditor or visitor. No credit is awarded and the auditing student does not receive a grade.
- Students auditing a course are required to pay full tuition but do not take exams and are not required to do homework. An auditor is entered on the class roster , is counted as filling a seat in a controlled entry course, and is counted in an instructor's student contact hours.
Registration in the fourth semester as Visitor is strongly discouraged if the student intends to take the LPE. Students preparing for the LPE need extensive practice in the target language and regular feedback which auditing does not provide. In addition, departments may prohibit Visitor registration. Students registered in the fourth semester as Visitors must obtain instructor recommendation to take the LPE. Recommendation is given to students who (1) attend the course according to the same departmental attendance policy that applies to students enrolled for credit and (2) demonstrate adequate language ability. Recommended students may attempt the LPE one time. If they fail the LPE, they are required to initiate a CLA petition through the Language Testing Program prior to retaking any portion of the LPE. Such a petition would only be approved if the student can provide documentation of language education equivalent to a passing grade in the fourth semester from an accredited college or university.
Students who have already taken and failed the LPE
Students who do not pass the LPE must provide one of the following kinds of documentation before they are allowed to retake any portion of the LPE:
- transcript record of a C- or better in the fourth-semester language course at the University of Minnesota (NOTE: students who drop their registration in the fourth-semester course after registering for the LPE will be automatically removed from LPE registration and excluded from the test);
- transcript record of a C- or better in an equivalent fourth-semester course at another accredited college or university;
- foreign study that requires or provides language study equivalent to a C- or better at the fourth-semester level at the University of Minnesota;
- official record of instruction equivalent to a C- or better in the fourth semester from a language institute sponsored by a national government. This official record consists of either results of an examination recognized by the sponsoring government or a certificate of completion.