Statistical analysis shows that students' choices are the strongest determinant of whether they will pass the GPT.
Overall Pass vs. Fail
Overall, 97.6% of students pass the GPT in one or two attempts, including incomplete attempts. Most students who "fail" the GPT on the first attempt don't take all parts of the exam; their score is "incomplete" and therefore they fail. Only 0.7% of GPT testers are CLA students who fail the GPT and either transfer to another college or cease enrollment without receiving a degree from CLA.
Profile of GPT Pass
The typical students who pass the GPT on their first attempt build on their high school language study by starting University language courses during their first semester at the University and at an appropriately high level in the course sequence.
Less than 2.5% of students who fail the GPT on their first attempt initiate their college-level language study in their first year at the University. Additionally, the higher the students start in the course sequence, the less likely they are to fail the GPT.
Profile of GPT Fail
The majority of students who fail the GPT on their first attempt start University language courses at the extreme end of their college career, meaning that they are unable to complete the sequence prior to the end of their fourth year at the University. They also start the sequence over again in the first-semester language course, thus repeating prior language study at a point farthest removed from their high school language courses.
Overall, the longer students postpone their University language study, the lower they start in the sequence and the more likely they are to fail the GPT. Additionally, around 40% of the total failing population skips at least one academic semester with no language course after starting the language sequence. Other patterns of behavior which contribute statistically toward failing the GPT include, earning an F or N in language courses without repeating the course for a passing grade as required, skipping courses in the sequence, or registering for courses under an S/N grade base.
How to Pass the GPT
To best prepare to pass the GPT, we encourage you to:
- take as many language courses in high school as possible, as recommended in the CLA Bulletin, and be sure to take a language course during your senior year
- start your University language courses during your first semester at the University, as recommended by CLA Advising
- accurately follow course placement procedures, in order to place into an appropriately high level in the course sequence
- once you enter the University language sequence, take language courses in consecutive semesters so that your language skills do not erode during gaps in your education
- avoid any behaviors which negatively impact motivation and attitude, such as registering for language courses under an S/N grade base