Foreign Language Placement Test

Houghton College has a requirement of intermediate level ability (three semesters) in a foreign language. If you have studied either French, Spanish, or German in high school and want to continue your study in that language in the fall semester, we would like you to take an on-line placement test to determine which class would be appropriate for you before you arrive for your Highlander Connection Day. 

Students who  have earned  college credit for a foreign language course will not be required to take the placement exam.  Advanced Placement scores of 4 or 5, as well as college language courses in which you have earned  at least a C-, will give you credit at Houghton.

Doing this should require no longer than 20-30 minutes of your time. The purpose of the assessment is to help us place you in a course at the appropriate level. (If you will be unable to attend a Highlander Connection Day, you should complete the placement test no later than one week prior to the fall semester.)

However, if you plan on delaying the completion of your language requirement (we don’t recommend this), then you don’t need to take the test before arrival. This assessment needs to be done within six months prior to the time you plan to take the class.

The French, Spanish and German placement tests can be taken on the Web. Please use the following address:

Exam website: http://webcape.byuhtrsc.org/?acct=houghton

Password: tower1 (all lower case)

The results will be automatically forwarded to Houghton College. To view your results, log into the exam again, fill in the top part of the survey, then press the resume button.

If your placement test places you beyond the intermediate level, then you will not be required to take more language courses for graduation, although we would encourage you to do so. However, we will have a short interview with you to verify that you took the test and have obtained that placement. This interview will be arranged with one of the foreign language professors and will take place during your Highlander Connection Day. You will be notified of your interview time either by e-mail ahead of time or with a note in your information packet that you’ll be given upon your arrival for your Highlander Connection Day.

If you have studied Latin, we will provide that placement test here at the college on your Highlander Connection Day.

Please feel free to contact me with questions at 800-777-2556 extension 6030 or e-mail at marlene.collins@houghton.edu.

Sincerely,

Marlene Collins-Blair
Chair, Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures