James Madison University

Department of Foreign Languages,
Literatures, and Cultures

1.DO YOU NEED TO TAKE A FOREIGN LANGUAGE PLACEMENT EXAM (FLPE)?  

Yes, if all three of the following statements are true.

1. You are entering into or enrolled in a B.A. program. All B.A. programs have at least a 2-year foreign language requirement.

AND

2. You've taken 2 or more years of Spanish, French, German or Russian in high school.

AND

3. If you have not taken the SATII in that language.

 

I didn't take these languages,
or I only took one year of a language.

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FOR ORIENTATION Students:

Transfer Students:
If you have taken a language at another university, you will not take a FLPE. Talk to your advisor about what credits transfer (if any) and what you need to take at JMU. If you have not taken a language at another college or university, then follow the three statements above. ^

Incoming Freshman:
You will be able to take a FLPE once your receive your One Book packet in late April or early May. Please wait until you receive that packet before taking a FLPE. This will ensure that your score is recorded properly.

All Orientation Students:
If you do not need to take the placement exam, you can skip it on the One book Checklist.
Skipping it will not impede your progress, even if it is not checked off.

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2. WAIT! BEFORE YOU TAKE THE FLPE, YOU NEED TO KNOW SOME THINGS:

If you place into SPAN 300, FR 300, GER 300 or RUS 300:

If you place one of these classes, you must either to go to the language lab in Keezell 103 and retake the FLPE to confirm your score OR enroll in the 300 class. If you do not do this, your 2-year foreign language requirement will not be waived and you will not be able to graduate.

 

CAN I RETAKE THE EXAM?

You may retake the FLPE only after a year and a half. If you retake the exam sooner than that, your score will be ignored and your first placement will still be the one that is used. Also, the systems admin will fuss at you.

The score you receive from the FLPE will be valid for registering in a language class that takes place up to and including the second semester of your sophomore year at JMU. If you choose to wait until your junior year to begin language study, please note that you will be required to REPEAT the FLPE. You will be placed in a class according to your new score -even if this means starting in a lower-level class than was indicated by your first placement test. If this happens, you will end up taking more classes to fulfill your language requirement for the B.A. degree. The Faculty of the Department of Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Cultures strongly recommends that students begin their required language classes NO LATER THAN the second semester of the sophomore year, and ideally as soon as possible after taking the FLPE.

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3. HOW TO TAKE THE EXAM

For Spanish, French, German and Russian:

1.Make sure that you are using Interent Explorer 6.0 or above.

2. Go to https://secureweb.jmu.edu/flpe

3. Log in using your JMU email id and password

4. Follow the instructions on the page to take the exam

5. If you place into the 300 level of Spanish, French, German or Russianyou must enroll in the 300 class or go to Keezell 103 and retake the exam to confirm your score. Or you will not fulfill your foreign language requirement.

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4. AFTER THE FLPE

You will see your results right after you complete the FLPE. If you need to access your score later, follow the instructions on the exam page. (You can access the exam page by clicking on the link above.)

109:
You will need to go to Keezell 301 during registration and receive a permission number to enroll in a109 class.

231 & 232:
Your score will be uploaded to the JMU system within a week. If you need to enroll in a class sooner than that, contact the professor for a permission number.

300:
If you place into 300, you must either to go to the language lab in Keezell 103 and retake the exam to confirm your score OR enroll in the 300 class. If you do not do this, your 2-year foreign language requirement will not be waived.

 

Also, once again:

If you place into SPAN 300, FR 300, GER 300 or RUS 300:
If you place one of these classes, you must either to go to the language lab in Keezell 103 and retake the exam to confirm your score OR enroll in the 300 class. If you do not do this, your 2-year foreign language requirement will not be waived and you will not be able to graduate.