Proficiency Exams & Placement Interviews

Bengali | Chinese | Hindi | Indonesian | Japanese | Korean | Sanskrit | Urdu | Vietnamese


Please note that all proficiency and placement exams or interviews are being held remotely. Please consult the appropriate language page for more information. If you have questions about proficiency and placement, please contact the Humanities Academic Services Center at has-center@uw.edu.


If you have already been placed in a language class and need an add code or wish to check on the status of a wait list, go to the Add Codes and Wait Lists page.

Proficiency or Placement?

Proficiency Exams measure your ability in a language and are used to satisfy or waive language requirements. Proficiency Exams are NOT used to determine what level of language course you should be taking. NO CREDITS are given for taking these exams. Proficiency exams test what students are expected to know after one year of university-level language instruction.

The department does not offer proficiency exams to those outside the University (e.g., high-school students seeking admission, prospective students, extension students, etc.); neither does it offer testing in languages not in our curriculum.

For specific information about each language's test, please see the links above. For general information on proficiency testing deadlines and policies,  please click here.

Placement Language Questionnaires and Interviews determine which level of language course is appropriate for your background and ability. Placement questionnaires and interviews CANNOT be used to waive language requirements. NO CREDIT is given for taking these.

After you have determined whether you need a Proficiency Exam or a Placement Questionnaire and Interview, find your language below and follow the instructions. Many proficiency and placement exams are being held online at this time. If you have questions about which test you should take, please contact the Humanities Academic Services Center

Bengali | Chinese | Hindi | IndonesianJapanese | Korean | SanskritUrdu | Vietnamese

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