Survey / Placement Exam
The Spanish survey/placement exam is a tool that is used to determine which level Spanish class in our program at St. Olaf best fits a students’ language skills. Students first need a survey result or placement score in order to register for a Spanish course. Incoming first-year students should complete the survey/placement exam by June 6.
International students: If you are coming from a country where English is not the primary language of high school instruction you do not need to complete a language placement. Please talk to the registrar for next steps.
The exam cannot be completed from a phone or tablet device. It can only be accessed from a desktop or laptop computer.
There are two versions of the Spanish survey/placement exam. Please choose the appropriate link according to your previous experience with Spanish.
Version 1 – For students with NO previous classroom or non-classroom experience with Spanish
Are you a student who has NEVER studied Spanish or used it at home? If so, Version 1 is for you – click on the link below to access this short survey.
START SURVEY FOR STUDENTS WITH NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
Version 2 – For all students who have studied Spanish and/or used it in non-classroom settings
Have you studied Spanish in elementary, middle school, or high school or in a study abroad setting? Or, do you use Spanish in your home or community? If so, click on the “Start Placement Exam” link below to access the placement exam. Find out more detail about the exam sections.
There is only one (1) correct answer for each multiple-choice question. Answer as many questions as you can, and do the best you can on each question. Begin by answering those questions that you can do quickly and then go back to the others. If you are unsure of an answer, you may want to make an educated guess based on your knowledge of Spanish.
You have a maximum of 90 minutes to complete the whole exam. If you finish the exam before the allotted time, you are welcome to go back and re-check your answers. After you finish, please remember to click on the “Submit” button at the end.
START PLACEMENT EXAM
Results and Questions
Click here to see our list of FAQs to learn more. It includes information such as where to find placement results.
You can also contact us using the information in the menu bar at the top of this page.