Chinese (Mandarin), French, German, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish. These tests are intended to evaluate students’ language level in order to place them in the appropriate language class. While a student may take a placement test in more than one of UIS's languages during a testing period, he/she may not repeat a test in the same language during that testing period.
Each language placement test covers a wide variety of material and contains items ranging from the elementary level to the advanced. While we recommend no specific study guides or texts, reviewing previous textbooks or self-study guides may help you prepare. You will be tested on comprehension, grammatical features, reading, and writing.
The tests do not require you to speak. Regardless of the language, a test takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes on average to complete. Once you have begun to take a test, you will have access to your work for the next 24 hours in the event that you are interrupted during testing.
If you are a UIS student in the Capital Scholars Honors program, the login for the placement test is the CAP Web ID (CAP###), issued to you by the Capital Scholars Honors Office. All CAP Web IDs are kept on file in the Capital Scholars Honors Office (217) 206-7246; please contact us regarding any CAP Web ID problems.
If you are a UIS student, not in the Capital Scholars Honors program, you will be issued a 6-character login number in order to access the placement test. Please contact the Capital Scholars Honors office at (217) 206-7246 or capitalscholars@uis.edu for assistance.
You may take the test on any web-enabled computer anywhere in the world: at home, at your school, at a public library, or make arrangements to use one of the computers at UIS.
Please keep in mind that this testing is truly a placement device. The score will not become part of your permanent record. If, however, your test score places you above the fourth semester level, you will be eligible to take the oral proficiency test to determine whether your language ability qualifies you to meet the language requirement.
In addition to satisfying the language requirement, a passing score will earn you four credit hours. These hours do not bear a grade, and thus do not affect your GPA. They will appear on your transcript as "Credit by Proficiency Exam."
You are on your honor to complete the test as well as you can, and without outside help. No matter how great the desire always is to do well on a test, cheating on the placement test will not help you. On the contrary, it could result in your being placed in a course exceeding your level, which will only create problems for you.
Finally, remember that by deliberately doing poorly on the test in order to be placed in a course that is below your level of knowledge, you will do a disservice to other UIS students, who, as true beginners, are waiting for a seat in a beginning class.
Any student who, because of a disability, may require special arrangements in order to take an Online Language Placement Test should contact the UIS Office of Disability Services at (217) 206-6666.
Your test results will be emailed directly to the Program Director. If we have your email address, we will report your results and your class placement to you via email; otherwise, results will be sent through the U.S. mail.
For further information, please contact the Capital Scholars Office, and best of luck!
