FAQ – Foreign Language Placement Exam for Classical Languages

Students with previous experience in classical languages (Latin, Greek, Hebrew) 

• Students with no experience in Latin, Greek, or Hebrew.
• Students who plan to study a language they’ve never studied
• Students who transfer in college, AP, IB, CLEP, or dual enrollment credit. These students would enroll in the next course following the course(s) for which they receive credit.
• Students planning to complete the general education language requirement by studying in Italy (although those with previous experience in another language are encouraged to take the placement exam in case their plans change)

• Students with previous experience in classical languages should take the placement exam immediately or at least within one year of enrolling at Benedictine College
• Offered each semester before classes begin on campus
• Other dates for the academic year are listed in the Academic Calendar & Dept. of World Languages & Cultures webpage

• All students must take the placement exam in person during one of the proctored exam sessions. The Placement Exams are offered on Tuesday afternoons during the 2:00–4:00 p.m. window, on the following dates (N.B. that these dates are adjusted slightly from year to year, so that the exam always falls on a Tuesday)
• • August 27th (the day before Fall classes begin)
• • January 14th (the day before Spring classes begin)

Non-native English-speaking students who complete the ESL program satisfy the general education language requirement.

Benedictine College does not recognize the Seal of Biliteracy. Students who have the Seal of Biliteracy but no other credit must take the Placement Exam.

The Latin or Greek Placement Exam measures one’s proficiency—what one can do consistently in the language. As a result, there is no study guide, syllabus, or list of grammar and vocabulary to study.

No. Students can only take the Placement Exam once.

Students with extensive experience in Latin or Greek who wish to enroll in an advanced Latin or Greek course are encouraged to contact Dr. Edward Mulholland (emulholland@benedictine.edu) or Dr. Lionel Yaceczko (lyaceczko@benedictine.edu) to discuss the possibility of waiving the prerequisite for a more advanced Latin or Greek class.

No. Students who test out of LATN-1000 and LATN-1020 have satisfied the core language requirement, but do not earn credits as they would for completing courses.