Placement Testing

Washington and Lee has a world language requirement which can be fulfilled with a previously studied language or by taking a new one. W&L offers 12 world languages, including: Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Portuguese, Russian, Sanskrit, and Spanish.

How do I study a new language?

There is no placement test for starting a new language. Four terms of study are required to fulfill the language requirement (FL FDR).

How do I continue to study the language I studied in high school?

For proper placement, first-year students who wish to continue with a language they studied in high school must take a placement test in the language. The procedures for taking these tests are described in this section, and the test could take on-average between 20 and 90 minutes, depending on the nature of the department's placement test.  Generally speaking the placement test is valid for only one year and would have to be retaken once that time period had expired.  

If you have pursued more than one language in high school and wish to continue studying these same languages, you may take more than one placement test.