Language Placement
New Student Programs and Orientation (NSPO) is designed to introduce you to the various elements of your Scripps experience, starting with Academics, one of our guiding principles. This section will include information you will need as you prepare to join our community of scholars.
Students, incoming and continuing, with prior knowledge of French, German, Italian or Spanish, who have not taken a course in these languages at The Claremont Colleges will be required to take a placement exam. The exams will need to be taken before your arrival to campus. The results of these exams allow the departments to recommend the appropriate level class to continue your study of a language.
For Language Placement Guidance, click here.
- French: Professor Everett chairfrenchstudies@scrippscollege.edu
- German: Professor Vennemann kvennema@scrippscollege.edu
- Italian: Professor Forlino mforlino@scrippscollege.edu
- Spanish: Professor Arteaga carteaga@scrippscollege.edu
You don’t need to study or prepare anything for this placement test; the test measures your current level to place you in the right course. If the course you’re placed in is too challenging or too easy, discuss with your professor the possibility of switching the class.
- You can take this test only once. You should NOT use books, notes, or any other materials or online resources.
- Remember, this is a placement test. You should do the best you can following the test guidelines. If you get help or use restricted materials, or purposely answer incorrectly, you will place yourself in a course that is unsuitable for you. The result of this test will not place you out of GE language requirement (see item 8 below).
- Only take an assessment if you have previous experience or knowledge in that language. To register for language classes in the Fall, you must complete the placement exams.
Click the appropriate link below to create a user account using your college-issued email address. Enter “Scripps” for your “Student ID.”
FRENCH
- The online placement exams will be available until July 15th, 2025.
- To take the French language placement exam, click here.
- If you have placed at an advanced level, you will be contacted and asked to take an additional written proficiency exam.
- If you have questions regarding the French placement exam, contact
SPANISH
- The online placement exams will be available until July 15th, 2025.
- To take the Spanish language placement exam, click here.
- If you have placed at an advanced level, you will be contacted and asked to take an additional written proficiency exam.
GERMAN
- The online placement exams will be available until July 15th, 2025.
- To take the German language placement exam, click here.
- If you have placed at an advanced level, you will be contacted and asked to take an additional oral proficiency exam.
ITALIAN
- The online placement exams will be available until July 15th, 2025.
- To take the Italian language placement exam, click here.
- If you have placed at an advanced level, you will be contacted and asked to take an additional oral proficiency exam
If you have placed at an advanced level for all four languages, this additional exam will take place in person on TBD.
The results of this proficiency exam will determine whether you will be placed in the Intermediate Level (33) or in the Advanced Level (44 or upper division courses). Your GE language requirement will be satisfied only if the proficiency exam places you at the Advanced Level (44 or above).
- If you plan on taking placement exams for more than one language, contact Becky Ballinger at rballing@scrippscollege.edu or 909-607-2663.
- If you are having technical issues with accessing the test please click the link here: Emmersion Learning Support
- Contact: Prof. Bassam Frangieh (Bassam.Frangieh@cmc.edu)
- The Arabic placement test is available as needed. Please contact Prof. Frangieh to arrange an exam.
- Contact: Prof. Minju Kim (Minju.Kim@cmc.edu) or Prof. Sooran Pak (spak@cmc.edu)
- The Korean placement test is on August 01, 2025 from 9:00AM- 12:00PM (PDT). Please email one of the professors listed above to inform them of your participation before the exam.
The exam will be on Zoom https://cmc-its.zoom.us/j/82210089937
- Primary Contact: Prof. Norman Valencia (Norman.Valencia@ClaremontMcKenna.edu)
- The Portuguese placement test is on August 01, 2025 from 9:00AM- 12:00PM (PDT). Please email Prof. Valencia to schedule your participation before the exam.
The exam will be on Zoom https://cmc-its.zoom.us/j/86865019146
Arabic, Korean and Portuguese
- Scripps students are eligible to take the following language placement tests at CMC. Please contact the CMC faculty for more information.
Arabic
- The Arabic placement test is on TBD from 8am to 10am PDT, in person at Roberts North 105.
FMI: Contact Professor Prof. Bassam Frangieh
Korean
- The Korean placement test is on TBD from 8am to 10am PDT, in person at Roberts North 102.
FMI: Contact Professor Minju Kim
Portuguese
- The Portuguese placement test is on TBD from 8am-10am PDT, in person at Roberts North 211.
FMI: Contact Professor Norman Valencia
Ancient Greek, Chinese, Japanese, Latin & Russian
- Scripps students are eligible to take language placement tests at Pomona College.
- Click here for more information or to contact Pomona faculty about their exams. You can also reach the Pomona Foreign Language Resource Center by emailing them at flrc@pomona.edu
Becky Ballinger – Foreign Languages Program Coordinator & Faculty Secretary. She works in assisting students who are taking the language pre-placement exam.
- For all language pre-placement exam questions, please contact Becky at rballing@scrippscollege.edu or 909-607-2663.
- If you are having technical issues with accessing the test, please click the link here: Emmersion Learning Support
