Language Placement Testing Options

LANGUAGE PLACEMENT
 

We are committed to helping students enter our curriculum at the appropriate level to best support their growth and success. Students do not develop all four skills (speaking, writing, listening, reading) at the same rate, and there is no one-size-fits-all method for placing students. There are, however, a few data points that have proven effective in setting students up for success. They include placement testing (CAPE), standardized test scores from high school (ex. AP Exam), and transfer credit (from previous institutions, including dual enrollment). Students who took an AP exam and scored 3, 4 or 5 will be placed by their academic advisors according to their test score. They are not required to take the CAPE test.  

CAPE InSTRUCTIONS

Students who are registering for a French, German or Spanish course for the first time at GCSU, including transfer students, are required to take the CAPE (Computerized Adaptive Placement Exam). This free, online exam is used to help determine the language level most appropriate for each student. Students who are true beginners--having never taken a course in a given language--do not need to take the CAPE test. They should register for FREN/GRMN/SPAN/ITAL 1001. Students needing help with placement in Italian should contact Tony Alcarria at tony.alcarria@gcsu.edu. 

Students with one or more years of formal instruction in a language should NOT enroll in 1001 in a language. Instead, they should take the CAPE Test. Enrolling in a course that is not challenging enough results in a lack of motivation that leads to poor outcomes. Once placed into a course, students should consult with the instructor during the first or second day of class, if they have any concerns about their placement. 

The online CAPE exam takes about 15-20 minutes to complete. Students may take the exam from any computer. No outside materials or online tools may be used during the exam. Only the first test score will be considered for course placement, so please do not take the test more than once. Scores will remain valid for one year from the date of the test. If you experience technical difficulties and need to retest, please contact Libby Murphy (libby.murphy@gcsu.edu).

Test results will be displayed after the completion of the test, and students are encouraged to take a screenshot of their results. Academic advisors and the WLAC Department Chair and Administrative Assistant have access to CAPE scores. 

• Log in to PAWS
• Select the Student Services Tile
• Select the 'WebCAPE Test for Foreign Language Placement' tile
• You will be directed to the Emmersion WebCAPE Exam and need to register.

CAPE Test Scores and Course Placement

Spanish CAPE 

French CAPE 

German CAPE 

Incoming Freshmen

If in high school you took one or more years of the language for which you want to register at GCSU, you are required to take the CAPE.  Example:  If you took Spanish in high school and want to take Spanish at GCSU, you must take the Spanish CAPE.

Exceptions: 

• If you studied French, German or Spanish in high school, but you plan to take a different language at GCSU, you are not required to take the CAPE. Indicate the language you wish to study on your POUNCE form. Example: If you studied Spanish in high school, but you want to take German at GCSU, you do not take the CAPE.
• If you did not take any French, German or Spanish courses in high school, you are not required to take the CAPE. Simply select the language you would like to study on your POUNCE form.  Example: If you studied Latin in high school, and you want to take Spanish at GCSU, you are not required to take the CAPE.
• If you took an AP exam in French, German or Spanish, and your official score of 3, 4 or 5 is received by Georgia College, you are not required to take the CAPE test for that language. Students with AP scores of 3, 4 or 5 will be placed according to their score. Students with AP scores below 3 must take the CAPE. Example: If you took the Spanish AP test and scored a 3, and you want to study Spanish at GCSU, you are not required to take the CAPE for Spanish. Your academic advisor will place you in the appropriate Spanish course based on your official AP score.

If you have questions about the CAPE requirements for incoming freshmen, please contact the WLC Administrative Assistant, Susan Hurst at susan.hurst@gcsu.edu or 478-445-4415.

Majors with a Language Requirement

All B.S. and B.A. degrees in disciplines in the College of Arts and Sciences have a language requirement. If you are not sure if your major has a language requirement, consult with your advisor, the GCSU course catalog, DegreeWorks or the Department of World Languages and Cultures (libby.murphy@gcsu.edu). 

B.S. students must demonstrate proficiency at the 1002 level or above. B.A. students must demonstrate proficiency at the 2002 level or above. That does not mean that B.S. students must complete 1001 and 1002 or that B.A. students must complete 1001-2002. Students should follow the instructions above to be placed in the most appropriate course for their current ability. While the CAPE test alone is not sufficient to show proficiency and fulfill the language requirement, it is sufficient to ensure that a student will NOT be required to take courses that are below their level. If a B.S. student places into 1002, for example, then 1002 is the only course they will be required to take. They will not be required to take 1001. If a B.S. student places into 2001, the student should take 2001 (to show proficiency at the 1002 level or above), and that is the only course they will be required to take. Starting at the appropriate level, instead of at a level that is beneath your abilities, sets you up for success in the course and positions you to consider taking more advanced coursework in the language as electives or toward a minor (in French or Spanish). 

Please note that the CAPE is for placement purposes only and does NOT result in academic credit. For example, if a student takes the CAPE and places in French 2002, the student does not receive academic credit for 2002 or its pre-requisites of 1001, 1002, and 2001. It simply means that they are not required to take the pre-requisites and can move directly into 2002. They must complete the course to receive academic credit--the placement score alone is not sufficient. (See the information below about the CLEP test and "Course Challenges" for receiving academic credit.) 

CLEP (College Level Examination Program)
 

The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) is a national program that allows students to obtain recognition for college-level achievement. Georgia College awards up to 9 credits for the French, German, and Spanish CLEP exams. Students with considerable prior preparation in a language or who are native or heritage speakers should consider taking the CLEP.  Please note that the CLEP option is not available to a student who registers for a class in the same language at the university level. Students should take the CLEP before registering for a language class at GCSU. It takes approximately 4 weeks for test results to be received and processed by the GCSU Registrar’s Office. 

Please visit the CLEP website for more information on the exam and the testing locations available. The Georgia College CLEP policy is found in the GCSU Undergraduate Catalog.

Course Challenges

Students of French and Spanish with considerable prior preparation in a language or who are heritage speakers may consider a two-part process for course placement. The student should first take the CAPE test. If placed into a French or Spanish course at or above the 3010/3020 level, the student may consider requesting a course challenge for 3010 (Structure and Composition) and/or 3020 (Conversation and Diction). Please consult the GCSU Course Challenging Policy in the catalog and email Susan Hurst (susan.hurst@gcsu.edu) for more information or to request a course challenge.