Students who have exposure to a foreign language prior to enrolling at USC and who plan to fulfill the three semester foreign language requirement by continuing in that same language at USC must take a placement exam. Exams cannot fulfill the fourth semester foreign language requirement.

The Testing & Assessment Center administers exams in the following languages:

  • Arabic
  • Chinese
  • French
  • German
  • Greek (Classical)
  • Italian
  • Japanese
  • Korean
  • Latin
  • Persian
  • Russian
  • Spanish

For the Portuguese placement exam, contact the Department of Latin American and Iberian Cultures.

For the Hebrew placement exam, contact the Hebrew Language Program.

  • If you want to take a placement exam, click on “Test Dates” in the navigation bar above for the next exam date. Also note:

    • There is no fee for taking a placement exam.
    • Arrive ten minutes before the exam starts.
    • Administration of exams can take up to 2 hours, so plan accordingly.
    • You must bring your USC ID to the exam.
    • THERE ARE NO EXAMS AFTER WEEK 1 OF CLASSES, until after the Add/Drop deadline has passed.
    • Results from morning exams will be available the same day after 3:00PM. Results from afternoon exams will be available the following business day after 11:00AM.
    • The results of your placement exam will be uploaded to your student record.
    • Placement exam results are valid for one calendar year.
    • You must wait six months before retaking a placement exam.

  • Students with documented learning disabilities or physical impairments requiring accommodation must contact the USC Office Student Accessibility Services at least two weeks prior to the testing date.

  • Already taken the language placement exam? Click here.