Placement | CBE
Placement
Credit by Exam (CBE)
The Department of Middle Eastern Studies offers two types of language testing for current and incoming UT students: Placement Exams or Credit-By-Exam Evaluations.
Placement Exams
Purpose
All students who have studied a Middle Eastern language at an institution other than UT or have some knowledge of the language, however little and however gained, must take a placement exam before registering for a language class.
A placement exam determines which course in the DMES language sequence is appropriate for a student, based on their current level of proficiency. Credit for courses in the sequence that a student places out of may be granted, if so desired.
Format
- Exercises in reading and writing.
- Oral interview requirements vary by language; please see below for details.
- All language exams are scheduled for three hours.
- Participants with more advanced proficiency may finish in less time.
- Study guides are generally not provided for the test.
Eligibility
The placement exam is open to any UT Austin student planning to enroll in a DMES language course in the upcoming semester. Students who completed a DMES language course at UT but did not make a C or better cannot take the placement exam as a substitute for meeting a course prerequisite. Native or heritage speakers seeking to gain credit to fulfill the language requirement for their degree are not eligible to take the placement exam (See Credit-By-Exam below).
Schedule & Sign Up
Language placement tests are offered twice a year in August and January, and consist of writing, reading, and listening exams and an oral interview (requirements vary by language, please see details below). These exams are currently offered for free. Spring 2025 placement exam information has been updated as of 1/6/25.
Credit By Exam Evaluations
Purpose
A credit by exam (CBE) evaluation determines which courses in the language sequence a student may claim credit for based on his/her current proficiency level. This test is only open to current UT Austin students. These evaluations are typically taken by students who wish to fulfill the language requirement or receive credit for one or more courses in the language sequence but DO NOT intend to continue their study of that language at UT. CBE credit is available for ARA 601C & 611C, HEB 601C & 611C, PRS 601C & 611C, and TUR 601C & 611C, which are the department's first-year language sequences. Students cannot claim credit for any upper-division language classes through a CBE. Study guides are not provided for the test.
Format
- Exercises in reading and writing
- A short oral interview if necessary
- Exam scheduled for three hours, though participants may finish in less time
Eligibility
CBE evaluations are open to any student seeking to gain credit to fulfill the language requirement for their degree. Students who are planning to enroll in a DMES language course in the future should not opt for CBE; they should take a placement exam. Students who seek CBE and later decide to enroll in a language course at UT may have to take a separate placement exam. Please email the undergraduate coordinator if this applies to you. Note: Students who are not currently enrolled at UT Austin are ineligible for this test.
Schedule
CBE exams are administered by Testing and Evaluation Services (TES). TES announces exams each month on the 23rd. Please visit their website for more information and contact them with any questions. You may review test times and register with this link. The Arabic, Hebrew, and Turkish exams are administered in the fall and the the Persian CBE will take place in the spring.