Language Proficiency Testing

If you're an undergraduate student at UT Austin seeking a waiver for your foreign language requirement in a language not regularly offered at UT Austin, we proctor language proficiency tests and can assist with your waiver request upon achieving the necessary score. For any questions, please refer to our FAQs. 

The Texas Language Centers also proctors language test for non UT-Austin students and members of the general community in more than 100 languages.

Click on the below options to purchase a Language Proficiency Exam or access the link directly here. 

Two-part Language Proficiency Exam

 

Gujarati	Igbo/Ibo
Punjabi	Slovak

This option involves two tests: one oral test assessing your speaking and listening proficiency and a written test assessing your reading and writing proficiency.

If you want to test in one of the following languages, please contact the TLC before ordering a test: Akan-Twi, Algerian, Azerbaijani, Baluchi, Bengali, Burmese, Chavacano, Dari, Ga, Gujarati, Hausna, Javanese, Kazakh, Kikongo, Krio, Kurdish-Sorani, Kurdish-Kurmanji, Lao, Lingala, Nepali, Pashto, Sindhi, Sinhalese, Tajik, Tausag, Tigrinya, Turkmen, Uighur.

This option will likely be an oral test of your speaking and listening proficiency. 

UT-Austin Students FAQ

What languages are regularly taught at UT-Austin?

For a full list of languages, please click here.

Will I get course credit if my test results are high enough?

No, the TLC does not award course credit. The TLC proctors tests for languages not offered at UT-Austin. Since there are no associated course numbers for such classes, there is no way to award credit. If you score well enough on the exam (that is, your proficiency level meets or exceeds that required by your college or school), the TLC will request a waiver of your foreign language requirement from your college or school. 

What score do I need to get a language requirement waiver?

If your degree program requires two semesters of a language, your proficiency level needs to be at or above the ACTFL Novice High level. For four semesters, your proficiency must be at or above the ACTFL Intermediate Mid level. The TLC considers a passing score on both levels in the BYU test as at or above ACTFL Intermediate Mid level or the four semester level at UT-Austin. See the  current ACTFL proficiency guidelines.

Which languages do you test?

The TLC proctors tests only for languages not offered at UT-Austin where there is a test available from our test vendors. If the language is taught at UT-Austin, please contact the corresponding language department regarding testing. 

Are practice questions/exams available anywhere?

The TLC does not have practice exams or test preparation materials. The best way to prepare is to practice your reading, listening, and speaking of the language.

Where and when will I take the exam?

You will take your exam at the TLC offices, which is located in BUR 230 in the west wing of the second floor of Burdine Hall.  We will work with you to arrange a day and time during our office hours for you to take the exam.

How long do I get to complete the exam?

The time depends on the type of test available for your language. Most proficiency exams take 2-2 ½ hours to complete. LTI oral proficiency interviews are 30 minutes.

How long does it take to get results?

The entire process can take four to eight weeks. If you need to fulfill a foreign language requirement for graduation, sign up for your test as early as possible; do not wait till the last minute as there are no options to “rush” this process.

If I don't score high enough on the test, can I take it again?

You can retake a language proficiency exam after six months.

I have more questions. Who do I contact?

If you have read the Language Requirement page and reviewed these FAQs, but you still have questions, please feel free to contact us at tlc@austin.utexas.edu or by phone at (512) 471-6574.

General Public FAQ

Will I get course credit if my test results are high enough?

You will not get credit from UT-Austin regardless of your test results. You will get a certificate with your official results that you can submit to your own institution (and receive whatever credit they offer). The TLC recommends you contact your advisor before you register for testing to make sure your institution will award you credit or offer a foreign language waiver based on your performance on the proficiency exam(s) we administer. 

Which languages do you test?

The TLC can proctor tests for non-UT-Austin students in any language available from our test vendors. In addition, if you want ACTFL-certified ratings in a language, we can proctor oral proficiency interviews (OPIs) and written proficiency tests (WPTs) for a number of languages. The cost for both tests is $230. If you want certification in one of the following languages, you have an option to take one of the computer-based OPIs and it combined with the WPT costs $160:

• English
• French
• Spanish
• German
• Korean
• Arabic
• Russian
• Mandarin
• Pashto
• Persian-Farsi