Placement Test

When Can the Placement Test Be Taken?

• Between May 20th and June 18th. 

Who Should Take the Placement Test?

• Any student who wishes to enroll in a Hispanic Studies course or who wishes to use previous knowledge of Spanish to place out of the language requirement
• Two exceptions:
  • International students from Spanish-speaking countries who are native Spanish speakers. These students should either complete the Language Requirement Waiver Form or talk to the Chair, Dr. Kyra Kietrys kykietrys@davidson.edu about the possibility of enrolling in an upper-level course.
  • Students who have zero knowledge of Spanish. These students may enroll directly in SPA 101 or SPA 103.
• See guidelines below if you took the AP or IB Spanish exam(s)
• Questions? Contact the Spanish Language Program Coordinator, Prof. Brandon Cannon at brcannon@davidson.edu

Placement Test Requirements:

• Complete the test in one uninterrupted sitting (30-75 minutes depending on your language level)
• Your score is valid for one year
• You may only take the exam once per year
• Taking the exam more frequently or with breaks violates Davidson’s Honor Code
• If you have documented accommodations for breaks, please contact us
• As part of our commitment to responsible resource management, please note that the college incurs a cost each time this assessment is opened. We appreciate your help in being good stewards of these resources by only opening the test when you're prepared to complete it in one session.

Davidson’s Honor Code:

• The answers to the test questions must be fully your own. You are not permitted to use outside sources of any kind.

How to Prepare for the Test:

• There is no specific preparation for this test. Some students choose to review grammar, but that is a personal choice. The test is designed to identify what you know well.
• The most important thing to remember is to relax, do your best, and block out 30-75 minutes of time in a place where you can focus.

How to Take the Test

1. Go to the Spanish Placement Test
2. Testcode: 10437-pl-sp-1
3. Password: 4727

Placement Test Results

• Results will be available 3-5 days after you complete the exam. Find your placement in the results table by looking for the last four digits of your student ID. Results are available online.
• Results are valid for 1 year. If you do not enroll in a Hispanic Studies course within one year, please take the test again.
• Questions about placement? Email Prof. Brandon Cannon at brcannon@davidson.edu

For Students Who Took Spanish AP or IB Exams:

• If your placement test result aligns with your AP/IB score, the following scores may allow you to enroll directly in SPA 260 – which would mean you place out of the language requirement.
  • 5 on the AP Spanish Language & Culture Exam
    • Students who score a 4 on the AP Spanish Language exam will be awarded SPA 199 credit but will not automatically place out of the Language Requirement.
  • 7 on the IB Standard-Level Spanish Exam
  • 6 or 7 on the IB High-Level Spanish exam

If your placement test and AP/IB scores do not align, you must have an interview with Prof. Brandon Cannon before enrolling: brcannon@davidson.edu

• You may be eligible to enroll in a course above SPA 260:
  • if you scored a 4 or a 5 on the AP Spanish Literature & Culture Exam
  • or, if you are a native or heritage speaker of Spanish

If either applies to you, and you are interested in enrolling in a Hispanic Studies course, you must contact the Hispanic Studies Department Chair, Prof. Kyra Kietrys at kykietrys@davidson.edu for your placement.