Language Proficiency Exams: An Opportunity to Prove your Skills

Challenge yourself and prove your language skills! After you have studied a language at the college level, you may want to take a formal language proficiency to demonstrate your achievement. Your test results can be an impressive addition to your résumé and are sometimes required for graduate study in another country or work for an international employer.

Note:  these are achievement tests (exams you take after studying a language), not placement tests (exams you take to find out what level course you need).  If you are looking for information about the placement tests used to begin language courses at Mount Holyoke College, please visit the Language Exams & Questionnaires page of the First-Year Curriculum Guide or the department webpages (Arabic, Chinese, Classics, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Spanish).

ARABIC

ALPT (Arabic Language Proficiency Test)

ALPT is a standardized Arabic proficiency test created by Arabic Academy and endorsed by the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The exam, available in both online and paper format, is offered four times per year, on September 10th, December 10th, March 10th, and June 10th.
For more information, visit www.arabacademy.com/alpt

CHINESE

HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi)

HSK is a standardized Chinese proficiency test developed by Beijing Language and Culture University and supervised by the Chinese Ministry of Education. The nearest test centers include New York University (New York, NY), and Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD). HSK is offered once per year in the United States. The test date varies every year; contact a test center for more information.
For more information, visit http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/hsk/105146.htm

FRENCH

DELF (Diplôme d'Études en Langue Française)
DALF (Diplôme Approfondi de Langue Française)

DELF and DALF are official French proficiency exams by the French Ministry of Education. DELF and DALF are composed of 6 independent diplomas corresponding to the levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. The nearest test centers include French Institute Alliance Françoise (New York, NY), Rosemont College (Rosemont, PA), and Service de Coopération et d’Action Culturell at the French embassy in Washington D.C. DELF and DALF are offered in December.
For more information, visit http://www.fiaf.org/frenchclasses/frenchexam-delf.shtml

GERMAN

TestDaF

TestDaF, developed by the TestDaF Institute based in Hagen, Germany, is a German language proficiency test recognized by the German government. TestDaF is most commonly taken by people who plan to study in Germany. The nearest test center is Boston Goethe-Institut. TestDaF is offered six times per year, including November 13th, 2008, and February 19th, 2009.
For more information, visit http://www.testdaf.de/

Zertifikat Deutsche (ZD)

Zertifikat Deutsche(ZD) is an internationally recognized proof of a basic working knowledge of the German language, recommended for students who have taken 500-600 hours of German class hours. The Boston Goethe-Institut offers ZD six times per year.
For more information, visit http://www.goethe.de/Ins/Us/bos/lrn/prf/zdt/enindex.htm

ITALIAN

CILS (Certificazione di Italiano come Lingua Straniera)

CILS is developed by the Università per Stranieri di Siena, is a standardized language proficiency test for people who studied Italian as a second language. The exam is offered twice per year, in June and December. The nearest test center is the Italian Cultural Institute at New York, NY.
For more information, visit http://www.iicbelgrado.esteri.it/IIC_NewYork/Menu/Imparare_Italiano/Certificazioni/

JAPANESE

JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test)

JLPT is a certificate of proficiency for non-native speakers of Japanese. The exam is offered once per year on the first Sunday of December. The nearest test center is Columbia University, New York.
For more information, visit http://www.jflalc.org/?act=tpt&id=8

SPANISH

DELE (Diplomas de Español como Lengua Extranjera)

DELE, issued by the Instituto Cervantes on behalf of the Spanish Ministry for Education, Social Policies, and Sport, is an official qualification exam of proficiency in Spanish language. The exam is offered twice per year, in May and November.
For more information, visit http://www.dele.org