Language Placement
Students are normally placed in language courses on the basis of years of a language taken in high school, CEEB Achievement Test or SAT-II scores, or the departmental equivalent (instructor’s test, interview, or questionnaire). Students may change levels within a language during the first two weeks of class. Students who consider themselves capable of higher–level performance may apply to the instructor during the first two weeks of the semester for more advanced placement. They may also be allowed by the department chair to be admitted for credit to a lower level language course after consultation with the instructor. Students who have had three years or more of a language in high school and drop to first–semester level will not receive credit for the course unless written exemption is obtained from the chair of Modern Languages and Literatures.
Advanced Placement credit
Credit based on Advanced Placement or SAT-II exam scores is only awarded for courses at the Intermediate level. Credit is not awarded for Elementary I or II (language 001 or 002).
Exam score | Credit |
AP score of 2 or SAT-II score of 510-520 |
0 credits placement in 002 (Elementary II), 2nd semester |
AP score of 3 or SAT-II score of 520 to 590 |
0 credits placement in 011 (Intermediate I), 3rd semester |
AP score of 4 or SAT-II score of 600 to 690 |
4 credits placement in 012 (Intermediate II), 4th semester |
AP score of 5 or SAT-II score of 700 or above |
8 credits maximum |
Guidelines for placement based on previous language study
These guidelines indicate the student's minimum placement level for continuation of language study at Lehigh.
Previous Language Study | Minimum Placement |
0 to 2 years before grades 11 and 12 | Elementary I (001) level for French, German, or Spanish |
0 to 2 years at any time | Elementary I (001) level for Arabic, Chinese, Hebrew, Japanese, or Russian |
3 years total or 2 years in grades 11 and 12 | Elementary II (002) level for Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Japanese, Russian, or Spanish |
3 to 4 years, AP score of 3, or SAT II score of 320 to 590 |
Intermediate I (011) level for Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Japanese, Russian, or Spanish |
4 to 5 years, AP score of 3, or SAT-II score of 600 |
Intermediate II (012 )level for Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Japanese, Russian, or Spanish |
AP score of 5 or SAT-II score of 700 or above |
Arabic 190, Chinese 111, Japanese 141, Russian 141, or Spanish 141; French 143, German 163, 165, 167 |
Language Placement for Chinese - Heritage Speakers: