• You are required to take the French or Spanish Placement Questionnaire (based on the language you want to pursue at UC) before enrolling in a language course.
• You can take the questionnaire from home. It is totally free, non-proctored, and it will take approximately 15-20 mins. You can take the questionnaire only once. There is no need to prepare in advance.
• To ensure you are placed properly in your language course, please be honest and do not use any external resources. Cheating will only result in you enrolling in a class that is too difficult or not challenging enough, potentially costing you time and money.
• After taking the questionnaire 
  • You are required to enroll in the class you are placed into as you will be more likely to successfully complete it. Please be aware that your placement results will expire after 9 months and you will be required to take the placement questionnaire again.
    • If you feel the score does not reflect your proficiency in the language, you can submit this form (click here) to request to enroll in a different class.
  • If you are placed into 1002/1012 or higher, you can receive advanced standing FREE credit (retroactively) in the language, up to a maximum of 10 credit hours, upon successful completion of the course you are placed into (C- or higher). For example, if you are placed into FREN 1012 and earn a C- or better, you can receive free credits for FREN 1011.

• Students with Foreign Language Requirement as part of the Program: Go to Catalyst and check your "To do list". You will find a survey called "French and Spanish Language Placement". Answer the survey (two questions) and then you will be able to enroll in FREN and SPAN 1001/1011 in Catalyst. 
• Students with NO Foreign Language Requirement as part of the Program: You must take the placement test here. Please use your UC email for the email field and M number for the student ID field. If you have no experience, the process should not take more than two minutes. Once you take the placement test, you have to wait till the next day to enroll in the course. 

Blue Ash Students

Angie Woods (woodsai@ucmail.uc.edu)

Clermont Students 

David Madrid (gomezcdm@ucmail.uc.edu)

Clifton Students

French: 

Shureka Nyawalo (nyawalsa@ucmail.uc.edu )

Spanish:

Juan Godoy-Peñas  (godoyjo@ucmail.uc.edu )

Technical Assistance

If you need technical assistance with the placement questionnaire, email Emmanuel Wilson: wilsone@ucmail.uc.edu.

When are the questionnaire scores added into Catalyst and when can I enroll in the course?

The questionnaire scores are added into Catalyst every day at 1 AM, so you can enroll in the class the day after you took the placement test. 

Is the placement questionnaire required?

Yes, if you have taken French or Spanish before or have been regularly exposed to the language.

Why do I have to take the French or Spanish placement questionnaire?

The French or Spanish Placement Questionnaire is used to determine the language course in which you will have the greatest success. Upon completion of the placement questionnaire, you can enroll in your class automatically in Catalyst. Your academic advisor will have access to review your scores.

Who should take the French/Spanish placement questionnaire?

Any student with any prior background in the language they want to take (from classwork, from school, from phone apps and games, from family, from the local community, etc.) AND who is new to the language program at UC should take the French/Spanish placement questionnaire.

Is the placement questionnaire required for students who already took a language course (same language) at UC?

No. The placement questionnaire is only for students entering the French or Spanish program at UC for the first time.

Is the placement questionnaire required for students who took the AP questionnaire?

No. Students who took a language AP questionnaire are not required to take the French/Spanish placement questionnaire. The AP questionnaire scores will supersede the French/Spanish placement questionnaire scores. The AP questionnaire already awards students retroactive credit for lower-level courses and students are not permitted to get credit twice for the same course.

When do I have to take the French or Spanish placement questionnaire and how long are my scores valid?

You must take the French or Spanish placement questionnaire within 9 months before enrolling in the class. You should take the questionnaire, at least, one week before orientation or meeting with your advisor. The placement questionnaire scores are valid for 9 months. If you take the placement questionnaire and decide to wait too long to enroll in the language course, you will have to take the placement questionnaire again.

Is the French or Spanish placement questionnaire proctored?

No, the French or Spanish placement questionnaire is not proctored. You can take it from home. To ensure you are placed properly in your language course, please be honest and do not use any external resources. Cheating will only result in you enrolling in a class that is too difficult or not challenging enough, potentially costing you time and money.

Are there additional fees for using the French and Spanish placement questionnaire?

No, there are not additional fees.

Do I need to install any software or plug-ins prior to taking the French or Spanish placement questionnaire?

No, you do not need to install any software or plug-ins prior to taking the French or Spanish placement questionnaire. As long as you have access to the internet with an update browser, you should have no problem with the questionnaire. If you need technical assistance with the placement questionnaire, email Emmanuel Wilson: wilsone@ucmail.uc.edu

Are the placement questionnaire scores binding?

The scores are binding. You must enroll in the class you are placed into. If you want to enroll in a different class, you must fill out this form (coming in Summer 2024).

How many FREE retroactive credits can I get if I get placed beyond FREN/SPAN1001/1011?

Placement questionnaire Scores