Placement Exam Information

All students must complete the Math Placement Exam to demonstrate competency in mathematics:

• You will have two attempts to pass the Math Placement Exam.
• If you do not pass your first attempt, the advising office will email you to let you know.
• If you do not pass after two attempts, you will need to enroll in MATH 101 to complete the Simmons graduation requirement.
• You will only be notified if you fail the Math Placement Exam. Your advisor will review your placement with you during your advising session if you pass the exam.

Accessing the Math Placement Exam:

1. Go to Moodle
2. Enter your Username and Password (You will receive your general Simmons login from Admissions. Please visit your preferences if you have not set your Simmons account up. Your password is your ID until you change it).
3. Click on "Placement Tests" (appears on the Course List).
4. Click on "Math Placement Exam."
5. You will be notified only if you fail the exam. For inquiries about your results, please email Undergraduate Advising.

For incoming students as of Fall 2024 and thereafter:

• Incoming undergraduate students are not required to take a language course as a part of the Simmons PLAN curriculum. The language placement exam is optional and available only to students who are interested in taking Spanish or French at the undergraduate level.

For students whose first semester was prior to Fall 2024:

• All on-the-ground undergraduate students must satisfy the PLAN Language Requirement that was in place at the time of their enrollment. Language exams are still available to students who have not yet taken one and require a placement.
• The language requirement is met by one of the following:

  • The successful completion of the 102 level* in Spanish or French at Simmons University or in any modern language taken through the COF or at another institution with preapproval from the Associate Provost for Curriculum, Assessment, and Accreditation.
    (*Completion of the 101 level [or its equivalent] is a prerequisite of the 102 level.)

    OR
  • The successful completion of one GH KCA course AND one DEIJ KSA course taken specifically to fulfill the language requirement.

Students whose first semester was prior to Fall 2024 have already met the Language requirement if:

• They have completed the 102 level in any modern language at Simmons University or another accredited academic institution with preapproval.

  OR

• They have received a 3 or higher on an Advanced Placement modern language exam and transferred that credit to Simmons.

  OR
• They have placed above the 102 level on their placement exam administered by the Office of Undergraduate Advising.

If students have taken or wish to take other equivalent exams, they should consult with the General Education (PLAN) program ([email protected]).

The following students are exempt from the PLAN Language Requirement:

• F-1 Visa international students from non-English-speaking countries
• Dix Scholars
• Students with specific accommodations through the Office of Accessibility Services

Please note the following policies:

1. Students who have taken a language at the 101 level must also take the 102 level in the same language to complete the requirement unless they can demonstrate proficiency at the 102 level in another language through one of the methods listed above. Once students have enrolled in a 101 or 102 level course, they cannot opt to test out of that language.
2. Students are allowed to take only one placement exam. Students may not retake an exam they have previously taken. If you take more than one exam you will be charged for multiple attempts ($15-$30).
3. The Office of Accessibility Services will continue to work with students with documented disabilities ([email protected]).
4. Use of translation devices and additional materials is a violation of the Academic Honor Policy. If any major discrepancies are identified between your previous experience in the language and your placement, the student will need to meet with the PLAN language coordinator. We are trained to identify what you are capable of expressing at this level.
5. The MLL Department reserves the right to make final decisions about placement and whether or not a student has fulfilled the requirement.

Placement Exams

All students are encouraged to take a language placement exam, with the exception of those who:

1. Do not have any experience with second language learning at the high school level.
2. Are an F-1 Visa international student from a non-English speaking country.
3. Can prove language competency through AP credit.
4. Are Dix scholars.

Students may pursue a previously studied language at the appropriate level of competency, determined through a placement exam. Please take the appropriate placement exam as outlined below if you are looking to continue in a previously studied language or are fluent/speaker in that language. Each placement exam is intended to provide an honest and authentic assessment of your language study. Please do not use translation devices or additional materials when taking the exam as this will alter your course placement. You may review the Rules for Testing.

You should only take a placement exam if you have prior knowledge of that specific language. If you are looking to start a new language, DO NOT take its placement exam.

Self-administered Exams

Students may self-administer their placement exam online if they are testing in any of the following languages: Arabic, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese (Simplified or Traditional), Spanish.

Prior to taking the exam, please review the Placement Exam User Guide for detailed instructions regarding the content of the exam, and to ensure that your device is compatible with the exam. Note: The exam has a dictation component, so your device will need a compatible microphone.

When you are ready to take the exam, please go to app.avantassessment.com/test and use the corresponding login information (accessible to Simmons students only). Your account must be created with a Simmons email address.

• Test Taker and Technology Guide
• Test Taker Instructions

Proctored Exams

Students looking to test in one of the Less Commonly Taught Languages (LCTL) must test in a proctored environment. Please email [email protected] to schedule your proctored test in one of the following languages:

Amharic, Armenian, Cabo Verdean, Chin, Chuukese, Czech, Filipino, Haitian-Creole, Hawaiian, Hebrew, Hindi, Hmong, Ilocano, Kannada, Korean, Marathi, Marshallese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Samoan, Somali Maay Maay, Somali Maxaa, Swahili, Tamil, Telugu, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, Vietnamese, Yoruba, Yup’ik, Zomi