Language assessment for French immersion stream

Students who are applying for the French Immersion Stream are required to complete an online evaluation to determine their French proficiency level.

Immersion entry test

Students applying to the French immersion Stream must take the Immersion entry test to determine if their French proficiency is adequate to succeed in university courses taught in French. The results of this test do not affect your application to the University; the results only affect your entry to the French Immersion Stream.

Method of payment valid until February 11th, 2026: Once you have accessed the Immersion Entry Test, a $33.00 non-refundable fee will be added to your Statement of account which can be viewed in uoZone. Please ensure that you access and run the right test.

*NEW*: For all immersion entry tests taken on or after February 12th, 2026, the payment process is changing. From now on, payments must be completed through the university’s online platform, the eStore. When you request access to your test, you’ll be able to use the hyperlink provided to go directly to the eStore page.

If you’re unable to complete your payment using the hyperlink in the test portal, you can also go to the payment page by following the link below:

Payment for the Immersion Entry Test

Please note: These fees are non-refundable. The test results are valid for 1 calendar year from the initial date of your test.

To have access to your test results, you must:

Open a session in the XpressLab - Language testing portal.
Find the Immersion Entry Test in the Test History section.
Click on the Result Report button next to the Immersion Entry Test.
In your results report you will find a Test Result Code, and brief description of your results that will tell you if you are eligible for the French Immersion Stream.

Results	Results description
FCB	Your test results indicate that your comprehension is not sufficient for taking university courses taught in French. This does not affect your application to the university, but you are not admissible to the French Immersion Stream at this time. While you are not admissible to the French Immersion Stream, you may want to consider taking French as a Second Language (FLS) courses to further develop your French skills. To determine which course you may take, you must take the Placement Test.
F5	Your test results indicate that your comprehension is just below what is required for taking university courses taught in French. This does not affect your application to university, but at this time you are not yet admissible to the French Immersion Stream .Since you only require a slight improvement in comprehension, you have a few options: Retake the test in two months. To prepare, you could do extra work in reading and listening in French. Participate in an intensive French program (for example the Explore Program), and retake the test. You must wait a minimum of two months before you may retake the test. Register for FLS2512 and FLS2513, French as a second language courses, in your first semester at the University of Ottawa. In the January semester you could add the French Immersion Stream to your program. For more tips and information, contact [email protected] or 613-562-5747.
Results starting with “A”	Your test results indicate that you are eligible for the French Immersion Stream. Your FLS course recommendations will be available by logging in to your XpressLab account.

Results

Results description

FCB

Your test results indicate that your comprehension is not sufficient for taking university courses taught in French. This does not affect your application to the university, but you are not admissible to the French Immersion Stream at this time.

While you are not admissible to the French Immersion Stream, you may want to consider taking French as a Second Language (FLS) courses to further develop your French skills. To determine which course you may take, you must take the Placement Test.

F5

Your test results indicate that your comprehension is just below what is required for taking university courses taught in French. This does not affect your application to university, but at this time you are not yet admissible to the French Immersion Stream .Since you only require a slight improvement in comprehension, you have a few options:

Retake the test in two months. To prepare, you could do extra work in reading and listening in French.
Participate in an intensive French program (for example the Explore Program), and retake the test. You must wait a minimum of two months before you may retake the test.
Register for FLS2512 and FLS2513, French as a second language courses, in your first semester at the University of Ottawa. In the January semester you could add the French Immersion Stream to your program.

For more tips and information, contact [email protected] or 613-562-5747.

Results starting with “A”

Your test results indicate that you are eligible for the French Immersion Stream.

Your FLS course recommendations will be available by logging in to your XpressLab account.

Language assessment for French immersion stream

Immersion entry test

Part 1 : listening and reading

Part 2 : speaking and writing

Request access to the test

Take the test

Language assessment for French immersion stream

Immersion entry test

Description of the test arrow_drop_down

Part 1 : listening and reading

Part 2 : speaking and writing

Accessing the test arrow_drop_down

Request access to the test

Take the test

Understanding your test results arrow_drop_down