Placement test for students

Students who wish to enrol in a language course must pass a placement test. A test allows students’ language skills to be accurately assessed and for students to be directed to courses at level that truly match their abilities.

Placement test goals

To assess students’ genuine levels and accurately determine their language proficiency.

To direct students to the right courses, those adapted to their level, to further learning.

To ensure groups are at similar skill levels and ensure pedagogical equity, for effective teaching.

To avoid inappropriate enrolment, to prevent those at an advanced level taking places in a beginners’ course, which could hinder their and others’ learning.

To protect academic progress and reduce the risk of mandatory withdrawal, failed courses or program completion delays.

For more information, email [email protected].

Take the test

Second language course policy

Placement test

The department aims to ensure fair, effective placement of students in language courses. We therefore assess students’ genuine level of language proficiency, to determine accurately their comprehension, grammar, vocabulary and expression skills. The placement test allows us to direct everyone to the appropriate course, which favours optimal learning. It also helps maintain pedagogical equity by forming groups of students at similar skill levels, which is essential for high-quality teaching. The placement process aims to avoid inappropriate enrolment, such as when those at an advanced level try to enrol in beginners’ courses, which could hinder their progress and that of the group. Finally, it protects students’ academic progress and reduces the risk of mandatory withdrawal, failed courses or program completion delays. Please note that the department reserves the right to re-assess students’ language proficiency during a course, even if they have completed a placement test.

Course access

The department reserves the right to verify at any time whether students are enrolled in courses that match their actual level of language proficiency. If, during a term, we determine that a student’s skill level doesn’t match the level of the course being taken, the Faculty can require the student’s immediate withdrawal. While necessary to ensure the pegagogical integrity of courses, such a decision can hurt the student in question financially, personally or in terms of academic progress, with consequences related to administrative deadlines, tuition fees, student status, university residence, study permits, or scholarship and bursary requirements, as well as scheduling problems or limited availability of courses at the appropriate level.

Under no circumstances are students permitted to enrol in courses in a particular language below the level of courses already passed. This rule ensures consistent linguistic progress, maintains programs’ pedagogical integrity and ensures available places are allocated to those who genuinely need them to move forward.

As well, as per Academic Regulation B-4.5, it is strictly forbidden for students to retake language courses they have already passed. This prohibition applies to all language courses, whatever the level, to avoid credit (unit) duplication, preserve equity among students and ensure proper use of teaching resources.