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Online placement exams are now available. For more infomation, please contact Amanda Barton.

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Undergraduate Program

Placement Exams

The department offers both paper and online placement exams. The instructions for the online placement exam are below. For more information or to make an appointment to take a paper exam, please contact Amanda Barton.

Online Placement Exam for German

Welcome to the Washington University Online Placement exam in German. Washington University offers WebCape tests that were developed by the Humanities Research Center at Brigham Young University. This test is designed to help you decide in which course to continue your language study.

You must take the Online Language Placement exam if you plan to study German at Washington University and have prior German language experience.

Students interested in German can take this exam ONLINE from a PC or a MAC. Read below for details on how to proceed and take advantage of this convenient opportunity. Please complete the placement exam BEFORE you arrive on campus to register for classes. You can take the exam from any location at any time. You will receive immediate results and placement upon completion of the exam.

Online Placement Exam (OPLE) Instructions

Before taking the exam online, please make sure that you have access to a computer that meets the following software/hardware requirements:

Connection: At least 56k/s Internet Connection

Browser: WebCAPE is designed to work with most popular modern browsers for Windows, Macintosh, and Unix computers that support Javascript and stylesheets. These include: Firefox, Mozilla, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape, Opera, Safari.

Monitor Resolution: 1024 x 768 for best view.

Tips:

• You should only have your browser application running during the the test. Close all other applications.
• Do not block pop-up windows.
• Try to avoid peak connect times for your Internet provider, or times when you have experienced dropped connections.

If your computer meets the requirements listed above, please go to the following web address:

http://webcape.byuhtrsc.org/?acct=wustl

This link will take you directly to the WebCape Exam Page. You will then be asked to enter the following password, "bears1," then click "Login." You will be taken to the next page, where you will be asked for which language you wish to complete the exam. Choose "German" from the drop down menu, then click "Begin."

Please fill out all the fields on the Student Information page, including First Name, Last Name, your active e-mail address, and the ID number assigned to you by the department. Scores will only be eligible for placement in a class with entry of a departmental ID number and an active email address.

For ID number: Please contact the German Department to receive an ID number. To ensure immediate response please email BOTH Amanda Barton at acbarton@wustl.edu and Eva Russo at erusso@wustl.edu.

Once you have completed this page, click on “Continue” and you will be taken to a practice question. When you answer the practice question, the exam will begin. Do not use your browser’s “Back” button during the exam or it will be interrupted and you will have to re-register to continue.

SEVERAL THINGS TO REMEMBER:

This is a self-diagnostic test to help place you into the level of our foreign language program that is best for you. Please understand that it is not possible to "fail" this exam, so do not be worried on this front. Intentional underperformance also serves little purpose other than to deny you credit you deserve.

You will NOT receive any credits solely from taking this exam--you may, however, earn back credits at Washington University later by earning a B- or better in the German language class into which you are placed.

It is expected that you will have NO TEXTBOOKS, DICTIONARIES OR OTHER ASSISTING MATERIALS to help you with this test. Please respect this policy, as failure to abide by this will result in a score that will be of little assistance to you or to us.

If you need to stop taking the test, e.g. loss of internet connection, you may re-enter your information at a later date and resume the exam exactly where you left off.

Your score and placement on this exam will not appear anywhere on your transcript. Therefore, you should not worry that your performance here has any bearing on any future academic status at Washington University. While we will retain it as part of your permanent departmental record, this record will be for record of placement and in no way will this record impact your academic status within the University or the German program.

Please note that the WebCAPE exam is NOT valid for Spanish or French language placement. If you need to take the placement exam for either Spanish or French, please visit the website for the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures: http://artsci.wustl.edu/~rll/rll.html.

GOOD LUCK!

If you have any technical problems or questions please contact Amanda Barton, Undergraduate Coordinator: acbarton@wustl.edu, Tel. 314.935.4276.

Policy on Placement

Students are allowed to enroll in the German course (101-302) in which they have been placed based upon placement guidelines. Students may meet with the Undergraduate Coordinator to discuss placement issues. If you have any concerns regarding your score, please do not hesitate to be in touch.

Each placement score is valid for one academic year.

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• Degree Requirements |
• Honors/Awards/Aid |
• Why Study German?