UC Davis Language Placement Exams — Quick‑Start Guide
French, German, Russian, Spanish
You may keep this page open during your exam.
Is This the Right Exam for you?
This guide is only for: French, German, Russian, Spanish
- For Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Persian, Punjabi:
https://ucdlc.ucdavis.edu/foreign-language-placement-exams - For Portuguese, Hebrew, Latin: Please contact the department directly
What This Exam Does (and Does Not Do)
✅ Helps you choose the correct class level for the language you're planning to study
✅ It is free, online, and taken from home
✅ Gives instant results
❌ Does NOT fulfill any language requirements
❌ Does NOT give any units or fulfill any graduation requirements
⚠️ You can only take this placement exam once. Duplicate attempts will not be counted and will be reported as academic dishonesty. (Exceptions may be made after study/travel abroad programs, but only with permission from the respective language department)
Before You Start
✔ UC Davis account active (CAS + Duo)
✔ Reliable internet connection
✔ Use your name exactly as it appears in OASIS
✔ Use your UC Davis email (lowercase only)
🚫 Do NOT use browser Back, Forward, or Reload during the exam (it will skip pages and mess up your score)
Take the Exam
- Go back to the exam page and click on the exam link: https://ucdlc.ucdavis.edu/webcape-20-davis-language-center
- Create an Emmersion testing account
- Name must match OASIS
- Use your UC Davis email
- Select your placement exam
- Complete the optional background survey
- Take the exam
- The test is adaptive
- You cannot return to previous questions
- Do not use outside help
Important Exam Notes
- Answer each question carefully before moving on
- Don’t use any outside help on your placement test, because then you will end up placed in a level that is too hard for you.
After You Finish
- Results appear immediately and are also emailed to you
- The class listed is the course that you should enroll in
- SPA 001, 002, and 003 are Spanish 1, 2, and 3 (First Year Spanish)
- SPA 021, 022, 023, and 024 are “Quarters 4, 5, 6, and 7.” (Mostly Second Year Spanish)
- SPA 100 classes are Upper Division Spanish (3rd and 4th year, usually for majors)
- When you go to enroll, you may see a message that says there is a prerequisite for that course. You can type “UCD Placement test” in the text box and it should allow you to enroll.
Spanish Heritage/Native Speakers
If you grew up speaking Spanish at home and place into
Spanish 021, 022, or 023, please enroll in the Heritage/Native Speakers section listed in your test results.
If something seems wrong, email Mary Ryan:
📧 [email protected]
Advisors & Records
- Results are visible to advisors and the Dean’s Office within 1 week
- If needed sooner, show your advisor the results email
- For help interpreting results, please contact an advisor:
https://langlit.ucdavis.edu/staff
Want to Meet the Language Requirement Instead?
If you place above 003, you may choose to take an in‑person Proctored Proficiency Exam at the Davis Language Center (Olson 53). Proficiency exams play a different role than Placement exams. Proficiency Exams are in‑person, supervised exams that can fulfill a language requirement by themselves. Many are available on a walk-in basis at the Davis Language Center. More information is available here: https://ucdlc.ucdavis.edu/foreign-language-proficiency-exams and also here: https://ucdlc.ucdavis.edu/testing-information-letter
Questions?