Language Proficiency Exam (one option)

*Global Business Majors! Information regarding the Global Business Major Exam can be found on the GBM Exam Information page.

Special Note: The turnaround time to receive exam results for ALL EXAMS, regardless of language, is 4-6 weeks. You will be notified by e-mail when your results are in.

Reminder: Students looking to retake the Language Proficiency Exam must have received the result from their previous exam before scheduling another testing session.

Who should take this examination?

What level of proficiency is expected and how does one prepare?

How does the testing work?

When are the examinations held?

How do I schedule myself for this examination?


Who should take this examination?

  • Students seeking to meet the CSUSM Graduation Requirement.
  • Students who do NOT need units nor Area C in General Education. (If unit credit and meeting Area C is desired, consider taking a course instead. Go to our Courses page for more information.)
  • Students who are proficient in a language other than English. Most languages are accepted. Some common examples are: Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Arabic, Vietnamese, Farsi, Tagalog, and American Sign Language (ASL). If you are unsure if your language will be accepted, please inquire at llc@csusm.edu or University Hall 240.
  • Students who are proficient in that language. Proficiency is assessed at the 201-level, both in speaking and writing (including pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, spelling, and any accents). If you believe you would place into a 202-level course (4th semester), because you know the material covered in a 201-level course, then you are a good candidate for this exam.
  • Global Business Majors, please visit our Global Business Major Exam (GBM) page for information pertaining that particular test.
  • Nursing Students, please be aware that you need a CSUSM student ID in order to sign-up for testing.

[back to top]

What level of proficiency is expected and how does one prepare?

  • The exam is looking for proficiency - not fluency - that would match a student who took and did well in CSUSM 201 (third-semester) or three years in high school, or is proficient for another reason like home language or international schooling. A few examples are: pronunciation, vocabulary, spelling, accent use and placement, major verb tenses, idiomatic expressions, general grammar rules, and common exceptions.
  • The exam will ask you to both speak and write. (ASL exams are expressive only.) You should therefore know how to pronounce and spell words correctly. A foreigner who speaks no English should be able to understand most of your production. If you were put down in the middle of the country, surrounded by people who only speak that language, would you comfortably be able to communicate?
  • If you are testing in a language taught on campus, you are welcome to come to the LLC to review the 201-level textbook, to ensure that you comfortable with that level. You can also talk to friends who took 201 in that language.
  • If you are testing in a language not taught on campus, we may have materials to assist you. For example, we have a Tagalog textbook, an Italian-English dictionary, a Chinese-English dictionary....
  • If you are testing in a language that you took in high school or at another college a few years ago, we suggest reviewing your past course materials closely.
  • We highly encourage native speakers to review spelling and written accents, since they may not have written as much as they have spoken.

[back to top]
 

How does the testing work?

  • You will want to arrange, confirm, and keep appointments with the Language Learning Center, UH240.
  • To set up your test date and time, send us an e-mail at llc@csusm.edu and let us know that you are interested in taking the exam.
  • A notice of 24 hours is required for cancellation and to reschedule. If you do not cancel within 24 hours, it will be at least two months before a reschedule is possible. This is necessary to be fair to all students waiting for examinations.
  • You should arrive 10-15 minutes early and be ready to take the test at the scheduled time. If you are late, you will NOT be allowed to take the test.
  • For all languages other than ASL, you should allow thirty minutes for the oral component and one hour for the written component, for a total of 1.5 hours. ASL testers shoudl allow 45 minutes for an "expressive" component (there is no "receptive" component).
  • If you receive a score of "Pass", your student record will be updated and the LOTER entered as "met".
  • If you receive a score of "No Pass", you may retake the exam.** Any retakes of the Proficiency Exam will require you to pay the examination fee again. However, you need to have received the results of your previous test before scheduling another testing session.
  • Please be aware that, because we are a testing facility, we do not have accommodations for children.
  • For students with special needs, please contact John Segoria of Disabled Student Services at (760) 750-4905.
[back to top]
 

When are the examinations held?

Summer 2012 Exam Session Schedule

Here is a list of starting times being offered. Exams will take approximately 1.5 hours. Thus, if you sign up for a 10:30am exam, the exam will run from 10:30am to 12:00pm.

Please keep in mind that sign-ups are done on a first-come, first-serve basis. Also, be aware that the time slots listed below do NOT show availability. There may be a good chance that the time slot is already filled.

**ATTENTION: For those looking to take the exam in American Sign Language, please click here or scroll down to the next box for our ASL exam schedule.

Summer 2012 Schedule

Monday, July 9th
9:30am, 10:00am, 10:30am, 11:00am, 11:30am, 12:00pm, 12:30pm, 1:00pm, 1:30pm

Tuesday, July 10th
9:30am, 10:00am, 10:30am, 11:00am, 11:30am, 12:00pm, 12:30pm, 1:00pm, 1:30pm

Wednesday, July 11th
9:30am, 10:00am, 10:30am, 11:00am, 11:30am, 12:00pm, 12:30pm, 1:00pm, 1:30pm

Thursday, July 12th
9:30am, 10:00am, 10:30am, 11:00am, 11:30am, 12:00pm, 12:30pm, 1:00pm, 1:30pm

Summer 2012 Scheduling starts Monday, June 4th. To sign-up for one of these sessions, please send us an e-mail at llc@csusm.edu, letting us know that you are interested in taking the exam. Please include which language you are looking to take the exam in. 

Summer 2012 Exam Sessions Schedule
American Sign Language

American Sign Language Proficiency Exams will take approximately one(1) hour. They are scheduled individually throughout selected weeks during the semester.

**PLEASE NOTE: Sign-ups and scheduling will begin on Monday, June 4th for the Summer 2012 Exam Sessions!**

**Please note that scheduling is done first-come, first-served. Due to the technical resources needed, we can only administer one exam at any given time. So if there is a specific date and time that you would like to take the exam during, please schedule an exam with us as early as possible.

Summer 2012 Schedule

Exams for the summer exam sessions will be scheduled individually for June, July and August. You pick the date and we will work with you to find a time for you to take the exam. Generally, we will be scheduling ASL exams Monday - Friday between 9:00am - 3:00pm.

To sign up, e-mail us at llc@csusm.edu and specify that you would like to take the American Sign Language Exam and provide the dates and times that would work out best for you.


[back to top]

How do I schedule myself for this examination?

First, make sure this is indeed how you want to meet the LOTER. Then...

  • Note: All students must present a valid Photo ID (e.g. CSUSM Student ID, CA Driver's License, passport, etc.).
  • For the Summer 2012 Exam Sessions, please send us an e-mail letting us know you are interested in taking the Proficiency Exam. Please specify the language you are looking to take the exam for.
  • Please be aware that there is an examination fee of $49.50 via check (made payable to: CSUSM, Language Examination) or cash by coming to the LLC, UH240. Failure to pay one week before testing will result in losing your reservation.
  • The fee is waived for Veterans on GI Bills other than Chapter 31 and for all Active Duty receiving tuition assistance. If this applies to you, state your military status when signing up for the exam and be prepared to show proof.
  • You must inform the LLC at least 24 hours in advance if you will not be able to keep your testing appointment. Only by contacting us will you be allowed to reschedule the test for one of the next testing dates.
  • NO REFUNDS WILL BE GIVEN FOR MISSED APPOINTMENTS.
  • The turnaround time to receive results for ALL EXAMS, regardless of language, is 4-6 weeks. You will be notified by e-mail when your results are in.
[back to top]