Proficiency Exams

Click here to view the Fall 2010 Proficiency Exam Schedule.

Proficiency exams are administered the week before the beginning of language classes in the Fall and Spring semesters, and also the week before the beginning of reading period in the Spring semester. In order to be eligible to take the proficiency exams, you must meet the following criteria:

• You must be enrolled or have completed the fourth semester of Russian language instruction (Intermediate Mid-II) in DC or Bologna.
• You need to take the oral placement interview.

In order to determine the level of a student's foreign language proficiency, SAIS uses an ACTFL (American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages) style examination geared to students studying a foreign language for a specific use, i.e., at SAIS for International Relations National Security, and Socio-economics.

Students of Russian have to take three exams to test their language skills: Speaking (Oral Proficiency Interview), Reading, and Listening. Usually, students take Proficiency examinations after the Intermediate 2 level. However, the exams can be taken after the Intermediate 1 level but their level of proficiency although sufficient to graduate, may not be very impressive .

After achieving an ACTFL "Intermediate-Mid" level of proficiency, students can take a Post-Proficiency course to improve their skills, and raise their level.

Students must achieve the following ACTFL levels in order to satisfy the SAIS language requirement:

• Speaking: "Intermediate-Mid"
• Listening: "Intermediate-Mid"
• Reading: "Intermediate-Mid"