Columbia University Japanese Language Program

1. Who must take a placement test?

I studied Japanese somewhere other than Columbia. What should I do to prepare for the placement exam?

 

Students taking Japanese who wish to take First Year Japanese I or Elementary Japanese A do not need to take a placement exam. Students wishing to take any other courses who:

• took/learned Japanese somewhere other than Columbia
• took Japanese at Columbia more than one semester ago (e.g. students who last studied Japanese in Spring 2008 and wish to continue in Spring 2009)
• took Japanese in the previous spring semester, received a C+ or below, and wish to continue (e.g. students who received a C+ in Spring 2008 and wish to continue in Fall 2008)
• took Japanese in the previous fall semester, received a C or below, and wish to continue (e.g. students who received a C in Fall 2008 and wish to continue in Spring 2009)

MUST take a placement exam.

 

Students who wish to test out of the language requirement for Ph.D. or other programs are also required to take a placement exam. (NB: students who pass the exam must claim and pick up their certificates WITHIN ONE MONTH of the date of their exam, or they will be required to take the exam again in the following semester)

 

2. When can I take the test?

 

The placement exam is scheduled for the Friday before the first day of classes from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The Spring 2009 exam will be held on Friday, January 16th.

 

3. How do I sign up for the test?

 

Please visit http://www.columbia.edu/cu/ealac/japanese/plreg.html and follow the instructions. Students taking the test to be placed into a Japanese course at Columbia or to place out of a language requirement at Columbia are not required to pay a fee.

 

4. I took the placement test last semester. Are the results still valid?

 

No. Placement test results are only valid for the semester for which the test is taken.

 

 

5. Can I take the placement test for next semester now?

 

No. You must wait until the scheduled date of the exam for the semester during which you wish to take Japanese.

 

6. I took the AP Japanese Language/Japanese Language Proficiency Exam/other exam and scored X points. Do I still need to take the placement exam?

 

Yes. Other exams test on different content than the Columbia placement exam; thus, their results cannot be used as a replacement.

 

7.I would like to audit a Japanese class. Do I still need to take the placement exam?

Be advised that EALAC language courses may not be audited or taken for R credit. Furthermore, no language courses at Columbia may be taken on a Pass/Fail basis. Thus, students registering for Japanese courses must take them for credit and for a letter grade. As auditing is not allowed, you are not required to take the placement exam. However, should you decide to enroll, you will be required to take the placement exam if you fall under any of the categories outlined in part 1 of this FAQ.

 

8. What is the format of the placement test?

 

The test consists of two parts, 1) a written and listening comprehension exam and 2) an oral interview.

 

9. How many kanji should I know?

 

The required number of kanji varies with the desired level. See below for details:

2 nd Year 1 st Semester - 160 kanji

3 rd Year 1 st Semester - 500 kanji

4 th Year 1 st Semester - 1000 kanji

5 th Year 1 st Semester - 2000 kanji

 

10. I studied Japanese somewhere other than Columbia. What should I do to prepare for the placement exam?

 

The best way to prepare is to go over thoroughly the textbook and other materials you used in previous classes.