French Placement
Students who wish to take French language classes should take the placement test to determine what French course to begin with. The test takes between 15-30 minutes.
After you’ve taken the placement test, use the VU placement test score guide below to interpret your score.
Here are some general guidelines for what to expect when considering your past French language experience.
- No high school French or a placement score of 0-260 = FREN 1101
- Students who have completed FREN 1101 = FREN 1102
- One to two years of high school French, placement score of 260-349 = FREN 1103 (1103 is a one-semester, accelerated first-year French)
- Three to four years of high school French, placement score of 350-419, or SAT score of 540-589 = FREN 2202
- Four or more years of high school French, placement score of 420+, IB subsidiary score of 6 or 7, or SAT score of 590 = FREN 2202 or higher
Please reach out to Alexis Finet or Paul Miller for further assistance in determining with French language course to begin with.
VU Placement Test Score | Course to be taken |
| VU Placement Test Score | French 1101 (2 years or less of French in high school) |
| 260-349 | French 1103 (2-3 years of French in high school) |
| 350-419 | French 2201 (3-4 years of French in high school) |
| 420+ | French 2202 (4 years of French in high school) |
| Above 520, contact the DUS (p.miller@vanderbilt.edu) to determine what level course best fits your needs. | |
SAT Placement Score | Course to be taken |
| 0-500 | French 1101 |
| 501-530 | French 1103 |
| 531-590 | French 2201 |
| 591+ | French 2202 |
Advanced Placement (AP) Credit | Course Equivalent |
| 4 or 5 on French Language Exam | 8 hours credit for FR 2201 & 2202 |
| 4 or 5 on French Literature Exam | 8 hours credit for FR 2201 & 3 hours of elective credit |
International Baccalaureate (IB) Credit | Course Equivalent |
| 6 or 7 on subsidiary | 5 hours credit for FR 2201 |
| 6 or 7 on higher | 5 hours credit for FR 2201 plus 3 hours elective credit |
Spanish Placement
Students who have no previous experience with Spanish should begin their studies in Spanish 1100: Elementary Spanish I for True Beginners. Students with previous experience in Spanish who wish to go on, must take the placement test and enroll according to their score (see table below). The test takes between 15-30 minutes.
Spanish 1102 is only for students continuing from Spanish 1100 or 1101. Incoming students cannot place into 1102. Entering students should consult with the director of undergraduate studies for advice on placement.
Department Placement Test | Course to be taken |
| Not taken | 1100 |
| 0-274 | 1101 |
| 275-364 | 1103 |
| 365-409 | 2201 |
| 410-459 | 2204 |
| 460 or above* | 3290 or 3301W or 3310W |
Other Language Placement
For all other languages, no placement test is available. Please consult with the director of undergraduate studies with any placement questions.