If you have previously taken German and have questions about which course is appropriate for you, we recommend you take a WebCAPE placement test to help determine your level of German proficiency. The placement test is $10.
After you take the placement test, use the table below to help choose the appropriate class based on your WebCAPE score.
WebCAPE Score | Course Recommendation |
---|
Below 250 | First Year (GR 101/102/103) |
250 - 400 | Second Year (GR 201/202/203) |
Above 400 | Third Year or higher |
Note: These recommendations are not absolute. If you have had previous exposure to German, whether in the classroom or informally, consider such factors as the quality of the instruction, how long it took you to get where you are in the language, your career and life plans, and other demands on your time and attention.
Since the first- and second-year German courses place much emphasis on communicative skills, especially in speaking, you may benefit from an individual assessment of your speaking and writing skills. We offer other assessments, including a writing assessment based on a communicative task and evaluated by the German staff and a speaking assessment based on face-to-face conversation and evaluation by the German staff.
For additional information about selecting the appropriate German course, please contact Dr. Carrie Collenberg-González at carriecollenberg@pdx.edu. Please include the following information in your email:
• PSU ID number
• Your WebCAPE placement test score
• Where and when you studied the language and for how long
• How long it has been since you last studied the language
Please note: This placement test does not waive the Second Language Requirements.
Students who need to take a proficiency exam to fulfill the second language requirement for the admission, Bachelor of Arts (BA), or Master of Arts (MA), see the Second Language Requirements page for information and instructions.