Reading Proficiency Examination for Graduate Students
Reading proficiency examinations in Spanish, Portuguese, and Catalan are offered twice in the fall semester and twice in the spring semester to graduate students from within and outside the department who need to demonstrate reading and research proficiency in a language as part of their program requirements. **School of International and Public Affairs' (SIPA) students, please see the exception below.
The two-hour exam consists of translating a scholarly text of approximately two pages in length into English. Please bring your own paper copy of a dictionary, which you may use throughout the exam. Electronic devices (smartphones, laptops, tablets, etc.) cannot be used during the exam. You and your home department will be notified of the outcome in approximately two to three weeks after the exam has been completed.
FALL 2026 EXAM
Fall 2026 in-person only exam will be administered on the following date in the Department (Google Map link):
Friday, November 6th: 10 am to 12 pm
- Registration deadline: Wednesday, November 4th
Please register for Fall 2026 exam by completing this online registration form.
SPRING 2027 EXAM
Spring 2027 in-person only exam will be administered on the following date in the Department (Google Map link):
Friday, March 5th: 10 am to 12 pm
- Registration deadline: Wednesday, March 3rd
Please register for spring 2027 exam by completing this online registration form.
School of International and Public Affairs' (SIPA) students cannot enroll in Spanish UN 1113 Rapid Reading and Translation and they are not permitted to take the reading proficiency exam. SIPA students must take one of the two online departmental placement exams. Instructions for and information about taking the online departmental placement exams are available here.
Rapid Reading and Translation (SPAN UN1113): This course is offered once every three semesters and is scheduled to be offered in the fall 2026 (see Vergil here). Students who complete the course with an A or A- will be exempted from the reading proficiency exam. The student’s home department will be notified of the outcome at the end of the semester.