Spanish as a Heritage Language Placement Exam
If you have been exposed to Spanish to some extent (even to a very small extent) at home or in your community from an early age, or you possibly think of yourself as a heritage speaker/learner of Spanish at any level of proficiency you should take the Spanish as a Heritage Language Placement Exam.
Click here to take the exam, using your Columbia or Barnard email address.
The exam consists of writing as well as multiple choice and fill-in the blank items about your exposure to the language, grammar, vocabulary, and reading comprehension. There is a short listening/dictation section but there is no speaking section. The duration of the exam varies from one student to another.
Once you have completed the test, please email Dr. Francisca Aguiló Mora ([email protected]) to obtain (1) your placement level, (2) the appropriate course to register for, or (3) confirmation of a possible exemption.
If you qualify for a possible exemption, you will schedule a second part of the placement exam with Dr. Francisca Aguiló Mora ([email protected]) that consists of writing and speaking.
The two Spanish as a Heritage Language courses needed to fulfill the language requirement are as follows:
- Spanish UN 1108: Elementary Spanish for Heritage Speakers: Fall 2025 Schedule
- Spanish UN 2108: Intermediate Spanish for Heritage Speakers: Fall 2025 Schedule
Please be advised that the purpose of this placement exam is to help to determine the best course for you, even if it is the beginning level; it is not a competency test.