Students Action to be taken... In order to...
...without previous background ...take a copy of your high school transcript to your academic counseling office to confirm no prior Spanish courses were taken... ...activate student's eligibility to enroll in Spanish 1A
...with previous high school background ...take the Placement Test ...
(Test A or Test B)		 ...enroll in the appropriate course as indicated by the Placement Test
...with previous background from growing up speaking Spanish at home     ...take the Placement Test...
 (Test B)   		 ...enroll in the appropriate course as indicated by the Placement Test
...with a previous course (or courses) from another college or university, and who wish to study Spanish at UCI ... ...take the Placement Test...
(Test A or Test B)		 ...enroll in the appropriate course as indicated by the Placement Test
... who scored a 100 or above on the Placement Test, AND who graduated from a High School in a Spanish-speaking country, or a Spanish Academy ... ...may be exempt from taking lower-division Spanish language courses. For more information, please contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Prof. Julio Torres, at for a personal placement interview ... ...determine the level in which they should enroll
... who have already met the UCI General Education requirement for graduation with SAT Subject Test scores, or International Baccalaureate (IB) scores... ...take the Placement Test ...
(Test A or Test B)		 ...enroll in the appropriate course as indicated by the Placement Test NOTE: Students cannot earn units or grade points at UCI in courses from which they have been exempted on the basis of IB credit, even if the placement test result recommends enrollment in such a level
...currently enrolled in any 1A through 2B course at UCI... ...receive a "C-" or better... ...enroll for the next course within the series without having to take the placement test
...who scored a 4 or 5 in the AP Spanish Language and Culture Exam... ...must complete the "Request for Authorization into Spanish courses" form... ...to activate student's eligibility to enroll in SPAN 3 or SPAN 3H
...who scored a 4 or 5 in the AP Spanish Literature and Culture exam... ...must complete the "Request for Authorization into Spanish courses" form... ...to activate student's eligibility to enroll in upper division Spanish courses
 ...who scored a 3 or below in either the AP Spanish Language or AP Spanish Literature and Culture exam... ...take the Placement Test (Test A or B)...   ...enroll in the appropriate course as indicated by the Placement Test

Which placement test to take?

Test A
  • I began learning Spanish in middle school or high school.
  • I mostly use Spanish in my Spanish classes at school.
  • I have parents (or caretakers) who speak Spanish, but I do not use Spanish with them.
  • I can understand Spanish, but I cannot produce Spanish in speaking or in writing. 
Test B
  • I grew up speaking Spanish at home and in my community since I was a child.
  • I use Spanish in my Spanish classes at school, and/or with certain family members or people who cannot speak English.
  • I have parents (or caretakers) who speak Spanish, and I converse with them mostly in Spanish.
  • I can understand Spanish very well, and I can have conversations to a certain degree entirely in Spanish.
  • I can also read and write in Spanish to a certain extent.


The Academic Testing Center offers Spanish placement tests throughout the year.
Several placement tests are offered during summer; the schedule is posted at the end of spring quarter.
Placement tests are offered weeks 3 and 7 during Fall, Winter, and Spring quarter. 
Please check the Academic Testing Center’s website for current test dates (https://testingcenter.uci.edu/current-test-dates/).