Welcome to the Arabic Placement Test
About the test
The test is approximately two hours and a half in length, and it is composed of three parts:
The writing portion is completed on paper, and it is worth a total of 100 points.
The reading part is completed online through Canvas site, and it is worth a total of 48 points.
Once finished with the reading part, each student will have a follow-up interview with a proctor. The interviews last approximately 15 minutes and it is worth a total of 20 points.
Important: In cases where it becomes necessary to conduct the placement test online, it will include the same three parts as in the in-person test. The interview portion will be weighted most heavily as it will be used to validate performance on the other portions. The final result/score/rating will thus be based on the student’s performance on the interview above all. Rating of performance on the writing or reading portions is secondary.
How is the result calculated?
Students who receive 60% or above will be placed in Arabic 401 and thus placed out of the language requirement.
Where can I view my results?
Placement results are posted within 7 business days after the test.
You will not be notified of your score automatically. You may view your placements via: Wolverine Access > Student Business > Academic Records > View Placement Exam Results.
Important information about the test
Placements are valid for only one year. If you fail to register in the course that you are placed in, you will be required to retake the test.
Retaking the placement test is only permitted after the placement results expire.
The test assesses students’ proficiency in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), NOT colloquial Arabic.
If you speak an Arabic dialect but you do not know how to read or write (or have little knowledge, feel free to register for Arabic 101.
Students who know some Arabic because they came from an Arabic-speaking household or have studied Arabic before, must take the Arabic proficiency test in order to determine their placement.
Students who have taken Arabic at other institutions and wish to continue their Arabic study at UM must take the placement test to determine their level. Credits for Arabic study undertaken at another institution prior to joining UM or in a summer program while attending UM, transfer in as generic departmental credits and students must take the placement test to determine credit equivalencies to UM courses.
If you place in or beyond the 401 level, you will have satisfied the LSA language requirement (Links to an external site.).
Students are encouraged to take a placement test as early as possible in their studies in order to determine the level they should enroll in, or if they test out of the language requirement. This is extremely important to avoid delays in graduation and complications with placement.
Arabic 101, 201, 401, 501 are offered ONLY in the Fall semester, and Arabic 102, 202, 402, 504 are ONLY offered in the Winter semester.
The Summer Language Institute (Links to an external site.) (June & July) offers intensive Arabic 103 (the equivalent of Arabic 101 &102, combined), Arabic 203 (the equivalent of Arabic 201 & 202, combined), and Arabic 401 & 402.
About the UM Arabic program
UM’s Arabic curriculum is a dual register curriculum in which students learn to speak and understand either the Egyptian dialect or the Levantine dialect (the dialect of Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Lebanon) in addition to learning to read and write and understand formal Arabic (fuSHa). Students starting to learn Arabic, if they have no background in Arabic, can choose to take either dialect or can switch their dialect focus from one semester to the next. However, learners who already have a basic conversational ability (Novice High or above) in either Levantine Arabic or Egyptian Arabic, must register in a section of 101 that is teaching the dialect that they do NOT know so that they are learning something new. The dialect focus of each class section is indicated in the schedule of classes.
If you have questions regarding the placement test, please contact the program director at, mesarabicprogram@umich.edu
