Proficiency Exams
If you are seeking to satisfy the L&S Language Requirement through your high school education or from coursework at another institution, please refer to the official L&S advising page for the most up-to-date criteria: How to satisfy the L&S language requirement. For students entering from FA26 or after, please note that the previous metric—three years of high school study—no longer fulfills the requirement. You can satisfy the L&S Language Requirement by completing at least three years of secondary school in which the primary language of instruction was a language other than English, starting from grade 6 or above, as verified by transcripts.
- For incoming students: Please e-mail asklns
to request a review of your records. - For continuing students: Please follow the instructions posted on the CEU's Website.
Test Information
These tests are administered once every semester. There are no make-up tests given.
This IS NOT a placement test. These tests are for those who are seeking to have their language requirement waived.
Please note: Our proficiency tests are for admitted UCB students only. We do not offer proficiency tests for UCB applicants or non-UCB students.
Fall 2026
Korean [please click link] — *Pre-registration required.
For questions about the exam, please email Dr. Kijoo Ko: (kijooko@berkeley.edu).
Chinese [please click link] — *Pre-registration required.
For 2026 incoming freshman, please visit this page.
For other students:
https://chinese.berkeley.edu/
Japanese — *Pre-registration required.
Date: Monday, August 24
Time: 11am
Location: 82 Dwinelle
For questions about the exam, please email Maki Takata (takata@berkeley.edu).
Additional Information
- The Proficiency Exam is scheduled twice a year. Please verify the schedule before you come.
- This IS NOT a placement test. These tests are for those who are seeking to have their foreign language requirement waived.
- It is a written test, with no oral or aural component.
- You can take the Proficiency Exam only once.
Evaluation and Grade:
The test is evaluated in terms of the number of semesters of university-level study. The range is from zero semesters to more than ten.
Test Results:
Test results are available approximately one month after the exam date and are sent to your college/major advisor. Contact your advisor for the results.
