Language Placement

A student's green pen is poised over the Language Placement Test.

Here are the instructions, requirements, dates and times, and other details about language placement testing.

Language Studies

Our language placement tests allow us to place you in the appropriate Language Studies classes. 

Note that English for Academic and Professional Purposes (EAPP) is part of Language Studies.

Students Required to Take the Test

The language placement tests are required for the following students:

  • New in-person students planning or required to take Language Studies courses.
  • Returning students planning or required to take Language Studies courses who have not taken language courses at the Middlebury Institute in the previous semester. Contact the language program head if you have questions.

Exemptions

Students who meet the following criteria do not need to take the language placement test

  • Online program students do not take Language Studies courses.
  • Students in an in-person program (except Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies) who are waived from English (EAPP) at admission and do not plan to take Language Studies courses.

Language of Study

Please take the test for your declared language of study (LOS). This is the language you chose on your application form to pursue as part of your degree program. You can take more than one language test if you wish to enroll in language courses in more than one language or to apply to change your LOS. Placement test results are only honored for the particular semester in which the test is taken. Students not enrolled in language study for one or more semesters must retake the language placement test before receiving approval for a related language course.

Test Requirements and Duration

The Language Placement Test is an online test. A secure browser is used to administer our language placement tests. Tests are available online beginning May 12, 2025, through September 14, 2025.

  • Please take your placement test as soon as you can within this testing window.
  • If you are taking language courses in the summer (e.g., Middlebury Language Schools), take the placement test as soon as possible after you have completed your language program.
  • Once started, you must complete the test.
  • Allow at least two hours to take the test.
  • Your student ID is required to access the test.
  • We recommend you take the test in a quiet location with a strong and stable Internet connection.

Click here to receive your language-specific testing code.