French Language: Levels 1 and 2
The French Language exams measure skills acquired from multiple semesters of studying French.
Overview
The French Language exam is designed to measure knowledge and ability equivalent to that of students who have completed two to three semesters of college French language study. Material taught during both years is incorporated into a single exam covering both Level 1 and Level 2 content. Colleges may award different amounts of credit depending on the test taker's test scores.
The exam contains approximately 121 questions to be answered in 90 minutes. Some of these are pretest questions that will not be scored. There are three separately timed sections. The three sections are weighted so that each question contributes equally to the total score.
Knowledge and Skills Required
Candidates must demonstrate their ability to understand spoken and written French. The exam tests their listening and reading skills through the various types of questions listed below. The percentages indicate the approximate percentage of exam questions devoted to each type of question.
Section I (15%)
Listening: Rejoinders
Listening comprehension: choosing the best responses to short spoken prompts
Section II (25%)
Listening: Dialogues and Narratives
Listening comprehension: choosing the answers to questions based on longer spoken selections
Section III (60%)
Reading
- 10% Part A. Discrete sentences (vocabulary and structure)
- 20% Part B. Short cloze passages (vocabulary and structure)
- 30% Part C. Reading passages and authentic stimulus materials (reading comprehension)
Score Information
ACE Recommendation for French Language
| Level 1 | |
|---|---|
| Credit-granting Score | 50 |
| Semester Hours | 6 |
| Level 2 | |
| Credit-granting Score | 59 |
| Semester Hours | 9 |
Note: Each institution reserves the right to set its own credit-granting policy, which may differ from the American Council on Education (ACE). Contact your college to find out the score required for credit and the number of credit hours granted.