Department of French
Department of French

UVA French Placement Diagnostic

Taking the PLACE Diagnostic

WHO should take the PLACE language placement diagnostic?

  • Only students who have studied French prior to entering UVA need to take the PLACE diagnostic.
  • Students with no previous study of the language do not need to take the PLACE placement diagnostic and should enroll in FREN 1010.
  • Students who have taken the AP, SAT II, or Higher Level IB exams in French may use a score on any of those exams for placement. In the case of multiple exam and diagnostic scores, we will always use the highest placement indicated by the students’ scores. For more info, please consult the French placement information and FAQ page.
  • Students who took the UVA French language diagnostic (F-CAPE/WebCAPE) prior to May 1, 2022, do NOT need to take the new PLACE diagnostic. To retrieve your score from the earlier diagnostic, log in to the previous diagnostic portal (Emmersion). You will be able to reset your password if you have forgotten it. For placement, consult the French placement information and FAQ page.

WHEN should I take the PLACE language placement diagnostic?

  • New Students: The PLACE placement diagnostic should be completed before the date sent to new students in the May welcome letter.
  • All Students: Take the diagnostic at least 10 days before course registration to ensure receipt of your score in time to enroll.  Delays in taking this diagnostic may result in delayed enrollment in your language course. (The PLACE placement diagnostic includes writing and speaking questions that are reviewed by trained raters. This process can take several days, so the diagnostic must be completed at least 10 days before registration to ensure receipt of your score in time to enroll.)

WHY do I need to take the placement diagnostic in advance?

  • The language placement diagnostic includes writing and speaking questions that are reviewed by trained raters. This process can take several days. Take the diagnostic at least 10 days before registration to ensure receipt of your score in time to enroll.  

HOW do I take the PLACE diagnostic?

  1. You will need:
    • At least one hour of focused time
    • Your UVA computing ID (for ex., mst3k)
    • A computer with microphone (your built-in microphone is usually sufficient)
    • A strong internet connection and Chrome, Safari, or Microsoft Edge (view a list of supported browsers and devices and conduct a technology check before you begin)
  1. Take the diagnostic with your official @virginia.edu email address only. Accessing the exam from another email address is an Honor violation.
  2. Please note: Diagnostics will only be scored if they include
    • Your UVA computing ID (for example: mst3k) in the fields marked Login Name and Test Taker ID
    • your UVA email address
    • Scores will only be available via UVA SIS.
  3. Using outside resources of any kind is not permitted and will constitute an Honor violation.
  4. The diagnostic may be taken only once in any language.
  5. Begin the PLACE placement diagnostic at  https://app.avantassessment.com using the test code and password below (case sensitive).
    • Test code: 17405-pl-fr-2
    • Password: 2833
  • Please use your UVA Computing ID (example: mst3k) as the TEST TAKER ID and LOGIN ID. Use only your UVA email address in taking this diagnostic.

What if I need tech support?

If you experience technical difficulties, your diagnostic will not be lost. Use the Avant Assessment Technology Guide to assess the problem and resume the diagnostic where you left off by re-logging on with the same identifying information you provided previously. You must contact the Language Program Director if you feel you need to request a retake of the diagnostic.

What is the diagnostic like? Can I try a sample diagnostic?

  • You will be asked questions that evaluate your abilities in reading, writing, and speaking, as well as your knowledge of vocabulary and grammar. All questions are completed online, asynchronously, and individually. You will not interact with a person while taking the diagnostic.
  • On average, this diagnostic takes up to 60 minutes to complete. There is no time limit, and you may take as much time as you need.
  • You can explore a sample of the pre-diagnostic survey and diagnostic questions in French before you begin.

Can I use a dictionary or other resources?

Using outside resources of any kind is not permitted and will constitute an Honor violation. Submission of the diagnostic in your name means that the score honestly reflects your current language abilities without assistance from other people or any materials.

Once I’ve completed the PLACE diagnostic, how do I get my score?

Your diagnostic is sent for evaluation by a trained diagnostic rater. This is why you need to take this diagnostic at least 10 days before you register for classes. When it becomes available, your score will be transferred to SIS, where you can access it at any time under Academics > Test Scores.

What does my score mean?

Access the French placement information and FAQ page to interpret your score.

Who else sees my score?

The Language Program Director will be able to access your score and additional details of your performance on the diagnostic.

Can I retake the placement diagnostic?

No. Taking the diagnostic more than once is an Honor violation. If you feel that you have extreme circumstances warranting a re-take, you will need permission from the Language Program Director.

What if my score indicates satisfaction of the language requirement?

  • We will report student scores beyond the level of the required course sequence to the A&S Registrar, and your SIS record will be updated by the end of the semester to reflect satisfaction of the language requirement. (The score itself will also remain visible in your SIS record.)
  • Students who satisfy the world language competency requirement in the College by completion of FREN 2020 or equivalent diagnostic or test scores are strongly urged to continue their study of the language and to consider making study and/or an internship abroad part of their UVA experience. Descriptions of our 3000 and 4000-level FREN courses are available on our website. Please contact the DUP in French for more information about our courses and programs. 

If you have more questions, please contact:

Professor Karen James, ksj7c@virginia.edu