Placement Test
Chinese language courses CHIN 10A, 30A, 105A and 120A are generally offered in the fall, and CHIN 20B, 29B, 40B, 105B, 106B, 120B and 140A are generally offered in the spring.
If you have learned Chinese in high school, at home, or stayed in China for a long time, we request that you take a Chinese language placement test to determine the level at which you should begin your foreign language course work at Brandeis. It is an online, real-time (face-to-face communication with a tester both orally and in writing) interview covering listening, speaking, reading, and writing. You will need to set up your computer for Chinese input and be able to use zoom before requesting the test.
Please contact Xiwen Lu, Director and Undergraduate Advising Head of the Chinese Language Program, to request a placement test. Please provide your Brandeis ID, your Brandeis Email Address, and your available time slots (20 minutes each). Someone from the Chinese Language Program will contact you as soon as possible to set up your placement test.
SAT II test scores in Chinese do not satisfy the foreign language requirement.
Placement Frequently Asked Questions
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We offer comprehensive courses from Beginning Chinese (CHIN 10A) through High Advanced Chinese (CHIN 120B). In addition, we also offer Advanced Business Chinese (CHIN 106B), Classical Chinese (CHIN 140B), and three graduate-level courses (CHIN 200A, CHIN 201A, and CHIN 202B) on Chinese language instruction.
In this case, you should take CHIN 29B: Pathway to Chinese Literacy, a special course designed for students who speak Chinese well but with weak or no skill of reading and writing. If this course is not available in the semester you would like to start a Chinese course, please take the placement test instead.
If your AP score is 5, you do not need to take the placement test, as the course that fits you best is CHIN 105A.
If your AP score is 4, it will fulfill CHIN 30A; however, the placement test is still recommended.
If your AP score is 3 or below, you will need to take the placement test.
It is an online test. For the 20 minutes or so, you will communicate with the tester via Zoom both orally and in writing. If the tester thinks your level is intermediate or higher, you might be required to read an article, complete multiple-choice questions, and write a single-page comment. You may choose traditional or simplified chinese character for the reading.
You need to take a language exemption test to waive the language requirement. The Chinese placement test and exemption test are separated tests. The Chinese program offers one exemption test at the beginning of each semester for all students seeking an exemption. Due to time constraints, we do not offer independent exams. Once you sign up, we will contact you at the beginning of the semester once the time and location are confirmed. The exemption test is typically held during the fourth or fifth week of each semester. Here is the link to sign up.