Smith College
Spanish Placement Exam, 2015-2016
*MUST BE COMPLETED BY SUNDAY, AUGUST 30th, 2015*
Because students arrive at Smith with differing language experience and proficiency, there are
several entry points to departmental course offerings for first-year and transfer students. Students
with no previous Spanish language instruction should expect to enroll in SPN 112y (Accelerated
Elementary Spanish). All first-year and transfer students who have previously studied Spanish will
take a placement exam prior to enrolling in a departmental course, and will typically enter at the
introductory or intermediate language level (SPN 120, SPN 125, SPN 200, or SPN 220).
Step 1: Take the exam (only once, please) when you have uninterrupted time to
do so, ~20-30 minutes, or more if needed
To take the Spanish placement test, go to: http://webcape.byuhtrsc.org/?acct=smith
(All exams are taken under the Academic Honor System. Please do not use a
dictionary or a textbook to aid you during the exam.)
You will be prompted to type in a password which is: pioneers1
After you type in the password, you will be taken to a screen which asks you for some
information. You only need to fill out your first and last names. Proceed to take the
exam (only once) and when you are finished make a note of your score.
Step 2: Complete the placement questionnaire
Please fill out the following questionnaire, page 2 of this document, and e-mail it
using your Smith e-mail address to one of the people listed below by Sunday, August
30th, 2015 at the latest. You will receive your placement information via e-mail during
the first two weeks of August if you take the exam before August 1st, or within a few
days if you take it after August 1st. Please keep a copy of the questionnaire (along
with your score) for when you meet with your liberal arts adviser in
September.
*Students with last names beginning with A-M, email all information to:
Molly Falsetti-Yu at mfalsett@smith.edu
*Students with last names beginning with N-Z, email all information to:
Silvia Berger at sberger2@smith.edu
Please proceed to page 2 for the questionnaire. 
Spanish Placement Questionnaire
2015-2016
Name:
Score:
1. How many years have you studied Spanish? Where and for how long?
Did you take Spanish last year? If not, when and where did you last study it?
2. How do you feel about your learning process (i.e. you struggled with the language /
it was easy to learn, etc.)? What was the easiest aspect for you? The hardest?
3. How confident do you feel about your grammatical accuracy? Do you think you
could use a review of grammatical structures and concepts? In what area/s?
4. a. Do you have a decent vocabulary, or do you need to work on expanding it?
b. How are your listening skills? What was the language of instruction in the
classroom?
c. Have you done reading in your classes? What genres and what kinds of texts did
you read?
d. What kind of writings did you produce in your classes? And/or what were your
tests like? (Multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, short answer/essay, essay)
5. Do you feel confident with your speaking skills, or are you hesitant and/or nervous
when it comes to speaking? Did you speak in Spanish on a consistent basis in your
high school Spanish classes?
6. Is there any other information you would like to share about your experience with
Spanish?