/College of Arts and Sciences
Language Learning and Research Center

Foreign Language Placement Exam FAQs

If you need to reschedule the exam, simply return to the original link that you received in the "Schedule Your Avant Test" email. No further action would be needed to cancel your previous time.  You can simply let the session lapse and disregard any notifications about it once a new time slot has been selected. For cancellations, you do not have to take any action. You will not be billed until you begin the exam.

Unless you are planning to register for an upper level language class, you do not need to take the FLPE if you received one of the following scores:

  • 3 or better on the Foreign language AP exam
  • 5 or better on the  IB higher-level exam (standard level not accepted)
  • 530 or higher on a foreign language SAT II exam

Note: Students who took NY State standardized Regents exams in 2011 or earlier with a score of 85 or higher are exempt from taking the FLPE. However, high schools' "Regents" exams administered post 2011 are not statewide exams and do not exempt students from LANG or from taking the FLPE.

Yes, unless you took a Regents in 2011 or prior, the exam you took was not a statewide exam even if it was referred to as a Regents exam.  Only the SAT II, AP, and IB (higher level) exams are considered for satisfying LANG.  

No, the exams that determine the Seal of Biliteracy are not statewide exams and vary district to district.  They are not recognized by Stony Brook University due to a lack of standardization. 

In this case, please consult with an Academic Advisor.  In general, if you have a college transcript that documents satisfactory completion of level language I & II, then you will not need to take the FLPE. 

If you have at least two years of formal language study at a secondary school or university where the primary language of instruction is other than English, then transcripts from the institution may be submitted to Academic Advising to demonstrate foreign language proficiency. 

A score of 3 or higher on the NEWL exam satisfies LANG.

FLPE exams are administered online and are self-scheduled.

You will be billed $44.25 by the bursar for taking the FLPE. The charge will appear in your Stony Brook Student Account in the month that follows the month in which you took the exam, e.g. if you take the exam in September the charge will appear in your account in October.

Because the goal of the exam is to test your core proficiency in a foreign language, no prior formal preparation is necessary or required.

It takes approximately 40-60 minutes to complete the four sections of the exam. The Arabic exam has two sections.

The FLPE consists of four sections - reading comprehension, grammar in context, writing, and speaking. The first two sections are multiple choice and the second two sections ask students to respond to a prompt. The Arabic exam has two sections - writing and speaking.

No, students should only take a placement exam in a language in which they have had formal or informal (as heritage speakers) prior exposure. 

Yes, as long as your high school transcript indicates this fact, then you qualify to take more than one FLPE.

No, you can only take the FLPE once per language.

Your score will be posted in your unofficial transcript as a level (LVL) that corresponds to a course placement.

For languages not included in the FLPEs, please refer to the Challenge Exam section of the LLRC website.

No, the Challenge Exam is a different exam.

The results of your placement exam will appear in your SOLAR account in your Degree Progress Report within 5-7 business days from the date you took the exam. Consult the table at the end of the FLPE page on how to interpret your score.

If you believe you have met the LANG requirement based on the an AP, IB (higher level), or SAT exam please contact the Transfer and Advising Office.