Spanish Language
Description of the Examination
The Spanish Language examination is designed to measure knowledge and ability equivalent to that of students who have completed two to four semesters of college Spanish language study. The exam focuses on skills typically achieved from the end of the first year through the second year of college study; material taught during both years is incorporated into a single exam.
The examination contains 120 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. Any time candidates spend on tutorials or providing personal information is in addition to the actual testing time.
There are two Listening sections and one Reading section. Each section has its own timing requirements.
- The two Listening sections together are about 30 minutes in length. The amount of time candidates have to answer a question varies according to the section and does not include the time they spend listening to the test material (40% of the total exam time).
- The Reading section is 60 minutes in length (60% of the total exam time).
Most colleges that award credit for the Spanish Language exam award either two or four semesters of credit, depending on the candidate's test scores.
Knowledge and Skills Required
Questions on the Spanish Language examination require candidates to comprehend written and spoken Spanish. The subject matter is drawn from the following abilities. The percentages next to the main topics indicate the approximate percentages of exam questions on those abilities.
| 15% | Section I: Listening: Rejoinders | |
| Listening comprehension through short oral exchanges | ||
| 25% | Section II: Listening: Dialogues and Narratives | |
| Listening comprehension through longer spoken selections | ||
| 60% | Section III: Reading | |
| 16% | Part A: Discrete sentences (vocabulary and structure) | |
| 20% | Part B: Short cloze passages (vocabulary and structure) | |
| 24% | Part C: Reading passages and authentic stimulus materials (reading comprehension) | |
Study Resources
Most textbooks used in college-level Spanish Language courses cover the topics in the outline given earlier, but the approaches to certain topics and the emphasis given to them may differ. To prepare for the Spanish Language exam, it is advisable to study one or more college textbooks, which can be found in most college bookstores. When selecting a textbook, check the table of contents against the "Knowledge and Skills Required" for this test.
In addition to studying basic vocabulary, you should understand and be able to apply the grammatical principles that make up the language. To improve your reading comprehension, read passages from textbooks, short magazine or newspaper articles, or other printed material of your choice. To improve your listening comprehension, seek opportunities to hear the language spoken by native speakers and to converse with native speakers.
If you have opportunities to join organizations with Spanish-speaking members, to attend Spanish movies, or to listen to Spanish-language television or radio broadcasts, take advantage of them.
In addition, many college faculty members post their course materials on their school websites, and there are a number of educational websites that contain useful resources organized by subject.
