Tibetan Language Program Placement Test

General

  1. The placement exam will be used to place students in appropriate levels.
  2. Students who want to take a course other than Introductory A or First Year I level should take a placement exam.
  3. Students who had taken a language course at EALAC more than six months ago and wish to continue to study at EALAC, should take a placement exam to be placed at the appropriate level.
  4. Students who studied Tibetan elsewhere and wish to continue at EALAC, should take a placement exam.
  5. Results will be available after 4 p.m. on the day of the exam.

Spring semesters

  1. Friday prior to the first day of the spring semester
  2. Make-up test: on the Friday of the first week of classes

Classical Tibetan

  • Written Test (70 minutes): Grammar, vocabulary, and reading comprehension.

Modern Tibetan

  • Written Test (70 minutes): Listening comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, reading, and writing.
  • Oral Test (10–15 minutes): An oral proficiency interview conducted after the written exam. Students will be invited individually for the oral test upon completing the written portion.

Only the language program directors will report students’ results to the appropriate school via email:

  • to deans for Columbia College, the language placement results for students taking the exam to test out of the CC requirement should be sent to CC in a timely fashion (approximately two weeks from the date of the first examination).
  • to advisors for Columbia Engineering
  • to registrar for Barnard
  • to advisors for General Studies
  • to coordinator for School of International Public Affairs
  • to associate director for Teachers College

All language placement results must be sent to the EALAC DGS (Director of Graduate Studies), DUS (Director of Undergraduate Studies), M.A. Co-directors and department chair.

For all the placement/proficiency test fees, please visit our Language Testing Fee Policies page.

Placement Test: For any other questions related to the Tibetan language placement tests, please contact Sonam Tsering ([email protected]).