Anyone who is a currently matriculated student at UW who hopes to take a course in Polish can take a placement test if they do not have a transfer course that may count as a prerequisite instead. Placement tests are intended for students who would like to continue studying a Slavic language at the UW, but do not know which class level they should begin with.

Proficiency tests are intended for students who do not intend to continue taking language classes and are trying to meet the UW’s world language proficiency requirement for graduation by placing out of the third quarter of the 1st year language sequence. In the case of Polish, this would be POLSH 403.

Yes - if you have applicable AP or IB scores, we can use them as placement metrics.

Students needing to determine which level of Polish they should start their language studies at UW with should email slavoffice@uw.edu with their NetID for access to the correct placement exam.

The Polish placement test is an hour-long written exam administered online via Canvas. For the most current information on testing in Polish, please consult the department’s page on testing: Examinations and Tests | Slavic Languages & Literatures.

There are currently no associated costs with taking a placement assessment in Polish. Proficiency testing in Polish through the Avant platform does incur a registration fee. For further details, please see here.

The canvas assessment primarily covers reading and writing skills through grammar concepts.

For the proficiency assessment, while students do not need to study for the test, they can review materials from previous courses they may have taken to prepare. Additionally, the following materials are also available to support students preparing to take an assessment through Avant:

• STAMP 4S Remote Proctoring Test Taker Guide
• STAMP 4S Benchmarks & Rubric Guide
• Language Writing Examples
• STAMP 4S Power Up Guide
• STAMP 4S Sample Tests

Proficiency tests are intended for students who are trying to meet the UW’s world language proficiency requirement for graduation by placing out of the third quarter of the 1st year language sequence (listed as POLSH 403 in the course catalog). Placement assessments are different, and are intended for students who will continue taking classes in Polish at UW. The proficiency assessment in Polish should only be used by students who are looking to clear an admissions deficiency or meet a graduation requirement.

The Department of Slavic Languages & Literatures offers proficiency assessments in Polish via the Avant STAMP 4S online platform. STAMP 4S is a remotely proctored, web-based test that assesses language proficiency. The test has four sections, and test items are based on real-world, everyday situations:

• Reading (30 multiple choice questions)
• Writing (3 prompts)
• Listening (30 multiple choice questions)
• Speaking (3 prompts)

On average, the Avant test takes 2 hours to complete. The maximum amount of time allowed is 3 hours. Please note - exam results typically take between 1-2 weeks to process.

Once students have registered and paid for their test, Avant will send further instructions regarding proctoring and students can then schedule the date and time for their test. Students are responsible for ensuring their systems are compatible with the Avant exam and proctoring systems; to take the assessment online, students will need a compatible computer with a webcam and microphone in order to take the test. Once students have confirmed their system meets test requirements, they can register for the proficiency assessment in Polish here.

Please note: The AVANT proctoring system is not currently compatible with Chromebooks. Access to computer workstations is available through the UW Library system when campus is open, and students can also borrow laptops for home use through the UW Student Technology loan service.

If you have any questions on testing administration, or need technical assistance with proctoring, please contact Avant Assessment Support at support@avantassessment.com.

Please note - exam results typically take between 1-2 weeks to process. The Slavic department administrator will communicate results to students who took the test directly, once they are available. Questions on results and reporting should be directed to slavoffice@uw.edu, but please note that the Slavic Department will communicate results to students once they are available.

If you have any questions on testing administration, or need technical assistance with proctoring, please contact Avant Assessment Support at support@avantassessment.com.

There are currently no limits to the number of times students can take a placement assessment in Polish, but in terms of frequency, students should only need to test once every 12 months. Test results are valid for 1 year following the test date.

Specific test scores will not be shared, but the faculty with whom you tested will be able to tell you which course you will be placed into or whether or not you were able to establish proficiency (and thus exemption from taking further language classes). If you have not heard back from the department within three weeks of taking your assessment, please contact slavoffice@uw.edu.

No, academic credit is not awarded for the placement or proficiency tests.