Tibetan Language Program Placement Test

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.
Date

Fall 2025:

Date/Time: Thursday, August 28th, 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. PM Eastern Time

Location: Kent Hall, room 401

Format

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.

 

Make-up Placement Test

Date/Time: Friday, September 5th, 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time

Location:  Kent Hall room 401

 

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

 

Reporting of Results

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 (st2931@columbia.edu).

Proficiency Exam: For those who wish to get a certificate for language proficiency, please contact the EALAC Business Officer, Nicole Roldan (nr2746@columbia.edu).