East Asian Studies

Placement Tests

Breadcrumb

Placement Tests

Discover essential information about the language placement tests, including dates and locations. Ensuring you are well-prepared for these assessments is a crucial step in the process of determining your language proficiency level and embarking on your language learning journey.

Chinese

Chinese Placement Test for 2026-27

Please bring your computer with you to the written test.

Date & Time

12pm -2pm

September 8nd, 2026

Location

List Art Center, rooms 110 &120

64 College Street

Providence, RI 02912

Questions

Who should take the placement test?

  • Students who have learned Chinese before (at home/high school/study abroad programs) and wish to continue their Chinese study at Brown.
  • Students who wish to resume Chinese study after being absent for one semester or more.

Students who have no prior knowledge of Chinese and wish to take CHIN0100, the first semester in the fall semester, need not to take the test.  

Test Components

The placement test includes four components:

  • Questionnaire about your background
  • Short essay
  • Written test
  • Oral Interview

You can complete the background questionnaire and the short essay question at home before the written test and oral interview.

About the Written Test

This placement test is for students of all proficiency levels, from the beginning to the most advanced. Therefore, you are not expected to know the answer to every question. It's fine to leave some questions blank. No need to guess the answers. 

There are four parts in this test: multiple choices on grammar, multiple choices on vocabulary, and multiple choices on reading comprehension. You have 60 minutes maximum to finish this test. 

About the Oral Interview

The oral interview will take 10-15 minutes. All the interviews will be conducted right after the written test on 09/08. If you have any schedule conflicts, please email the coordinator of the Chinese program, Wenhui Chen.

This test is designed to test students at various levels, so you are NOT expected to know the answer to every question. Note that it is not uncommon that we recommend someone who has taken two or even more years of Chinese in high school to start from Basic Chinese at Brown University. The recommendations we make based on this placement test are not final. You and your instructor should discuss whether you are at the appropriate level and make necessary adjustments should either party see the needs to do so during the shopping period.

Korean

Korean Placement Test for 2026-27    

 The Korean Language Placement Test consists of an online written test and essay, as well as an oral interview.

click for KLP placement info                        

Japanese

Japanese Placement Test for 2026-27    

こんにちは！
Thank you for your interest in studying Japanese with us here at Brown University. We
would like to ask all incoming students to take the placement test before the semester
begins.

click for JLP placement info

If you have further questions, please contact Suga sensei

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you in fall 2026!

Vietnamese

Thanks for your interest in taking Vietnamese at Brown University!

Students with prior experience in Vietnamese who are unsure which course level is appropriate should complete the Vietnamese Placement Test. The assessment helps us understand your current proficiency and determine which Vietnamese course will benefit you most.

The full assessment takes approximately 60 minutes and consists of three parts:

Part 1: Language Background Survey (about 10 minutes)
A short questionnaire about your previous experience with Vietnamese, including your language-learning and family background.
Complete Part 1

Part 2: Multiple-Choice Assessment (about 20 minutes)
31 questions designed to assess your current Vietnamese language proficiency.
Complete Part 2

Part 3: Writing Assessment (about 30 minutes)
Write a 250–350-word response by hand. Take a clear photo of your writing and upload it through the form.
Complete Part 3

Please complete as much of the assessment as you can. Do not worry about getting everything correct or completing questions beyond your current ability. The purpose of the placement test is to help us identify the course level that will best support your Vietnamese language development.

Once you have completed all three parts, please email your instructor at trang_tran@brown.edu to let her know. She will review your responses and arrange a short, informal conversation with you in Vietnamese. This conversation is another opportunity to get to know you and your language background and to help determine which Vietnamese course will be the best fit for you.

Questions