Foreign Language Testing

Most students wanting to complete the foreign language distribution category can determine their language proficiency and/or placement through the standard placement and proficiency exams offered through UM.  However, for languages not taught at UM, or for which UM does not offer placement/proficiency exams, the Ross School of Business allows students to independently pursue third-part language proficiency testing through Avant (see information below).

The Ross School of Business has partnered with AVANT to provide proficiency testing to currently admitted students of the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan who wish to demonstrate proficiency in a language not currently assessed through the standard placement exams offered by LSA. This test may be used to fulfill the foreign language distribution requirement. 

Designed to evaluate real-world language ability, the AVANT test is intended for students with prior experience in the language—through formal study, heritage background, or personal exposure—and is not suitable for complete beginners. The assessment is conducted online, making it accessible and consistent for students testing in less commonly taught languages.

AVANT assessments are based on national proficiency standards. AVANT STAMP was originally developed by the Center for Applied Second Language Studies, a National Foreign Language Resource Center at the University of Oregon and funded by the U.S. Department of Education. 

If you think you are a candidate to take a test through AVANT or would like to discuss this possibility, please schedule an appointment with your academic advisor.

Proficiency Testing for the Following Languages

  • Abkhazian
  • Afaan Oromo
  • Albanian
  • Arabic-Algerian
  • Arabic-Arab Gulf
  • Arabic-Iraqi
  • Arabic-Jordanian
  • Arabic-Lebanese
  • Arabic-Libyan
  • Arabic-Moroccan
  • Arabic-Palestinian
  • Arabic-Sudanese
  • Arabic-Syrian
  • Arabic-Tunisian
  • Arabic-Yemeni
  • Bambara / Bamanakan
  • Bikol
  • Burmese
  • Cabo Verdean *
  • Cantonese
  • Cebuano
  • Chăm
  • Chamoru (Chamorro)
  • Chin (Hakha) *
  • Chuukese *
  • Danish
  • Dari
  • Dinka
  • Dyula
  • Estonian
  • Ewe
  • Fijian
  • Fiji Hindi
  • Fulani
  • Georgian
  • Gujarati
  • Haitian-Creale
  • Hausa
  • Hawai’i Creole *
  • Hawaiian (‘Ōlelo Hawai’i) *
  • Herero (Otjiherero)
  • Hmong *
  • Hungarian
  • Igbo
  • Ilocano *
  • Ilonggo (Hiligaynon)
  • Jamaican Patwah
  • Jingpho (Kachin)
  • Kanganaey
  • Kannada *
  • Kapampangan (Pampango)
  • Karen (Kayah / Karenni)
  • Khmer *
  • K’iche’
  • Kikuyu
  • Kinyarwanda (Kinyamulenge)
  • Kirundi
  • Kosraean
  • Krio
  • Kunama
  • Lao
  • Lingala
  • Lisan ud-Dawat
  • Lithuanian
  • Luganda (Ganda)
  • Malay
  • Malayalam
  • Mandinka (Mandingo)
  • Marathi *
  • Marshallese *
  • Mixtec
  • Mongolian
  • Mortlockese
  • Nepali *
  • Norwegian – Bokmal
  • Norwegian – Nynorsk
  • Nyanja (Chichewa)
  • Nuer
  • Odia (Oriya)
  • Palauan (Palall)
  • Pangasinan
  • Pashto *
  • Pohnpeian
  • Q’anjob’al
  • Romanian
  • Saho
  • Samoan *
  • Shona
  • Sinhala (Sinhalese)
  • Somali Maay Maay *
  • Somali Maxaa *
  • Soninke
  • Swahili *
  • Swazi (siSwati)
  • Sylheti
  • Tatar
  • Telugu *
  • Tigrinya *
  • Tok Pisin
  • Tongan
  • Uzbek
  • Visayan (Bisaya)
  • Waray-Waray
  • Wolof
  • Yapese
  • Yup’ik *
  • Zigula
  • Zomi *
  • These languages will only test speaking. Earning a passing score will satisfy the language proficiency distribution requirement.

Seal of Biliteracy

The Ross School of Business is also offering an option to test for a Seal of Biliteracy. The Global Seal of Biliteracy is a credential that certifies an individual’s proficiency in two or more languages, recognized across states and countries. For college graduates, it provides a competitive edge in the job market by showcasing verified language skills to employers. It also opens doors to global opportunities and demonstrates cultural competence in diverse professional settings. Through AVANT, we offer testing for the Seal on the above languages as well as the following:

  • American Sign Language
  • Amharic
  • Arabic
  • Armenian
  • Bengali
  • Bosnian
  • Catalan
  • Chinese (Traditional and Simplified)
  • Czech
  • Dutch
  • English
  • French
  • Filipino (Tagalog)
  • German
  • Greek (Modern)
  • Hebrew
  • Hindi
  • Indonesian
  • Italian
  • Japanese
  • Korean
  • Latin
  • Persian (Farsi)
  • Polish
  • Portuguese
  • Punjabi
  • Russian
  • Sanskrit
  • Spanish
  • Swedish
  • Tamil
  • Thai
  • Tibetan (Bod-skad)
  • Turkish
  • Ukranian
  • Urdu
  • Vietnamese
  • Yoruba

Information about the Exam

It is computer-adaptive which means that the level of question or prompt difficulty that is presented during the test is based on the answers or responses test takers provide in previous answers or responses. The testing engine automatically adapts to each test taker’s level–easier or more difficult– as the test progresses.

  • The test will be proctored by AVANT Proctor.
  • When you sign up for the test, you will receive an email with a scheduling link. When you click on the link, you will be taken to the Scheduling For Remote Proctoring form.
  • You must have a webcam for the proctor to monitor your test taking.  See the question below on needed materials.
  • On the day of the test, allow 15 minutes for check-in. Please have all the equipment ready to go.
  • The test is used for evaluation of language proficiency to satisfy the Foreign Language distribution category. The University of Michigan evaluates a language based on listening and speaking abilities. Some tests assess only speaking, which is sufficient to meet the proficiency requirement.
    • The listening section takes about 35-40 minutes to answer approximately 30 multiple-choice questions.
    • The speaking section takes about 20-25 minutes to answer 3 prompts.  Each speaking section response is limited to three (3) minutes of recording time. For each speaking section prompt, you have ONLY ONE chance to re-record your response, if needed. You also can add to your response ONLY ONE time, if needed.
    • Test-taker must finish the entire test in one sitting. 
  • For evaluation of language proficiency to earn a Global Seal of Biliteracy, testing evaluates a language based on listening, speaking, reading and writing abilities.
    • Listening: 35-40 minutes to answer approximately 30 multiple-choice questions.
    • Speaking:  20-25 minutes to answer 3 prompts.  Each speaking section response is limited to three (3) minutes of recording time. For each speaking section prompt, you have ONLY ONE chance to re-record your response, if needed. You also can add to your response ONLY ONE time, if needed.
    • Reading: 35-40 minutes to answer approximately 30 multiple-choice questions.
    • Writing: 20-25 minutes to answer 3 prompts.  Each Writing section response is limited to 2500 characters (400-600 words).
    • Test-taker must finish the entire test in one sitting.
  • Cost:  $80-$200.
    • Registration for language proficiency tests currently incurs a registration fee, payable online by credit or debit card. Michigan Ross does not collect any fees. Michigan Ross is unable to provide fee waivers or needs-based financial assistance to cover this fee at the present time.
    • Test-taker will also pay for the AVANT Proctor.
  • You must sit at a desk or table.
  • PC or Mac Computer with power cables.
    • Only one screen is allowed.  External monitors and split screens are not permitted.
    • No incognito mode.
    • No additional applications or browser windows are allowed to be open during testing.
  • Headset with microphone (See the Headset Guide).
  • Chromebooks and Tablets are not supported for remote testing.
  • Keyboard and mouse.
  • Webcam.
  • Stable Internet connection.
  • Photo ID (government or school-issued).
  • Textbooks, notebooks, and paper are not allowed.
  • No dictionaries, cell phones or other support materials (including smartwatches).
  • A Quiet Room. No background music, television, ambient noise, etc.
    • The room must have bright lighting to be considered “daylight” quality. The proctor needs to be able to see your face and surroundings clearly.  The light cannot be behind you.
    • No other person is allowed to enter the room.
  • Check out the equipment and system requirements.
  • You will be asked to verify your identity using a photo ID that has your name and photo on the same side.
  • Dress as though you were in a public setting.
  • Do not communicate with any other person by any means.
  • Do not use a phone for any reason.
  • Do not leave the room during the exam.  Bathroom breaks are only allowed between sections. You must notify the proctor before you leave.
  • You must complete the exam in one sitting.

ABSOLUTELY! Check out these links:

No, this test is to measure your current proficiency level in the language identified.

If you have experience with multiple languages, you may choose to take a test for each language. Once you complete a test for a specific language, you are not eligible to repeat that same language test for proficiency at UM.

No, the test must be completed in one sitting.

There is no deadline, however, we suggest that you complete the exam prior to or within your first semester at UM.

The test is not timed but a remote proctoring session is for 3 hours. Each section typically takes 25-35 minutes.  Expect the test to take a minimum of one hour, however, we suggest that you budget 3 hours.

After you register, you will receive an email asking for information. Then, you will be provided a link to a calendar to select a day and time to test. You can change the day and time if needed after selecting the original day and time. 

There is a rotating calendar of days and times for remote proctoring. It can change from week to week based on the number of test takers that week and what sessions are already full. Sessions are typically 8am-5pm Monday through Friday.

Check out this page on requirements for remote proctoring.

  • You are asked to use your UM email address when making the purchase. 
  • The proctor will ask for a photo identification such as a driver’s license or school ID.
  • If the test-taker does not attempt a response to the prompt or only produces one target-language word, the response will be rated as a Zero and that will affect the overall score for that section. We encourage you to do your best and to submit as much language as possible for each prompt so that you can receive an accurate score.
  • If you leave a response blank, you will not be able to move to the next prompt and complete the section.
  • AVANT has support specialists available for immediate testing support and can be reached via email or phone.
  • Email: support@avantassessment.com
  • Support Hours:
    Mon-Fri 8:00am – 7:00pm EST
  • Toll Free (US): (888) 713-7887
    International: +1 (541) 607-4401
  • Listening Section: Approximately 15 – 25% of the questions you come across will be refreshed on a yearly basis. For languages with fewer test takers, this percentage will be closer to the lower range. Whereas, for major languages it will be closer to the upper range. As part of the yearly refresh, the position of some questions in the test will change, to reduce the amount of exposure of those questions in the test for all test takers.
  • Speaking Section: 100% of all prompts in the test are refreshed every year. Old prompts are retired and new ones are introduced into the test. This does not apply to the Sample Tests. The refresh serves to reduce prompt exposure and ensure that test takers experience different tasks and scenarios each year, thus increasing engagement.

The only accommodation AVANT provides remotely is extended time. It is not possible to offer any additional accommodations in a remotely proctored environment.

No, Ross will have access to any scores received by LSA and can confirm if language proficiency has been met.

  • Choose a quiet place: eliminate all distractions.  Notify others of your test time.
  • Gather and test all equipment (computer, microphone, camera, headset) prior to starting.
  • Ensure a stable internet connection, charged devices and an updated browser.
  • Allow sufficient time for the test to be completed.  This is about 60 minutes but you should budget for 3 hours.
  • Review the sample test beforehand.
  • Read the instructions carefully. Do not rush.
  • Abide by the Test guidelines.  No external help.
  • Results may take a few weeks to be determined.
  • Once determined, your results will be sent to the Ross School of Business.
  • You will be notified by someone from Ross Academic Advising.
  • You will only be notified as to whether you will receive credit for completion of the Foreign Language distribution.
  • You will not have access to your scores.

For more information, please contact academic advising by scheduling an appointment or by emailing rossugacadadvising@umich.edu