The placement test aims to assess each student’s actual level of French proficiency in order to recommend a course that best suits their needs.
It is therefore essential to answer the questions to the best of your ability without using any external resources (such as dictionaries, online tools, or help from French-speaking individuals) at any point during the test.
Please keep this in mind — using unauthorized assistance may result in being placed in the wrong course level, which could compromise your enrollment.
Step 1: Computerized test (at home)
All students (including complete beginners) wishing to take a French course are required to take an online placement test. All French courses given at the French Language Centre (FLC) have limited enrollment and placement tests are mandatory for all students.
All students, including complete beginners, who wish to take an FRSL course are required to complete an online placement test.
Complete the online placement test. The password is the following : 5432
- When taking the test, read the instructions carefully, as you will not be able to go back to review them.
- All students are required to write a composition. Even if your knowledge of French is very limited, you must write something. The evaluator will not assign a course without knowing your writing proficiency level.
- Avoid taking the written test multiple times before the interview with an evaluator.
- The written test is valid for 2 years, as long as you haven’t taken any French courses in the meantime.
Step 2: Individual Placement Interview
The placement interview sessions are strictly reserved for students who intend to register for an FRSL course.
To find out the dates of the next available interviews and to register for one of them, please first complete Step 1: the computerized placement test. At the end of the test, you will receive a confirmation email inviting you to register for the placement interview. Please check your inbox (and your spam folder).
If an interview session is no longer available while you try to register, it means that the session is full. If all the sessions are full, please wait for more dates.
The online virtual meeting room will be sent by email only to registered persons. Only duly registered persons will be admitted.
If you have ALREADY completed the computerized test (Step 1) but have not received an invitation to register for a placement interview, please register for an interview using this link.
Note that only those who have already completed the computerized test can take the interview.
Important
The French Teaching Center offers two types of French courses for people with little or no French skills:
- Complete Beginner: for people with absolutely no knowledge of French
- False Beginner: for people with very little knowledge of French
If your computerized test results show that you have no French skills, you will not have to attend a placement interview to confirm your level. However, if you have some knowledge of French, you will have to attend a short interview to assess your oral proficiency.
If you want to take Health and Social Services courses, please follow the procedures on this page and dolly.abimansour [at] mcgill.ca (contact Dolly Abi Mansour) to make an appointment for an interview.
If you want to apply for a transfer of credits, please follow the procedures on this page and natallia.liakina [at] mcgill.ca (contact Natallia Liakina) to make an appointment for an interview. Note that Prof. Liakina won't be able to deal with your transfer of credits during the regular interview sessions.
Please note that this French placement test is only for classes taken at the French Language Centre. If you want to take a French class at the School of Continuing Studies or at the Département de langue et littérature françaises, please consult their websites for more information.
Step 3: Course Registration in Minerva
- If you can speak some French or have some prior knowledge: After completing the online test and attending the interview, you may need to wait up to one business day before being able to register in Minerva. If you are still unable to register after this time, please email: flc [at] mcgill.ca.
- If you are a true beginner (based on the online placement test): After completing the online test, a registration permit will be automatically issued, but you may need to wait between 1 and 1.5 weeks before being able to register in Minerva. If you are still unable to register after this time, please email: flc [at] mcgill.ca.
- If the course is already full, check Minerva regularly and register if a spot becomes available. Some students may change their minds and withdraw before classes begin.
Please note that completing the placement test and receiving a course recommendation during the interview does not guarantee a spot in one of our courses, as spaces are limited.