Hi everyone, I was wondering what the placement tests at BS are like? Are they online, timed, MCQ/OEQ?
Regarding world languages, I’ve learned French for 3 years, and I’m hoping to take French II this year, but I’m extremely rusty. Just wondering what the placement tests focus on so I know what I should brush up.
Thank you!
Every school does them differently. If you want to do a little review for French, that’s fine, but as a rule, you shouldn’t prep too much. You want to be placed accurately.
Most schools will be very accommodating in moving you during the school year – up or down – if you’re misplaced, so it’s not particularly high stakes. They recognize that students have had different types of preparation before they come to BS.
If you are going to a rigorous boarding school, my opinion is that it is best NOT to prep for placement tests, and in fact not to try hard at all. At a very academic school you will have plenty of challenges. No need to make every class maximally difficult.
I think it depends on the school you are coming from and the school you are entering. But I advise not to spend too much time prepping for it. My daughter was at a theoretically “good” LPS and went from Honors Spanish III into Spanish I. She does have an A in Spanish I, and I was really surprised and amazed to hear that the written portion of her final exam was an ESSAY. Like legitimate with intro/body/conclusion paragraphs essay. In Spanish I. It was explained that they are focused on fluency not memorization so it’s a different style which is obviously great, but it’s a big shift.