SFS / MSFS Proficiency Exams

When is the exam offered?

The French Proficiency Exam is offered near the end of every Spring and Fall semester.

The exam is also offered over the summer for students enrolled in the FREN 2761 (formerly FREN 161) summer course. (However, if the course is not available during the summer, the exam will not be offered.) Please see below for other eligibility requirements. A $50.00 fee will be charged for students needing to take the exam outside of the regular examination periods.

Fall Semester 2024 Exam Schedule

Administration: December 3, 4, and 5, 2024

Exams will be held in person.

The registration process includes two steps: completing a Google form and signing up on the linked SignUpGenius page. Please be sure to complete both steps. Your GU email address will be required.

Register here.

You should plan to arrive at the French Department office (ICC 416) at least 15 minutes before your scheduled exam time to read your assigned article and prepare for the interview. Your exam will begin on time, and any lateness on your part will result in your having less time to complete the reading. 

*Please note that several juries will be listed as “AFRIQUE.” Exams during these times will focus on Africa.

Registration Deadline: November 29, 2024

No requests will be accepted after the Registration Deadline.

Read articles from a previous exam to familiarize yourself with what to expect.

What is the SFS / MSFS Proficiency Exam?

The French Proficiency Exam is an oral language exam. Candidates will be judged on their ability to outline the given article and sustain a conversation on topics in international affairs, politics, economics, culture, and civilization, relating specifically to the French or Francophone worlds, while using a wide range of vocabulary, correct grammar, proper pronunciation, and a professional level of language.

The content (see below) is the basis for the conversations, and as such, it is an integral component of the exam. A student who is not able to discuss topics because of a lack of general knowledge will, in all probability, not pass the exam.

The exam consists of a 15-minute interview with two exam administrators. The candidate will summarize the content of the article that s/he has read just before the exam. Then the examiners will ask the student questions about the article and proceed to a discussion (which the candidate is expected to sustain) about several topics taken from the list of themes.

The candidate will have 15 minutes to read and prepare the article before the exam.

Please remember that this is an oral exam and falls under the University Honor Pledge .

BSFS and MSB candidates will be evaluated on a Pass/Fail basis. The Department of French and Francophone Studies will notify a student’s dean with specific feedback in the case of a failed exam. MSFS, MAGES, and MAGHD candidates will be rated as Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, and Poor. They must receive a rating of “Good” to pass the exam.

Who is eligible to take the BSFS Proficiency Exam?

BSFS, MSB candidates:

All are required to take the Placement Exam offered by the Department of French and Francophone Studies as a first step to proper placement and determination of language preparedness. Students must have completed FREN 2012, 2551, 2761, 2762, 3350, 3351 (formerly FREN 112, 151, 161, 250, 251), or any course beyond the Gateway (3350/3351). French 2551 is also acceptable but does not offer the best preparation for the exam.

Students must complete at least one French course at Georgetown prior to taking the exam.

Who is eligible to take the MSFS Proficiency Exam?

MSFS, MAGES, MAGHD candidates: 

All students (except graduate students who have had formalized French instruction in a Francophone country) are required to take the French Placement Exam to determine adequate language preparedness. MSFS students who have earned above a 111* on the French Placement Test are eligible to take the exam. MSFS students who have completed or are enrolled in 2012, 2551, 2761, 3350, 3351, or any course beyond the Gateway (3350/3351) are also eligible to sit for the exam.

How should a student prepare for the Proficiency Exam?

All students must review and become familiar with the topics (French or African studies) on which the discussions might be based (see below). The list of themes covers material on the French and/or the Francophone World which students cover in Advanced French I and II (as well as more advanced courses such as Topics for Oral Proficiency, African Self-Perceptions, Francophone Countries, etc.). Candidates may obtain additional information from Professor Boutheina Bridaa. Dictionaries may not be used during any portion of the exam. Students may consult the article in front of them, write notes, or underline text if they would like.

What content will the exam cover?

For the reading comprehension component of the exam, selected articles will be made available to the student fifteen (15) minutes prior to the exam. Along with the article itself, student should be prepared to discuss all topics or themes listed below.

Les principaux Thèmes à étudier

La vie politique en France (la République Française et ses institutions politiques, les partis politiques, les élections et leurs modalités, la politique environnementale,  l’immigration, la laïcité, la protection sociale, le système de l’enseignement, l’organisation du travail et la vie professionnelle, l’Union Européenne, la Francophonie)

French Oral Proficiency Exam – African Studies

If you have focused on Francophone Africa in your studies, you need to make sure when registering for the exam to check the day and the time of the French Oral Proficiency Exam – Focus Africa.

Results of the exam will be emailed to students by their respective schools.