1) Q: Are the tests available internationally?
A: No. This test is only available in the United States where we currently have certified proctors.
2) Q: As a non-BYU student, can I receive BYU credit through these exams?
A: No. BYU does not grant credit to students who do not have a BYU transcript.
3) Q: If I accept the pass/fail credit, can I then convert this credit to a grade?
A: No. The pass/fail credit on this exam cannot be converted to graded credit at a later date. (NOTE: if you are a non-BYU student and are interested in earning 14 to 16 graded
credits, consider participating in the Spring/Summer Visiting Student Program, or, if you are near BYU, check the Evening Classes schedule for a class that offers the BYU Challenge Exam. Look under FLANG for the less-commonly-taught languages.)
4) Q: How much credit can I earn for taking one of these exams?
A: The exams are designed to evaluate a student's ability in conjunction with the first three semesters of a language track. This generally means that students can earn up to 12 hours of pass/fail credit, depending on the results of the exam. However, non-BYU students must make all arrangements for purchasing credit from their school based on their performance on the test.
5) Q: What language levels do the exams cover?
A: Though individual schools make their own decisions about the credit they offer, the exams are designed generally to cover the first three semesters of language instruction (i.e. 101, 102, 201).
6) Q: When and where are the exams held?
A: You will arrange this directly with the proctor at your location. You must contact your proctor and arrange a time before showing up to take your exam!
7) Q: I am a native speaker of [language] and would like to receive credit for my language. Can I use these tests for this purpose?
A: At BYU we do not allow native speakers of a given language to receive lower-division credit for that language. We have no jurisdiction over other institutions and their policies for language credit. You should discuss this issue with your institution.
8) Q: I can read and understand [language] well but have not practiced writing or speaking for a very long time. Would this put me at a disadvantage on the
exam?
A: The exams are multiple-choice and, therefore, not designed to test writing or speaking skills. Each test has items that test listening, reading and grammar comprehension questions.
9) Q: I have not been able to find any sample questions through the BYU website. Are practice questions/exams available anywhere online? Could I be sent a practice
exam/past exam to my home so I could see the kinds of questions that would be asked on the exam?
A: We do not provide practice exams or test preparation materials. The most successful way to prepare for any given test is to increase your reading of the language. It is also helpful if you have a friend to practice both listening and speaking of the language. If your institution offers classes in the language, you might ask them about practice exams.
10) Q: If I don't pass the test, can I take it again?
A: An exam may be retaken after 6 months.
11) Q: How much does the test cost and how do I pay for it?
A: The online FLATS test is $50 and can only be paid for online when you register. There are ten languages that we only have the paper/pencil version for and those languages cost $75 to cover the cost of mailing. The ten languages that cost $75 are Afrikaans, Aymara, Cakchiquel, Guarani, Maori, Navajo, Quechua, Rarotongan and Welsh. If you would like to take one of the ten languages listed, please call or email our office (see Contact Us tab).
