Test Preparation
What to expect before, during, and after your FLATS test.
Photo by Yana Marudova on Unsplash
Before the test
After you register and pay the $50 fee, our office takes one to three business days to process your registration. Once processed, you'll receive instructions and will need to contact your proctor directly to schedule your exam.
- Your registration is valid for six months.
- You can only register for one test per language within that six-month window.
- Make sure the email address on your registration is accurate: it's how you'll receive your test access and your results.
Study material
FLATS doesn't provide official practice materials. The best preparation is regular exposure to the language you're testing in (news, podcasts, or videos) along with a review of beginner and intermediate grammar and conversation. Listening passages play only once, so practicing your listening comprehension matters.
During the test
The test is the same structure across every language:
- 150 questions, multiple choice only: no writing or speaking
- Two and a half hours, unless you have pre-approved accommodations
- Three graded sections (Listening, Grammar, Reading), 4 credits each
- Covers beginner and intermediate conversation and grammar
- Questions and answers appear in both English and the test language
You can only access the test with your proctor present, which is why choosing a proctor during registration matters. After registering, you'll receive emailed instructions with your proctor's contact information; reach out to them directly, since procedures vary by proctor and institution.
After the test
Once processed, you'll receive both an emailed and a mailed copy of your results. Unless you chose to have your results held, that email also means your results have already been sent to your institution; your institution decides whether and how much credit to grant.
If it's been more than a week since your test and you still haven't received your results, you can request your score report.