French Oral Proficiency Exam
What is the SFS Proficiency Exam?
The French Proficiency Exam is an oral language exam. Candidates will be judged on their ability to summarize a press 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 article will be taken from a non-specialist newspaper, journal, or magazine internationally recognized within the French-language press. The content of the article 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.
This is an oral exam and it falls under the University Honor Pledge.
Who is eligible for the Oral Proficiency Exam?
Any student who wants to show proficiency in French can register to be tested. A student does not need to be enrolled in a French course to take the exam. Because the candidate should demonstrate a low advanced level (according to the ACTFL standards) in speaking and reading, students enrolled in the French program should take the Oral Proficiency Exam after having completed at least FREN 2002, Advanced French II. Typically, students take the proficiency exam in the fall, while being enrolled in FREN 2761, Topics for Oral Proficiency, which is specifically designed to prepare them for the test.
When and how should I register for the Oral Proficiency Exam?
The Oral Proficiency Exam is given three times a year. Every student who wants to be tested should officially apply by filling out this form before the deadline.
| Term | Session | Application Deadline |
| Fall | Second week of the semester | End of Add/Drop period |
| Last two weeks of November | Last Thursday of October | |
| Spring | Last two weeks of April | Last Thursday of March |
What does the exam consist of?
Two exam administrators will be present for each exam; one may be present via Zoom. A third administrator may also be present for training purposes. All exams may be recorded, for internal purposes only.
Upon arrival, all students must present a current GU ID card with a photo or a QID. The student will be provided with an abbreviated version of the Georgetown Honor Code in writing and will be asked to sign it.
The exam administrators will also collect the student’s articles and handwritten notes and remind them that they are not allowed to share any information regarding the exam.
- First part (15 minutes): reading and preparation
Students will have 15 minutes to read a press article in French. The length of the article will be approximately 1200 words, although it may vary according to the difficulty of the text. No outside materials (including dictionaries, course notes, etc) or technology (mobile phone, computer, AI, etc) may be consulted. However, students may write notes on a blank sheet of paper provided by the evaluators during the reading part of the exam, and they can consult their notes during the speaking part of the exam.
- Second part (15 minutes): conversation
After the 15 minutes of preparation, the student is directed to the exam room for the 15 minutes of the speaking part. First, the candidate will summarize the content of the article in an organized manner. Then, the exam administrators take turns asking comprehension and critical thinking questions related to the article. The examinee should demonstrate the ability to situate the news within a historical perspective. At the end of this section, the examinee should be able to state his/her position on the issue and state the reasons behind that position. For more information on criteria, please consult the exam rubrics.
How is the Proficiency Exam graded?
The proficiency exam is evaluated on a “Pass” or “Fail” basis. Students who pass the proficiency exam are able to sustain a discussion dealing with current events and demonstrate familiarity with relevant historical, cultural, political, and economic information. Students are also able to participate in routine social interactions to discuss their interests, studies, and future plans.
A pass on the proficiency exam is comparable to achieving an Advanced Mid, in reading comprehension and oral production as per the Teaching of Foreign Languages Proficiency Guidelines (ACTFL) rating. The assessment criteria are available here. [Link Assessment Criteria]
If a student fails the exam, he or she needs to wait until the next semester to take it. The proficiency exam cannot be taken twice within the same semester. Therefore, senior students are required to take the proficiency exam in the fall if they have not completed it before.
What content will the exam cover and how should I prepare for it?
The article will cover one of the following topics: Political life in France (the French Republic and its political institutions, political parties, elections and their procedures, environmental policy, immigration, secularism, social welfare, the education system, work organization and professional life, the European Union, the francophone world). Because the article will be taken from a newspaper or magazine internationally recognized within the French-language press, it is crucial that the candidate should stay up to date with the news within the francophone world.
Most of the topics mentioned above are covered in Advanced French I and II as well as more advanced courses such as Topics for Oral Proficiency, French & Francophone Philosophies, etc. FREN 2761 Topics for Oral Proficiency is specifically designed to prepare you for the exam.
For more information about the French Oral Proficiency Exam, please visit https://french.georgetown.edu/sfs-proficiency/#