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Portuguese Language Placement Exam

1. General Information - Portuguese at Dartmouth

A series of two, one-term elementary courses in Portuguese (PORT 11 and PORT 3 ) gives students the foundations they need in the language and allows them to satisfy Dartmouth's language requirement. They are then able to move on to the intermediate courses in Portuguese (PORT 8 or PORT 9 and PORT 20).

You should take this placement exam ONLY if you have previous knowledge of Portuguese. If you have never taken Portuguese before, you can enroll in our intensive PORT 11. Please contact professor Rodolfo Franconi or professor Carlos Minchillo to discuss your choices (Rodolfo.A.Franconi@Dartmouth.edu; Carlos.Minchillo@Dartmouth.edu).

Students who have submitted scores to Dartmouth for the SAT II or AP exams will be placed according to those scores and aren't required to take the placement exam.

2. Scores

After completing the placement exam, you will be able to access your scores on Canvas for all the sections of the exam. Click "Grades" to check your score. You will need to look at the bottom of the "Grades" page to see the percentage for each exam.

  • A score between 50% and 70 % in Test A, indicates a placement in Portuguese 3.

  • A score of 70% and higher in Test A, indicates that you are a candidate for language exemption and a placement in Portuguese 8 or Portuguese 9.

  • A score between 50% and 70 %  in Test B, indicates that you are a candidate for language exemption and will place you in Portuguese 8 or Portuguese 9.

  • A score of 70% and higher in Test B, indicates a placement in Portuguese 20 or higher.

After taking Test A or/and Test B you should contact professor Franconi or professor Minchillo to schedule an interview. Note: You won't get a final score until you do the oral interview.

You don't have to take Test B. Only take Test B if you have advanced knowledge of Portuguese. If you decide to take Test B you should also take Test A. 

4. Take the Exam

If you are taking this placement exam, it means you have some knowledge of Portuguese (either you have studied it in high school, you speak it in the family, or you have lived abroad). If you do not have any previous knowledge of Portuguese, you do not need to take this exam.

The placement exam consists of:

Test A. 13  questions (multiple-choice, fill in the blanks, and open questions) that test the use of grammar in context and one  250 e 300 words composition. There is a 90-minute limit to complete the test.  After taking the test, you will do an oral interview. 

Test B. 14 reading and listening comprehension questions. There is a 120-minute limit to complete the test. After taking the test, you will do an oral interview. 

The Dartmouth College Academic Honor Principle

The Portuguese language placement exam is to be completed in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Dartmouth College Academic Honor PrincipleLinks to an external site. Every student who applies to and is accepted by Dartmouth College, as a condition of acceptance, agrees to abide by the provisions of the Honor Principle, so long as he or she remains a student at Dartmouth College.

The following important section is taken from the Dartmouth College ORC:

Examinations. Any student giving or receiving assistance during an examination or quiz violates the Academic Honor Principle.

The student is therefore expected to complete the Portuguese placement exam individually, without help from others or from a reference source, and to complete it to the best of his/her ability. When taking the Placement Exam, you automatically accept and re-affirm your pledge to abide by the Academic Honor Principle of Dartmouth College.