Who should take the Chinese placement exam: The Chinese placement exam is for students who have studied Modern Standard Chinese (Mandarin), or who have learned some of the language in a context other than formal study, and who wish to continue learning Chinese at Middlebury. If you are in the class of 2030, have studied Chinese before and want to study it at any time in your Middlebury career, you must take the placement exam between May 18 and June 16, 2026. For example, if you think you can place out of fall Chinese classes and start in the spring, you must take the exam in the May-June window. If you have not studied Chinese before and want to enroll in Beginning Chinese (CHNS 0101), you do not need to take the placement exam. The fall 202 Chinese language classes into which students may place by taking the exam are: CHNS 0201 (2nd-year), CHNS 0301 (3rd-year), CHNS 0411 (Classical Chinese I) and CHNS 0425 (Contemporary Social Issues in China: Advanced Readings). The results of the placement exam may mean you will place out of fall courses and will begin your study of the Chinese language with us in Winter Term or Spring 2027. Even if you have studied Chinese for several years, the placement exam may indicate that you should start in CHNS 0101 (1st-year) in the fall semester.
Exam components: A 30-60 minute written test and a 10-20 minute oral interview by Zoom. The written test will be available starting May 18, 2026 on the Chinese Department Canvas site (middlebury.instructure.com/courses/6892). Complete instructions for the placement exam are at the top of the Canvas site in the document "READ FIRST: About the Chinese Placement Exam." After reading the document and before taking the exam, students should contact the department Chair, Professor Hang Du at hd@middlebury.edu to schedule the Zoom interview. Completed exams should be emailed to her. Students are encouraged to take the placement exam as early as possible after May 18, and all tests must be completed and submitted by June 16. Professor Du will be happy to answer questions about the placement exam and/or the study of Chinese at Middlebury. Email her anytime at hdu@middlebury.edu
Exam window: May 18 through June 16
Exam results: Results will be emailed to students.
Contact with questions: Professor Hang Du at hdu@middlebury.edu