Language Placement Exams

Fall 2026

Please see information below re: placement procedures, listed by language:

Arabic (administered online)
Exam Dates: Summer, Fall, and Spring in advance of registration

For Fall 2026 registration: Now through 3 August 2026 (for incoming students)
        *Continuing students are strongly encouraged to take the exam before 3 August

The Arabic placement exam (offered as the Avant STAMP 4S exam) is accessible in advance of registration and during placement exam periods in the summer, fall and spring. 

Students with prior experience studying the language and who plan on taking their first course at Harvard within the language are required to take the language placement exam. This should be done before registering for the course. Once you receive your placement result, please petition for the course determined by the placement process; your petition will be approved so you can enroll. We very much encourage you not to wait until the start of courses because space in another course level is not guaranteed.

To meet the language requirement: first register for the exam online. After you take it, you will be notified about the in-person Language Verification Exam.

To register for the Arabic placement exam, first fill out the Arabic Placement Exam Survey. You will then receive an email confirming your registration that includes helpful information so that you can take the Avant STAMP 45 online. Click here to access a sample exam.

Questions about taking the placement exam, exam results, and course selection
                Contact: Nader Uthman, Dir. Of the Modern Language Programs, NELC
                 naderuthman@fas.harvard.edu

Armenian (Western)

Exam Dates for Fall 2026: By request

 Please contact NELC-languages@fas.harvard.edu

Hebrew (Modern)

Exam Date for Fall 2026 registration: Tuesday, July 28, 2026, 10:00am; Zoom 

Please contact Mazalit Haim, Senior Preceptor in Modern Hebrew, for the Zoom link and more information. A make-up exam will be held Tuesday, August 4, 2026, 10:00am on Zoom. 

Persian

Exam Dates for Fall 2026 registration: By request

 Please contact NELC-languages@fas.harvard.edu

Turkish (Modern)

Exam Dates for Fall 2026: By request

 Please contact NELC-languages@fas.harvard.edu

Turkish (Ottoman)

Exam Dates for Fall 2026: By request

 Please contact Himmet Taskomur, Senior Preceptor in Ottoman and Modern Turkish, taskomur@fas.harvard.edu

Yiddish

Exam Dates for Fall 2026: By request

 Please contact NELC-languages@fas.harvard.edu

If you are interested in Albanian or Kurdish, please contact  NELC-languages@fas.harvard.edu

* Please be on time for the exams. The online exams will only be open at the listed times; once they close, you will not be able to access the exam.

You can also email NELC-languages@fas.harvard.edu if you have any general questions regarding NELC Language Placement exams.