Testing and Proficiency Exams
Students at BYU with significant prior experience in Chinese, Japanese, or Korean may be eligible to earn university credit by demonstrating their language ability, without repeating content they've already mastered. There are two main ways to do this:
1. Challenge Exam (Graded Credit)
The Challenge Exam is designed for BYU–Provo students who are enrolled in their first language-focused class after returning from a mission or beginning their BYU studies. This exam allows students to earn graded BYU credit for lower-division language courses without having to retake them.
| * Courses credited vary by language, but typically include 101, 102, 201, and sometimes 202 or 211 |
| * Credit appears on your transcript as letter grades and affects your GPA |
| * This exam must be taken during your first BYU language class (CHIN 201/202, JAPAN 301, or KOREA 301) |
| * One-time only — it cannot be retaken |
| * There is a $20 fee to register for the exam |
| * You must successfully complete the course in which you're enrolled to receive the challenge credits. |
2. FLATS Exam (Pass/Fail Credit)
The FLATS exam (Foreign Language Achievement Testing Services) is designed primarily for students not attending BYU–Provo, or for students who want to receive credit in languages not currently taught at BYU.
| * Provides up to 12 credits (101, 102, 201 level) |
| * Credit is pass/fail only and does not affect GPA |
| * Can be taken independently, without being enrolled in a course |
| * Available year-round online via flats.byu.edu |
| * Costs about $50, plus any proctoring fees |
Important: You Can’t Take Both
Students must choose between the FLATS and Challenge Exam. If you have taken one, you cannot later take the other for the same language.
Get Started: Challenge Exams
Challenge Exam Information by Language
Choose your language to view detailed eligibility, credit policies, and exam instructions:
Chinese Challenge Exam Information
These pages explain who is eligible, what credits are available, when to take the exam, and how to prepare.
Important Links for Enrolled Students
If you're currently enrolled in CHIN 201/202, JAPAN 301, or KOREA 301, and your instructor has confirmed that you are eligible to take the Challenge Exam, use the links below:
Challenge Exam Request Form
Submit this form to officially request permission to take the Challenge Exam. (Required before scheduling.)
Schedule Your Exam Time
Once approved, use this link to sign up for your testing time in the Humanities Testing Lab (JFSB B-153).
Get Started: FLATS Exams
If you're not a BYU–Provo student, or your language is not currently offered at BYU, you may be eligible to take the FLATS exam for pass/fail credit.
Visit the official FLATS website
Note: The FLATS exam is not administered by the Asian & Near Eastern Languages Department.
The BYU Center for Language Studies offers several proficiency assessments to help students demonstrate language ability. Available assessments include:
- Written Proficiency Test (WPT) – A 90-minute exam evaluating writing skills in the target language
- Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) – A 20–30 minute spoken proficiency interview conducted by phone
- Oral Proficiency Interview - Computer (OPIc) – A computerized oral proficiency test mirroring the OPI format
- Adaptive Listening Test (ALT) and Adaptive Reading Test (ART) – BYU-developed assessments that measure listening and reading comprehension, respectively
- Language Ability Self-Evaluation Resource (LASER) – A computer-based, two-part self-assessment that combines background questions, productive language samples, and self-reflection. It's designed to guide students in selecting the right course level and to help instructors tailor instruction
You may be asked to complete a proficiency exam as part of your language course requirements. Your professor can provide more details of how to sign up, or you can request additional information by visiting the Center for Language Studies' assessment page:
CLS Language Assessments at BYU
How to Request Testing Results for your Chinese, Japanese or Korean proficiency exam
To request your results:
Email: asianneareastern@byu.edu
Include the following information in your message:
- Your full name
- The language you tested in (Chinese, Japanese, or Korean)
- The approximate date of your test
- Be sure to use your BYU student email address
Results are typically available two weeks after the test date and will be sent via email.