Students who applied will be contacted directly by their school if they are selected for testing. They will be notified when and where they will test (if eligible for testing). They may not hear from the school until November, after schools have received their complete list of testers.
We are unable to make exceptions to the deadline to apply for this year's testing opportunity.
You can anticipate that the application window for next year will follow roughly the same schedule, open approximately September 15 - October 15. Information will be communicated divisionwide and updated here on our website again early next fall
Students: Earn world language course credits for a language that you already speak!
Eligible PWCS students may earn up to three high school world language credits* by demonstrating their proficiency level in a language other than English on an approved external assessment. There is no cost to participate if selected for first-attempt testing. Additional attempts will be made at the expense of the student’s family.
*Credits earned may count toward a standard or advanced studies diploma. However, it is important to note that if your student attends a middle or high school with a specialty program that includes World Language coursework as a required component – such as a World Language specialty middle school program, the Center for International Studies and Languages program, or an International Baccalaureate program – they must still meet program-specific world language requirements that may not be fully satisfied by Credit by Assessment.
Eligible students must:
*Students must be able to type effectively in the target language, as the exam is administered electronically on PWCS-issued devices, using a keyboard. Handwritten responses will not be an option.
Before applying, students should review the sample skills listed above and take the Avant STAMP 4S, 3S, or WS Sample Test for their chosen language to confirm that they have the minimum language skills to earn at least one credit.
Only the languages available through the testing vendor are currently available for testing.
These 55 available languages for testing in either 2 or 4 skills (depending on language)
These 96 Super Less-Commonly Tested (SLCT) Languages are available for request, but note that testing in these languages cannot be guaranteed and will depend on available funding in a given fiscal year. Students selecting a SLCT language should also indicate (if possible) a second-choice language from among the primary languages in which they can also speak and write in case their first choice SLCT language is not available.
Successful attempts will be documented by a letter “P”, indicating “pass”, for each credited course awarded on their transcript. No letter grade will be used/substituted for a successfully earned credit, nor will “P” be converted for purposes of grade point average (GPA) calculation.
While a student’s performance on this assessment informs their next recommended placement (for languages/levels that are available at the student’s next projected school), it does not impact in any fashion their current course schedule. Students' schedules will not be changed, i.e., they will not be removed from a world language course they are currently taking for any reason related to this assessment. They will be expected to continue and successfully complete any such course, regardless of the outcome of the assessment.
The application for fall 2025 testing will be open from September 15 - October 15, 2025.
The first priority in the selection of students may be given to students in upper grades needing world language credits to earn an Advanced Studies diploma, especially seniors. Should the total number of students exceed the maximum number of students who can be assessed, selection will then be based on the date and time the application was submitted.
All students with disabilities and those identified as English learners are assessed with appropriate accommodations following state and federal guidelines.
The pursuit of credit-by-assessment by students with disabilities will be prescribed by the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 Plan.
Betsy Campagna, Supervisor of World Languages
[email protected]
703-791-8706