Speak a foreign language? Get college credit!
Did you know most colleges require you to take two years of a foreign language to be admitted to their school? And that some colleges and degrees will require you to complete more foreign language credits once you're enrolled?
But what if you already speak another language? Whether you were raised in a Spanish-speaking home, have parents from Denmark who taught you Dutch, spent a few years living in Italy and picked up the language, or used Rosetta Stone to learn Mandarin — if you already know a language other than English, you can skip the classes and earn the credits by taking the FLATS test.
The FLATS test, which stands for Foreign Language Achievement Testing Services, is offered through Brigham Young University (BYU) but can be taken online, even from the comfort of your own home, and the credits you receive can count toward your high school diploma and be transferred to most colleges. Here's a breakdown of how it works:
Languages: The FLATS is offered for over 50 languages, from Arabic to Vietnamese. You can click here to see the full list.
Sections: Listening, reading, and grammar are all included in the test. Note that the listening section can go quick, with no opportunities to pause, rewind, or slow down.
Format: All questions are multiple-choice.
Time: Students are allowed up to 2.5 hours to complete the test.
Cost: The test costs $50.
Credits: The amount of college credits you receive will depend on your test performance and your future college. Check with the colleges you're interested in to determine whether they accept the FLATS for language credits at their institution. If you pass all three sections (101, 102, and 201), you could earn up to 12 college credits.
Proctoring: The FLATS is taken online and will be proctored by a certified individual. You must indicate who will be your proctor when registering for the test. Baker Charter Schools has multiple certified FLATS proctors on staff.
More FAQs about the FLATS test can be found here.
If the FLATS sounds like an option you'd like to pursue, contact Jennifer Tracewell at jtracewell@bakercharters.org