Exit Assessments

Most students who take first- and second-year (and some third-year) -LANG courses have speaking and writing exit assessments

The SOPI (Simulated Oral Proficiency Interview) and the WPA (Writing Proficiency Assessment) are designed to measure what students can do functionally with the language, and consist of real-life speaking and writing tasks.

Tasks are similar to the types of hands-on speaking and writing activities students routinely do in and for class throughout the quarter, since these reflect the functional objectives of the course.

For that reason, the best way to prepare is to practice those objectives through regular and active participation in your language course. Some SOPI and WPA tasks will be easier, others more challenging. Regardless, the important thing is to:

  • Speak as much and as well as you can, and show what you can do.
  • Write as much and as well as you can, and show what you can do.

SOPI (Simulated Oral Proficiency Interview)

SOPIs are conducted in the Digital Language Lab on the first floor of Lathrop Library.

The SOPI (Simulated Oral Proficiency Interview) is carried out by the Stanford Language Center, and is designed to measure the oral proficiency of students who take first- and second-year (and some third-year) -LANG courses. It measures what students can do functionally with the language, and consists of real-life speaking tasks.

The SOPI takes 25-45 minutes to complete and is given by appointment only. Tasks are similar to the types of hands-on speaking activities students routinely do in and for class throughout the quarter, since these reflect the functional objectives of the course.

For that reason, the best way to prepare is to practice those objectives through regular and active participation in your language course. Some SOPI tasks will be easier, others more challenging. Regardless, the important thing is to speak as much and as well as you can, and show what you can do.

WPA (Writing Proficiency Assessment)

WPAs (electronic) are conducted in the Digital Language Lab on the first floor of Lathrop Library.

The WPA (Writing Proficiency Assessment) is carried out by the Stanford Language Center and is designed to measure the writing proficiency of students who take first- and second-year (and some third-year) -LANG courses. The assessment measures what students can do functionally with the language, and consist of real-life writing tasks.

The WPA takes 30-45 minutes to complete and is given by appointment only. Tasks are similar to the types of hands-on writing activities students routinely do in and for class throughout the quarter, since these reflect the functional objectives of the course.

For that reason, the best way to prepare is to practice those objectives through regular and active participation in your language course. Some WPA tasks will be easier, others more challenging. Regardless, the important thing is to write as much and as well as you can, and show what you can do.

WPA Resources

Schedule the appointment

Important Notes

  • You are allowed to take the assessment once per language in which you are enrolled. No retakes.
  • Timeframe within each slot is SOPI, 5 minutes break, then WPA.
  • Deadline to schedule an appointment is 2 days before the listed dates.
  • Canceling and rescheduling can be done no later than 1 day prior to the scheduled day.
  • Students enrolled in multiple language classes and taking multiple language assessments need to schedule a different appointment for each language. Also, please tell us when you check in at the location.

View Time Slots and Sign Up for Exit Assessment