What is the GSFLE?
Indiana University graduate students who must demonstrate reading proficiency in a foreign language to satisfy degree requirements may take the Graduate School Foreign Language Exam (GSFLE) in lieu of taking language coursework. We administer the GSFLE in cooperation with IU foreign language departments.
The GSFLE is available in French, German, and Spanish. Since these are institutional exams NOT available at other universities, students should complete any necessary language testing while in residence on the Bloomington campus. The GSFLE cannot be administered on other campuses.
French | Total Number of Allowable Test Attempts: 3 * |
German | Total Number of Allowable Test Attempts: 2 * |
Spanish | Total Number of Allowable Test Attempts: 3 * |
* There must be a minimum of 3 to 4 months between test attempts, including testing scheduled and taken through both individual and group appointments. Retesting with less time in between test attempts is not allowed and may result in the cancellation of test scores. If you are absent for the testing appointment for which you have registered, this does not count as a test attempt.
Testing in the same language is permitted only once per semester. Before registering a third time, students should consult the appropriate language department about alternative methods of fulfilling the reading proficiency requirement.
The GSFLE is a one hour, multiple choice exam. There are no listening sections.
The exam covers grammar and/or reading comprehension as follows:
French
- 32 Grammar questions
- 32 Reading comprehension questions
- 64 Total questions
German
FORM A
- 35 Reading comprehension questions
- 35 Total questions
FORM B
- 20 Reading comprehension questions
- 20 Total questions
Spanish
- 38 Grammar questions
- 39 Reading comprehension questions
- 77 Total questions
Test aids are not permitted for the French and Spanish tests. German examinees may use a German/English - English/German dictionary during the exam; however, dictionaries may not be shared among examinees.
Sample Tests
There are no sample tests for German.