Graduate Reading Exams

2007-2008 DATES
(FALL, SPRING & SUMMER SESSIONS):

September 7, 2007
November 16, 2007
February 1, 2008
March 21, 2008
May 9, 2008

Register Online
Sample Reading Exam

Revised August 2007.

PROFICIENCY: The French Reading Examination (Proficiency) is designed to allow the M.A. or Ph.D. candidate in departments other than French to demonstrate proficiency in reading French-language critical prose.

The candidate will read approximately 5 pages selected from a French-language journal or news magazine, and then respond, in English, to 3-5 short-answer questions. The examiner will make an effort to choose a text from the student's general (not specialized) field of research. The student must demonstrate a clear understanding of the text as addressed by the short-answer questions.

FREN 101G will help prepare students for this exam. It is generally offered during the spring semester and follows Edward M. Stack's text Reading French in the Arts and Sciences, fourth edition (Houghton Mifflin). The motivated student can successfully prepare for the proficiency exam independently by reading Stack's text and consulting sample exams. Neither the exam grader, nor the instructor for FREN 101G are responsible for discussing sample exams.

MASTERY: The French Mastery Examination is designed to allow the M.A. or Ph.D. candidate in departments other than French to demonstrate mastery in reading and writing critical prose in French.

The Mastery Examination consists of two parts. In addition to the short-answer questions of the Proficiency Examination, the Mastery Examination includes a one-page essay, in French, relating generally to the student's current field of research. In order to pass, the student's written French must demonstrate: 1) clarity of expression; 2) logical ordering of ideas; 3) a command of French grammar appropriate to the assigned essay question.

FOR BOTH MASTERY AND PROFICIENCY:

All candidates must sign up at least one (1) week in advance, either online or in person at the French Department, 302 Cabell Hall.

The $17 exam fee is to be made payable by check only to the University of Virginia on the day of the exam. Please note that you must remit payment to receive your exam.

You may consult a bilingual dictionary and a verb chart. Grammar books are not permitted.

Please type your answers. You may e-mail your work to the exam proctor at fre-exm@virginia.edu as an attached Word document, however, please respect the time limit.

Exams may be picked up in the French Department Office (Cabell 302) any time after 9 a.m., and returned by NO LATER THAN 4:00 p.m. the same day. You may work on your exam for as long as necessary during that time period.

GSAS will notify your dean of your results approximately two weeks after the exam date. Please do not contact the French Department for your exam results.

  Please address your questions and comments to fre-exm@virginia.edu.

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