College of Arts & Sciences
Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies
Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies

OPI and Proficiency Exams

Spring 2024

For Spring 2024, the deadline to sign up for the Proficiency and OPI exams will be in March.

Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI)

What is the OPI?

The Oral Proficiency Interview is administered to Arabic Majors and Minors, and to SFS graduate programs excluding MSFS and BSFS. MAAS students take the OPI. All exams are conducted in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) to all students including native speakers of Arabic (NO EXCEPTION). Note that these exams are recorded.

If there is more than a semester gap in taking an Arabic course at GU, the student must take the placement exam before attempting the OPI.

Arabic Majors
Arabic Minors
SFS Programs (Excluding MSFS and BSFS)
Students Returning from Abroad / Non-GU Arabic Courses

Proficiency Exam

What is the Proficiency Exam?

The Arabic proficiency exams are administered ONLY to BSFS and MSFS students in the School of Foreign Service. Note that these exams are recorded.

If there is more than a semester gap in taking an Arabic course at GU, the student must take the placement exam before attempting the OPI.

BSFS Students
MSFS and other SFS Graduate Students
Students Returning from Abroad / Non-GU Arabic Courses