The Department of the Classics offers placement exams in Latin, ancient Greek, and modern Greek. Students with prior experience in a language who wish to continue their study here should take the relevant placement exam. This allows the faculty to guide you toward the most appropriate course(s). Unless their placement score so indicates, students with one year or more of recent, formal study may not enroll in introductory language courses (Latin 1, Ancient Greek 1).
UPDATE 02-24-2024: Placement exams for Latin and ancient Greek will be open from:
Tuesday, February 27 (10am) until Tuesday, April 16 (10pm)
You may take either exam (or both) at any time during that period.
To register, visit the Canvas website for the exam you wish to take and follow the instructions on the site.
If you have already registered for a previous exam sitting, you do not need to register again.
Please register well before you plan to take the exam and follow the instructions on the website so that you have time to prepare and check that your computer will work properly with the exam software.
Latin
In order to provide the best possible advice on placement into Latin classes, the Department of the Classics asks that all students who did not begin their study of Latin here take the Harvard Latin placement exam. Other standardized test scores (such as SATs and/or APs) are also helpful in determining course recommendations, but all students should take the placement exam, if possible.
Questions about Latin placement should be directed to the Senior Preceptor in Ancient Greek and Classical Latin, Dr. Ivy Livingston (livings@g.harvard.edu).
Greek, ancient
Placement into ancient Greek classes is based on Harvard placement exam scores. The Ancient Greek placement exam includes only Attic Greek.
Questions about ancient Greek placement should be directed to the Senior Preceptor in Ancient Greek and Classical Latin, Dr. Ivy Livingston (livings@g.harvard.edu).
Greek, modern
Placement into modern Greek classes is based on Harvard placement exam scores. Questions about modern Greek placement should be directed to the George Seferis Professor of Modern Greek Studies and of Comparative Literature, Professor Panagiotis Roilos (roilos@fas.harvard.edu).
Placement exams and the Harvard language requirement
Sufficiently high scores on Harvard placement exams can be used to satisfy the Language Requirement. After you receive your placement exam score(s), you will be notified whether any of them meet the minimum required score. Scores from the online test that are high enough to satisfy the language requirement are subject to additional verification.