As a student enrolled in the Elliott School of International Affairs, you must demonstrate a working proficiency in a foreign language. Proficiency in German is determined by a tool exam.
Students sign up for the tool tests in orientation sessions that precede the exams by several weeks.
You cannot sign up for the tool exam without going through orientation. You may attempt the tool exam for up to three consecutive semesters. One of the reasons for requiring an orientation session is to make sure that your reading comprehension is good enough for a reasonable chance of passing the exam. The purpose of the test is to determine whether you can read and underdstand standard German prose about general issues and international affairs without a dictionary. At no point are you required to demonstrate any skill other than the ability to understand what you read in German.