The National Examinations in World Languages®
Overview
National Examinations in World Languages® is a proctored online exam that measures the language proficiency of high school students in Arabic, Korean, Portuguese, and Russian. NEWL scores provide students with a reliable way to evaluate their readiness for college placement and, in some cases, to earn college credit.
Exam specifications align with the World Languages Framework (College Board, 2006) and the proficiency guidelines developed by American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). The exams target language skills at levels of difficulty that are appropriate for high school language test-takers beginning with Novice High through Intermediate High on the ACTFL Scale.
Eligibility
NEWL is intended for secondary school students who wish to continue their language studies at university. Students must be enrolled in 9th grade or above, OR have turned 14 before September 1, 2025, to take the 2026 exams.
College Board Recognition
Endorsed by the College Board, NEWL is administered by American Councils for International Education in four languages considered critical by the U.S. government: Arabic, Korean, Portuguese, and Russian. Each year, over 1,000 high school students, both in the U.S. and abroad, take the exams. Modeled after the College Board’s AP® foreign language exams, NEWL is proficiency-based and designed for secondary school learners, including both heritage and non-heritage students. Examinees receive an AP®-style score report that can be used for college credit and/or placement. NEWL is offered online each spring, around the same time as AP exams.
The Seal of Biliteracy
NEWL is recognized as a qualifying assessment for the Seal of Biliteracy in many states, while in others, its acceptance is determined at the district or local level. Students and educators are encouraged to check directly with their state or local education authority to confirm whether NEWL meets Seal of Biliteracy requirements in their area.
Higher Education
The universities listed below have accepted NEWL scores as a valid measure for awarding academic credit or determining appropriate course placement.
While each institution maintains its own policies and protocols, it is important to highlight that the College Board actively encourages its member institutions to recognize NEWL scores for credit and placement, in the same way they do with AP® exam scores.
| Bard College |
| Baruch College, CUNY |
| Berkeley University |
| Borough of Manhattan Community College |
| Bridgewater State University |
| Brooklyn College, CUNY |
| Broward College |
| Brown University |
| Bryn Mawr College |
| Bucknell University |
| Chapman University |
| Colby College |
| CUNY Brooklyn College |
| CUNY Hunter College |
| Dartmouth College |
| Duke University |
| Emmanuel College |
| Florida Atlantic University |
| Florida International University |
| George Mason University |
| George Washington University |
| Harvard University |
| Haverford College |
| Idaho State University |
| James Madison University |
| Loyola University, Maryland |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| Montana State University |
| New York University |
| Northeastern University |
| Nova Southeastern University |
| Purdue University |
| Rutgers University |
| St. Johns University |
| Stanford University |
| Stevens Institute of Technology |
| Swarthmore College |
| Syracuse University |
| Texas A&M University |
| The College of Westchester |
| The Jewish Theological Seminary of America List College |
| UCLA |
| Umass-Amherst |
| University of California Los Angeles |
| University of California Santa Barbara |
| University of California, Irvine |
| University of California, Los Angeles |
| University of Chicago |
| University of Florida |
| University of Maryland |
| University of Missouri-Kansas City |
| University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill |
| University of Oklahoma |
| University of Pennsylvania |
| University of Southern California |
| University of St. Andrews |
| University of Tampa |
| University of Virginia |
| University of Washington-Seattle |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
| Utah State University |
| Vassar College |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University |
| West Valley College |
| Wheaton College, Massachusetts |
| William and Mary |
| Yale University |
Please note that institutional policies may change over time. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, students are encouraged to confirm directly with the university or program regarding admission and language proficiency requirements.
The table below offers colleges, universities, and department faculty suggestions for placement and/or credit, based on the scores.
Recommended College Placement by NEWL Score
NEWL (5-point) Grade | Suggested Semester Placement |
5 | 5th (first semester of third year) |
4 | 4th (second semester of second year) |
3 | 3rd (first semester of second year) |
2 | 2nd (second semester of first year) |
1 | 1st (first semester of first year) |