Doctoral students fulfill the language requirement by passing translation examinations (with a dictionary) in two languages relevant to literary scholarship.
Masters students need pass just one exam. The examinations are administered only in mid-fall (usually October) and mid-spring (usually March or early April); a student cannot request an exam at some other time to suit his or her convenience.

Students taking the French, German, or Spanish summer classes that the Grad School offers for free to PhD students may sign up for special exams in those languages in July. (Students not enrolled in a summer language class cannot usually take a summer exam). Please contact Melissa Hozik (hozik@sas.upenn.edu) for more information.

The exam consists of two translation passages, generally one critical or philosophical and the other from a poem or novel. Neither passage should exceed 300 words, and the total for both should be less than 500 words. Students have a maximum of two hours to complete the exam.

The Graduate Coordinator will announce the exact date of the exam and will see if the chosen language is available via e-mail. 
Exam dates may be found on the Graduate English Academic Deadlines and Calendar website.