FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions (and rumors):
Q: Once I register, how long do I need to wait before I schedule the test with my proctor?
A: After you register and receive your confirmation email, please wait two business days before scheduling to take the test with your proctor.
Q: How long do I have to take the FLATS exam once I’ve registered?
A: You have 6 months to take the test. After that your registration is invalid and you would need to register again and pay another $50.
Q: Do you have sample questions?
A: No, but it does help if you can study a beginning and intermediate college textbook. You can also go to YouTube to practice listening to your language. The recording on the test goes quickly, and you are not allowed to stop or rewind, so be well-rested, and listen carefully when you are taking the listening part at the beginning. The test is all multiple choice, so all the answers are on the test; you don’t have to come up with anything. There are no speaking or writing parts.
Q: As a non-BYU student, can I receive BYU credit through the FLATS exam?
A: No. BYU does not grant credit to students who do not have a BYU transcript before taking the exam. You need to make sure that your college or university will accept the credits and put them on your transcript at the school you are attending, before you take the exam.
Q: How long does it take to get my results?
A: An unofficial score report is no longer sent to your email address when you complete the FLATS test. Your official score report will be sent to you and to your school by regular U.S. mail within three business days of the completion of your test. The time it takes to receive your scores depends on where you live, but is usually less than seven business days. Please make sure that if you live in an apartment that your apartment number is listed in your address. If your apartment number is not included in your address, your scores will be returned to us. Some schools receive your scores by email, so they may receive your scores before you do. Check with your school to see if they have received your scores.
Q: If I don’t have you send my results to my school when I register, can I have them sent later?
A: Yes, just send us a request at flats-sec@byu.edu when you’re ready to send your scores somewhere else. FYI – we keep your scores on file forever. If you ever need your scores sent to a different school, send us an email including the name and address of the person the scores are going to, and we will send them by regular mail. If your school will accept an email, we can send your scores through email; it’s quicker, but not all schools accept emailed test scores (check with your school). There is no fee for sending scores by email or regular mail.
Q: If I register, and then find out that I don’t need to take the test, can I get a refund?
A: Yes, but only within 6 months of registering. After 6 months have passed there is no record in our system and a refund is impossible. If you request a refund within the 6 month time frame, there will be a $10 service fee deducted from your refund, so you’ll only get $40 back if you don’t take the test and request a refund.
Q: If I don’t pass the test, can I take it again?
A: Yes, but you will need to wait 6 months before you can take it again, and you will need to register again, and pay another $50.
Q: I don’t live in Utah. Can I take the test in my state?
A: Yes. We have certified proctors at many colleges and universities across the United States. Also Proctor360 is available to most students, unless your school forbids it. Florida International University, University of Central Florida, University of Central Oklahoma and California State University Bakersfield do not allow their students to use Proctor360. If you are interested in using Proctor360 for proctoring your FLATS test in your own home, please see the Proctor360 tab on the home page of this website.
Q: Is the FLATS exam available internationally?
A: No. This test is available only in the United States.
Q: Is the test timed?
A: Yes. The time limit is 2 1/2 hours. (However, most students finish the exam within about 90 minutes.)
Q: As a non-BYU student, can I take the BYU language class and the associated challenge exam?
A: Possibly. BYU has a visiting student program. Please visit the BYU Visiting Student website for more information.
Q: Is there a FLATS exam for every language?
A: No, we only offer 53 foreign language exams. Most are online, but the following language exams are offered on paper, and cost $75 each: Aymara, Cakchiquel, Guarani, Maori, Navajo, Quechua, Rarotongan, and Welsh. Afrikaans is no longer available.