Bible Proficiency Exam and
The Bible Tutor

The Bible Proficiency Exam is one part of an overall program of biblical studies at Luther Seminary designed to enhance and encourage familiarity with the Scriptures. Students begin their seminary education with widely differing backgrounds in biblical studies. The Bible Proficiency Exam helps to ensure that everyone becomes acquainted with the basic contents of Scripture early in their studies.

Students prepare for the exam by learning the themes of biblical books, the significance of key people, basic biblical geography and chronology, and the location of important biblical passages. The Bible Tutor, which is available for students online or on CD-ROM (from Luther Productions or the Luther Seminary Bookstore), is a learning tool that includes information that will appear on the exam, together with self-tests that help students assess their progress.

Students prepare for and take the Bible Proficiency Exam at their own pace, although the exam is to be completed by the end of one’s first year of full-time study. Preparing for the exam helps give students a basic working knowledge of the Bible as a whole, while the core courses in biblical studies focus on the interpretation of selected books and passages.

Objectives

• To gain a basic grasp of the content of biblical books
• To gain a basic working knowledge of the people, places, dates, and institutions that are mentioned in the Bible

Registration

Students must register for the Bible Proficiency Exam (BI1002) in the semester in which they plan to complete it. This will be considered as a registered course for that quarter and academic policies and procedures apply. Since no credit is given for the exam, there is no tuition charge and it will not count toward your course load. Exams not completed during the semester will be posted as “Incomplete.”

Students must successfully complete the exam by the first day of the last month of their second full semester of study, otherwise they will not be allowed to register for the next term of study.

Using The Bible Tutor

The Bible Tutor is a computerized study tool prepared by faculty and staff at Luther Seminary. The full version is also produced on CD-ROM, which is available from Luther Productions or the Luther Seminary Bookstore.

1. When you use the Bible Tutor, click on start on the first screen. Select the advanced version option on the second screen. (For help call the computer desk at ext. 462).
    
2. On the main menu page you may want to print out the Overview, which summarizes the Biblical story to help you gain a sense of the whole.
    
3. Click on the button that says To begin, click here. The Study Guide will appear. The Study Guide allows you to work through basic Biblical content by following the outline of the Biblical story. Click on items in the Study Guide that are unfamiliar or of special interest to you. The information page that appears will usually summarize the significance of the book or person in a single boldface sentence. The paragraphs below the summary sentence offer additional information. Self-tests are based on the information on these pages.
    
4. After working through the Study Guide, try looking through the material as it is organized by category. These categories can be accessed through the main menu: Books, People, Dates, Places, and General Knowledge. Again, click on items that are unfamiliar or of special interest to you.
    
5. Try taking Self-Tests in different categories when you have become familiar with the information pages. By using the self-tests, you can determine which areas are most familiar to you and which need further study. When a question stumps you, click on the Help button, which will bring up the appropriate information page for you. The tests are generated from a large bank of questions so that no two exams are exactly alike.
    
6. The Scripture Passage Drill will help you learn where to find key passages in the Bible according to book and chapter. You may print out the complete list of passages for reference. It can also be helpful to mark these passages in your own Bible.
    
7. Before attempting to take the Bible Proficiency Exam for credit, try a number of Complete Tests with Passages (100 questions). When you consistently score 85% or above, you are ready to take the exam for credit.

Taking the Bible Proficiency Exam

Tests can be taken in the computer lab on the lower level of Bockman Hall. Times for the exams are posted in the lab. Tests for credit must be completed within one hour and no resources may be used. A proctor will be present to start and grade the exam.

A passing score is 85%.

When students take the exam, results are sent to the registrar’s office. Students who do not pass the exam must wait at least two weeks before taking the exam again. Therefore, make sure you consistently score 85% or higher on the self-tests before taking the exam for credit.

Students are encouraged to pass the exam as early as possible during their seminary studies.