National Latin Exam

Last updated
National Latin Exam silver medal NLESilverMedal.jpg
National Latin Exam silver medal

The National Latin Exam is a test given to Latin students. Sponsored by the U.S.-based American Classical League and the National Junior Classical League, the exam was given in 2023 to over 107,000 students in the U.S., Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Iran, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Poland, United Kingdom, Zimbabwe, and Taiwan. [1] The test covers general knowledge of Latin grammar and vocabulary, mythology, Roman culture, derivatives, and translation abilities.

Contents

The office of the National Latin Exam is located in James Farmer Hall on the campus of the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia. [2] [3]

Philosophy

The philosophy of the National Latin Exam is predicated on providing every Latin student the opportunity to experience a sense of personal accomplishment and success in their study of the Latin language and culture. This opportunity exists for all students on the National Latin Exam since they are not competing with their fellow students on a comparative basis, but are evaluated solely on their own performance on the exam. The basic purposes of the NLE are to promote the study of Latin and to encourage the individual student. [1]

Format

The National Latin Exam is a forty-question, multiple-choice test with a time limit of forty-five minutes; it is offered to students on seven levels.

In 2021, the exam names changed from traditional "Latin I," "Latin II" etc to descriptive titles. This was done to allow teachers and students to better choose exams that correlate to their program of studies. On the Introduction to Latin, Beginning Latin, Intermediate Latin, Advanced Latin Prose, and Advanced Latin Poetry exams, there are questions on grammar, comprehension, mythology, derivatives, literature, Roman life, history, geography, oral Latin, and Latin in use in the modern world. A new exam was introduced in 2021 which replaced the previous Latin III exam called the Intermediate Latin Reading Comprehension Exam. This exam contains two adapted Latin passages with questions focusing on reading comprehension, with some pertinent background questions on history, mythology, or derivatives. The Advanced Latin Reading Comprehension exam contains two authentic Latin passages, one prose and one poetry, as the basis for questions on grammar, comprehension, historical background, classical literature, and literary devices. [1]

The exam is scored based on the number of questions answered correctly, with no penalty for guessing.

With the exception of the Introduction to Latin Exam, any of the other exams can be taken two years in a row, if that is what best aligns with the school's or district's Latin program. However, teachers are encouraged to keep students moving forward and not "stagnate" on a level that is too elementary. The student is not required to take an actual Latin class to take an exam; however, the student must have an official sponsor to take an exam. The test can either be taken in person or online.

Awards

The National Latin Exam gold medal and certificate NLEGold.JPG
The National Latin Exam gold medal and certificate
The National Latin Exam silver medal and certificate NLESilver.JPG
The National Latin Exam silver medal and certificate

Several awards are available to those students who excel on the NLE: [4]

Medals and Certificates


An NLE Certificate of Merit is also provided for each school participating in the exam.

Special Book Awards

Students who have three or more years of perfect papers, or four or more years of gold medals are sent special book awards in addition to the special certificate. The perfect papers/ gold medals must be different levels of the exam and at least one must be on an Advanced level.

Scholarships

The National Latin Exam offers several different types of scholarships: [4]

Maureen O'Donnell Academic Scholarships

Seniors who win a gold medal on any of the Advanced exams are eligible to apply for one of up to twelve $2,000 scholarships awarded annually. Those who apply must agree to take a least one course per semester of Latin or Classical Greek in their first year of college. Recipients may reapply, if they continue their study of Latin or Greek. More than $2 million has been awarded since the inception of this scholarship

Linda S. Montross New Latin Educator Scholarships

Beginning in 2017, The National Latin Exam began giving out new scholarships to those interested in becoming a Latin teacher. High School seniors, college students, and those in a Master's Program may apply for the $2000 scholarships, which are renewable. One does not need to have ever taken the NLE to apply. Up to eight of these scholarships are awarded annually. As part of this scholarship, awardees are also assigned a mentor and their expenses paid to attend one American Classical League Institute within their first three years of teaching.

Sally Davis Graduate Scholarship

Students or teachers who are continuing their Latin or Greek on the post-graduate level are eligible to apply for one $2,000 scholarship awarded annually.

The Jane Harriman Hall Professional Development Scholarship

The Jane Harriman Hall Professional Development Scholarship program is designed to support teachers in their ability to teach Latin. The scholarship was developed in honor of Jane Harriman Hall, founder of the National Latin Exam, in order to continue her efforts to bring high quality Latin instruction to their students.

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 "NLE Spring 2012 Newsletter" (PDF).
  2. Hall, Jane. "History of the National Latin Exam" (PDF). National Latin Exam. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  3. "UMW chooses new name for Trinkle Hall: James Farmer Hall". Fredericksburg Today. 27 July 2020.
  4. 1 2 "The National Latin Exam: Exams". Archived from the original on 2014-09-27. Retrieved 2011-01-21.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GCSE</span> British public examinations, generally taken aged 15-16

The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is an academic qualification in a range of subjects taken in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, having been introduced in September 1986 and its first exams taken in 1988. State schools in Scotland use the Scottish Qualifications Certificate instead. However, private schools in Scotland often choose to follow the English GCSE system.

Abitur, often shortened colloquially to Abi, is a qualification granted at the end of secondary education in Germany. It is conferred on students who pass their final exams at the end of ISCED 3, usually after twelve or thirteen years of schooling. In German, the term Abitur has roots in the archaic word Abiturium, which in turn was derived from the Latin abiturus.

<span title="Latin-language text"><i lang="la">Matura</i></span> Name of final exam of high school in many countries

Matura or its translated terms is a Latin name for the secondary school exit exam or "maturity diploma" in various European countries, including Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland and Ukraine.

The General Certificate of Education (GCE) is a subject-specific family of academic qualifications used in awarding bodies in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Crown dependencies and a few Commonwealth countries. For some time, the Scottish education system has been different from those in the other countries of the United Kingdom.

The Cecchetti method is variously defined as a style of ballet and as a ballet training method devised by the Italian ballet master Enrico Cecchetti (1850–1928). The training method seeks to develop essential skills in dancers as well as strength and elasticity. Cecchetti-trained dancers are commonly found in ballet and other dance companies throughout the world.

Latin honors are a system of Latin phrases used in some colleges and universities to indicate the level of distinction with which an academic degree has been earned. The system is primarily used in the United States. It is also used in some Southeastern Asian countries with European colonial history, such as Indonesia and the Philippines, and African countries such as Zambia and South Africa, although sometimes translations of these phrases are used instead of the Latin originals. The honors distinction should not be confused with the honors degrees offered in some countries, or with honorary degrees.

In the Scottish secondary education system, the Higher is one of the national school-leaving certificate exams and university entrance qualifications of the Scottish Qualifications Certificate (SQC) offered by the Scottish Qualifications Authority. It superseded the old Higher Grade on the Scottish Certificate of Education (SCE). Both are normally referred to simply as "Highers".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Academy of Dance</span> UK examination board for dance education

The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) is a UK-based examination board specialising in dance education and training, with an emphasis on classical ballet. The RAD was founded in London, England in 1920 as the Association of Teachers of Operatic Dancing, and was granted a Royal Charter in 1935. Queen Camilla is patron of the RAD, and Darcey Bussell was elected to serve as president in 2012, succeeding Antoinette Sibley who served for 21 years.

Cambridge Assessment English or Cambridge English develops and produces Cambridge English Qualifications and the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The organisation contributed to the development of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), the standard used around the world to benchmark language skills, and its qualifications and tests are aligned with CEFR levels.

The Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination was a standardised examination between 1974 and 2011 after most local students' five-year secondary education, conducted by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA), awarding the Hong Kong Certificate of Education secondary school leaving qualification. The examination has been discontinued in 2012 and its roles are now replaced by the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education as part of educational reforms in Hong Kong. It was considered as the equivalent of the GCSE in the United Kingdom.

A dean's list is an academic award, or distinction, used to recognize the highest level scholarship demonstrated by students in a college or university. This system is most often used in North America, though institutions in Europe, Asia, and Australia may also employ similar measures. It is often synonymous with honor roll and honor list, but should not be confused with honours degrees.

Advanced Placement (AP) Latin Literature was one of two examinations offered by the College Board's Advanced Placement Program for high school students to earn college credit for a college-level course in Latin literature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A-level</span> British educational certification

The A-level is a subject-based qualification conferred as part of the General Certificate of Education, as well as a school leaving qualification offered by the educational bodies in the United Kingdom and the educational authorities of British Crown dependencies to students completing secondary or pre-university education. They were introduced in England and Wales in 1951 to replace the Higher School Certificate. The A-level permits students to have potential access to a chosen university they applied to with UCAS points. They could be accepted into it should they meet the requirements of the university.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education</span> Academic qualification in Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE) is an examination organised by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA). The HKDSE examination is Hong Kong's university entrance examination, administered at the completion of a three-year senior secondary education, allowing students to gain admissions to undergraduate courses at local universities through JUPAS. Since the implementation of the New Senior Secondary academic structure in 2012, HKDSE replaced the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination and Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination.

CELPE-Bras is the only certificate of proficiency in Brazilian Portuguese as a second language officially recognized and developed by the Brazilian Ministry of Education. The Celpe-Bras exam is offered in Brazil and many other countries, such as the United States, Germany, Chile, Colombia and Japan, with the support of the Brazilian Ministry of International Relations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Instruction in Latin</span> Subject, mostly in schools

The Latin language is still taught in many parts of the world. In many countries it is offered as an optional subject in some secondary schools and universities, and may be compulsory for students in certain institutions or following certain courses. For those wishing to learn the language independently, there are printed and online resources.

The S-level or scholarship level was a General Certificate of Education (GCE) public examination in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, taken by the most able A-level students. The 'S' level was typically used to support university entrance applications, though in practice it was directed almost exclusively to Oxbridge applications. Results were graded 'Distinction' (1), 'Merit' (2) or 'Unclassified' (U).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language</span> Taiwans test of Mandarin proficiency for non-native speakers

The Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language is the Republic of China (Taiwan)'s standardized test of proficiency in ROC Standard Chinese for non-native speakers such as foreign students. It is administered by the Steering Committee for the Test Of Proficiency-Huayu (SC-TOP). The committee is under the direction of Taiwan's Ministry of Education. The test was formerly known as the TOP or Test Of Proficiency-Huayu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matriculation exam (Finland)</span> Finnish university entrance exam

The Finnish Matriculation Examination is the matriculation examination taken at the end of secondary education to qualify for entry into university. In practice, the test also constitutes the high school's final exam(s), although there is a separate diploma on graduating from high school, based not on the exam, but on the grades of individual courses. Since 1919, the test has been arranged by a national body, the Matriculation Examination Board. Before that, the administration of the test was the responsibility of the University of Helsinki.

The Junior Cycle is the first stage of the education programme for post-primary education within the Republic of Ireland. It is overseen by the Department of Education and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), and its terminal examination, the Junior Certificate, by the State Examinations Commission.