Introduction: The National Latin Exam is a prestigious and short standardized test to assess students’ understanding of the Latin language. Students have 40 multiple choice questions to answer within 45 minutes. Students with expertise can participate in any of the seven levels. There are seven exam levels, which can confuse students who are unsure which exam is appropriate for them to take. Fortunately, the National Latin Exam has released a guide to help students better navigate through the exam levels.
Competition Format: Students can participate in any of the seven levels: Introduction to Latin Exam, Beginning Latin Exam (or Latin I), Intermediate Latin Exam (Latin II), Intermediate Latin Reading Comprehension Exam (Latin III), Advanced Latin Prose Exam (Latin III/IV Prose), Advanced Latin Poetry (Latin III/IV Poetry), and Advanced Latin Reading Comprehension Exam (Latin V/VI+).
Eligibility:
- Introduction to Latin: Students who are enrolled in an Introduction to Latin class or who are in the first year of a two-year Latin I
- Beginning Latin: Students in the 2nd year of a 2-year Latin 1 exam
- Intermediate Latin Exam: Students in Latin 2, or in Latin 3
- Intermediate Reading Comprehension: Students who haven’t made the tradition to reading and translating authentic Latin literature and are still in the process of learning the concepts below, or are in Latin programs that place a great emphasis on active Latin and comprehending Latin text
- Advanced Prose: Students who are reading authentic Latin texts
- Advanced Poetry: Students who are reading authentic Latin texts
- Advanced Reading Compresension Exam: Students who have been reading authentic Latin texts for at least one year, who have already taken both the Advanced Prose and Poetry Exams
Competition Website: LINK
Competition Date:
- Registration opens on Monday, August 28, 2023.
- Deadline for registration for paper exams: Friday, January 26, 2024.
- No registrations for paper exams will be accepted after this date. Schools may still register for online exams until February 16.
- Deadline for registration for online exams: Friday, February 16, 2024. No registrations for online exams will be accepted after this date.
- Examination Window: Monday, February 26-Friday, March 15, 2024.
- A packet including awards, certificate of school participation, printout of student scores, national norms, and answer key for all exams will be mailed to the Latin teacher involved by April 20.
Cost: Schools in the United States pay $6.00 per exam; $10.00 for ordering only one exam.
Awards:
- Perfect paper: a special, colored certificate printed with the name of the winner
- Gold medal and a summa cum laude certificate awarded to top scorers
- Silver medal and maxima cum laude certificate to second-place winners
- Magna cum laude certificate to third-place winners
- Cum laude certificate to fourth-place winners
Other Information: Guide to Master A New Language
Eligibility
Varies, refer above for details about eligibility
Submission deadline
Depends on the exam format
