National Spanish Exam

The National Spanish Exam (NSE) is an annual assessment administered by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP) to students in the United States who are studying Spanish.

Competition Details

Introduction: The National Spanish Exam (NSE) is an online, standardized assessment competition for Grades 6 -12, given voluntarily by about 4,000 middle and high school teachers throughout the United States to measure content standards (vocabulary and grammar) and performance standards (reading and listening comprehension) of students who are studying Spanish as a second language.

Exam format: The NSE is divided into five levels based on the student’s level of proficiency in Spanish: Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, Superior, and Distinguished. Each exam level consists of multiple-choice and free-response sections, which may include translation, interpretation, and composition tasks.

 The format and length of the National Spanish Exam for all levels (01-6) is as follows:

  • Achievement exam (vocabulary and grammar) is 40 minutes.
  • Proficiency exam (reading and listening) is 40 minutes.

The NSE is typically administered in a classroom setting, with students being given a set amount of time to complete each section. The exact format and length of the exam may vary yearly. Students who score well on the NSE may be recognized as National Spanish Exam Scholars, and may be eligible for awards and other recognition from the AATSP.

Timeline: 

  • Registration: Nov. 1, 2023 – Feb. 9, 2024
  • Exam Time: Mar. 4 – Apr. 15, 2024
  • Results: May 3, 2024

Awards

  • Premio de Oro: scores at or above the 95th percentile 
  • Premio de Plata: scores at or above the 8th through 94th percentiles 
  • Premio de Bronce: scores at or above the 75th through 84th percentiles 
  • Mención Honorífica: scores at or above the 50th through 74th percentiles
  • Perfect scores: scores every answer correctly 

Cost: $5.00 per student 

Competition Website

NSE levels
Eligibility

Grade 6-12

Registration Window

Nov. 1, 2023 – Feb. 9, 2024

Our Teaching Methods

1:1 personalized curriculum

After registration, your assigned teacher and course consultant will go over course expectations, personal goals, and course plans.

Expert teachers

Aralia's instructors are teachers from top-ranking high schools and colleges across the United States. They will help you cultivate the skills and knowledge needed for college and future career

Your success

With the combination of personalized curriculum and years of teaching experience, you are set to achieve your personal and professional success

Students who previously took the class:

Throughout the years, our students have successfully gained admission or are currently attending top-ranking secondary and high schools around the world: America, Australia, Canada, China, and more:

  • Cardigan Mountain School
  • Choate Rosemary Hall
  • Concord Academy
  • Groton School
Improving your application competitiveness, today.
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