National Latin Exam

2017 National Latin Exam Recognition

In March, more than 149,000 students in 50 states and 20 countries took the National Latin Exam- including 22 students from The Academy at Penguin Hall. All First Years are enrolled in Latin and additional students can elect to take Latin to fulfill their Language Requirement. The National Latin Exam (NLE) was created over 30 years ago to promote the study of Latin and to encourage the individual student. It is administered through the College of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The National Latin Test is taken annually throughout the United States and in over a dozen countries, including Poland, the UK, Australia, Zimbabwe, and Ghana. Massachusetts is typically at or near the top of all states in the number of students participating nationally.

The NLE, sponsored by the American Classical League and the National Junior Classical League, is a 40-question, multiple-choice test with a time limit of 45 minutes, offered to students on seven levels. On the Introduction to Latin, Latin I, Latin II, Latin III, Latin III/IV Prose, and Latin III/IV 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. The Latin V-VI exam contains two Latin passages as the basis for questions on grammar, comprehension, historical background, classical literature, and literary devices. For more information, visit their website here.

For 2016-2017, the National Association of Secondary School Principals voted to place the National Latin Exam on the Advisory List of National Contests and Activities.