General Information
The National Latin Exam is offered under the joint sponsorship of' the American Classical League and the National Junior Classical League. They are pleased to announce the 2009 ACL/NJCL National Latin Exam. More than 149,000 Latin students from all fifty states participated this year, as did  students from thirteen foreign countries, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, China  Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Poland, Switzerland, United Kingdom and Zimbabwe. This year for the first time, students from Bulgaria and Mozambique also took the NLE.

The National Association of Secondary School Principals has voted to place the National Latin Exam on the Advisory List of National Contests and Activities for 2008-2009.

ELIGIBILITY: Students who are enrolled in Latin or have completed a Latin course during the current academic year.

EXAMS AVAILABLE: Introduction to Latin, Latin I, Latin II, Latin III-IV Prose, Latin III-IV Poetry, Latin V-VI

FORMAT OF EXAMS: These exams are not based on any specific textbook series.

• Latin I, II, III, III-IV Prose, III-IV Poetry: 40 multiple-choice questions. Categories include grammar, comprehension, mythology, life, history, derivatives, and questions based on a short passage in Latin.
• Introduction to Latin Exam: This exam is designed for Latin I students who cover approximately one-half the Latin I syllabus. The format is the same as Latin I, II, III-IV Prose, III-IV Poetry.
• Latin V & VI: Latin passages with 40 multiple-choice (questions on comprehension, grammar, historical background, classical literature, and literary devices.

ADMINISTRATION OF EXAMS:
Time limit for exams is 45 minutes. The exam must be given to ALL students within the same class period during the SECOND FULL WEEK IN MARCH (March 9-13) by the principal, guidance director, or the principal's designee. The exam is NOT to be seen or given by the Latin teacher involved. A student may enter only the level in which he/she is currently enrolled and may take only ONE exam. There is no provision for individual students to take the exam at another time.
Answer sheets must be returned postmarked the same day the exam is given, No separate answer sheets are accepted. The last day the exam may be taken and answer sheets mailed is March 13, 2009. Schools which need to administer exams earlier than March 10-14 should check the appropriate box on the application form. Arrangements may be made upon request for students with special needs.

TO ENTER:
Fill out the application form. Enclose check or money order (one check or money order per school) payable to the National Latin Exam. Mail to: National Latin Exam, University of Mary Washington, 1301 College Avenue, Fredericksburg, VA 22401.Cost: $4.00 a student US, $6.00 Foreign (US funds only). Check or money order MUST ACCOMPANY THE APPLICATION. For only one exam the cost is $10.00. This year, there is a shipping and handling charge of $10 per application. Purchase orders are NOT accepted in lieu of check or money order.

A postcard acknowledgment will be sent to you upon receipt of application and payment. The exams are sent to the PRINCIPAL or Examiner in February. If the exams are not received by the principal or examiner by March 1, 2009, write or call the number on the postcard acknowledgment.

RESULTS OF 2009 EXAMS:
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 20,2009.

Awards:
Perfect paper: Hand-lettered certificate
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
Introduction to Latin: Ribbons and Certificates of Achievement

Scholarships: $1,000 AWARDS
Applications for the $1,000 scholarships will be mailed to gold medal winners in Latin III-IV Prose, III-IV Poetry, or Latin V-VI who are high school seniors. Those who apply must agree to take at least one year of Latin or Classical Greek in college. A classics in translation course does not fulfill this requirement. In 2006, twenty-one $1,000 scholarships were awarded. These scholarships may be renewed.

PREVIOUS EXAMS (via mail)

Copies of the four previous exams and the National Latin Exam Syllabus are available for purchase from the American Classical League office in Oxford , Ohio for $9.00 : American Classical League, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 with a request for the four previous National Latin Exams including the syllabus (item # E1).

To order Twenty Years of the National Latin Exam,send a $25.00 check or money order payable to the American Classical League, to : American Classical League, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 with a request for the book with the item # (item #E2). This book contains the questions and answers for all levels of the National Latin Exam from the initial exam in 1978 through the exam of 1998. Included is a history of the exam, information on those who contribute to the exam, level syllabi, facsimile of awards, and statistics and data which provide a good understanding of the exam. 209 pages.

PREVIOUS EXAMS Online

Copies of the previous National Latin Exams and Keys can be viewed online with Adobe Acrobat Reader and printed out for practice.

2007 Exams

2006 Exams

2005 Exams

2004 Exams

2003 Exams

2002 Exams

2001 Exams

2000 Exams

1999 Exams (not complete)

1998 Exams (not complete)