National Latin Exam
A single low-cost exam sat at school, with medals and a very high award rate for prepared students.
Run by American Classical League and the National Junior Classical League
Key facts
- Eligible grades
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Not confirmed. Check the organiser's rules before entering.The NLE does not set eligibility by grade. Students register for the exam level matching their current Latin course, across eight levels from Introduction to Latin up to Advanced Prose and Poetry. Each student may take only one exam per year and may not take multiple levels.
- Official divisions
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Eight levels matched to your current Latin course rather than your grade, from Introduction to Latin up to Advanced Prose and Poetry.
Based on the organiser's own divisions.
- Eligible ages
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Not confirmed. This organiser may set eligibility by grade rather than age. We do not convert one into the other.The NLE publishes no age limits.
- Individual or team
- Individual
- Where it runs
- In person · United States, International
- Entry cost
- A few dollars per studentPer-student fees are listed on the NLE's Important Exam Information page and were not captured in this check. Confirm before registering; payment is due within 30 days.
- Registration deadline
- Two different deadlines. Paper exams: Friday 29 January 2027. Online exams: Saturday 20 February 2027, after which no online registrations are accepted. 142 days leftRegistration for the 2027 exam opened at the end of August 2026. Payment is due within 30 days of registration.
- Competition dates
- The 2027 examination window is Monday 1 March to Friday 19 March 2027.
- Difficulty
- Open to beginnersNo prior competition experience assumed. If you can do the school-level material, you can enter and score points.
- Prizes
- Certificates and medals, plus scholarships for top students at the highest levelsMedals, certificates and ribbons by award level. Seniors earning Summa Cum Laude on the Advanced Latin Prose, Advanced Latin Poetry or Advanced Latin Reading Comprehension exam may apply for a renewable college scholarship if they continue Classical Latin or Greek in college.
What National Latin Exam is
The National Latin Exam is a 40-question multiple-choice exam sat at school in the spring, with separate levels from Introduction to Latin through Latin V and VI. It covers grammar, comprehension, mythology, Roman history and daily life. Unlike most competitions on this site it is not a knockout ladder: a large proportion of well-prepared students earn a certificate or medal, which makes it an unusually encouraging first academic award.
How the competition works
A 45-minute timed multiple-choice exam. Most levels have 40 questions covering Latin grammar, vocabulary, translation, English derivatives, and the history, geography, mythology and culture of the ancient world. The Reading Comprehension exams have 36 questions based on Latin passages. Awards are based on the annual national average for each level rather than a fixed quota, so there is no cap on how many students can earn a given medal.
Eligibility notes
Entry is through a school with a Latin teacher. Home school students can participate through arrangements described on the official site.
How to register
- Ask your Latin teacher to register the school and order exams at your course level.
- Work through past exams, which are published free on the official site.
- Sit the exam at school during the spring window.
What skills you need
- Latin grammar and syntax
- Reading comprehension
- Classical mythology
- Roman history and daily life
- Derivatives and vocabulary
Recommended resources
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National Latin Exam official site
Registration, exam levels, syllabus and free past exams with answer keys.
Past problems and materials
Only materials the organiser or an authorised archive publishes openly are listed here.
- Past National Latin Exams with answer keys
Published free by the American Classical League going back many years. The complete preparation resource.
Frequently asked questions
How hard is it to win an award?
Awards are given against national score standards rather than by rank, so a large proportion of well-prepared students earn a certificate or medal. That makes it a good first academic award for a student who has never competed.
What level should I sit?
The level matching your Latin course. Levels run from Introduction through Latin V and VI, and your teacher will order the correct paper. Sitting above your level is permitted but rarely advantageous.
Reviews, tips and resources from other students
Posts are public. Do not share your full name, school, address or contact details.
Something out of date?
If a deadline, fee or eligibility rule on this page no longer matches the official site, flag it and it goes into the review queue.
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