National Spanish Exam
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.
Interested in the competition?
Competition Overview
Middle to High School Students
Eligibility
$5 per student
Exam cost
November 1, 2024 – February 7, 2025
Registration time
March 3, 2025 – April 14, 2025
Exam Time
Competition Details
1. 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.
2. Exam Cost
$5 per student
3. Exam Format
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.
4. Timeline
Registration: November 1, 2024 – February 7, 2025
Exam Time: March 3, 2025 – April 14, 2025
Results: 2 weeks after the exam cycle
5. 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
Competition Levels
- Level 01: For entry-level beginners, where the course content is equivalent to half of the first year of middle-to-high school Spanish. (Grades 6-12)
- Level 1: Course content is equivalent to the second half of 1st-year high school Spanish (e.g., Grade 8) or entry-level for any program where the course content is equivalent to a full year of high school Spanish. (Grades 6-12)
- Level 2: Second level of high school Spanish. (Grades 7-12)
- Level 3: Third level of high school Spanish. (Grades 8-12)
- Level 4: Fourth level of high school Spanish. (Grades 9 – 12)
- Level 5: Fifth level of high school Spanish. (Grades 10 – 12)
- Level 6: Sixth level of high school Spanish. (Grades 11 – 12)
Note:
- AP Language / IB-SL: Students who are enrolled in those courses should be registered to take the current year’s NSE at one level higher than the course in which they were enrolled the previous year. For example, an AP Language/IB-SL student who sat for the exam at Level 4 in 2023 should be placed in Level 5 in 2024.
- AP Literature / IB-HL Students: Students who are enrolled in those courses must take the NSE at either Level 5 or 6.
- Students are not allowed to repeat levels.
