National Latin Exam: A Complete Guide

Learning Latin unlocks the ancient Roman world, letting you read literature and other sources from that time period, which can help you further understand the old civilization. If you’re curious how far your Latin knowledge can take you, why not try taking the National Latin Exam (NLE)?

The exam assesses Latin grammar, vocabulary, Roman culture and history, mythology, derivatives, and comprehension. This encourages your study of Latin and gives you a sense of accomplishment. In the sections below, we explain what the NLE is, how its exams work, the awards you can earn, how to register, and tips to succeed.

• What Is the National Latin Exam?
• National Latin Exam Awards and Prizes
• How to Qualify for the National Latin Exam
• How to Get into the National Latin Exam
• How to Win the National Latin Exam
• National Latin Exam Previous Winners
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

What Is the National Latin Exam?

The National Latin Exam (NLE) is a yearly standardized test for Latin students, created to promote Latin learning and reward individual achievement. The exam is sponsored by the American Classical League and the National Junior Classical League. Test dates for the NLE 2026 are from February 23 to March 13, 2026.

Each exam is 45 minutes long and consists of multiple-choice questions. Most levels have 40 questions covering Latin grammar, comprehension, mythology, Roman life, geography, and derivatives. The dedicated Reading Comprehension exams have 36 questions based on Latin passages.

There are several exam levels to match different learners. For example, the Introduction to Latin Exam is for true beginners, while Advanced Prose and Poetry exams challenge experienced students.

The National Latin Exam offers awards, but it isn’t a competition in the sense that you’re ranked against your classmates and other test-takers. Instead, each student’s performance is evaluated on its own merits.

That means there isn’t a set number of students who can earn a gold or silver medal. If your score is high enough to qualify for an award, then you’ll automatically earn it.

National Latin Exam Awards and Prizes

Excelling on the National Latin Exam can earn you medals, certificates, and even book awards. Here are the medals and certificates you can win:

• Perfect Paper Certificate. If you answer every question correctly, you get a special colored certificate naming you a “perfect paper.”
• Gold Medal (Summa Cum Laude). Gold medals with a summa cum laude certificate go to the very highest scorers (roughly the top 10% of all test-takers).
• Silver Medal (Maxima Cum Laude). Silver medals and maxima cum laude certificates are awarded to the next tier of top scorers (about the top 25%).
• Magna Cum Laude Certificate. A magna cum laude certificate goes to those scoring above the silver threshold (about the top 35%).
• Cum Laude Certificate. If you score above the national average for your exam level, you earn a cum laude certificate.

If you achieve multiple high honors over the years, you’ll be eligible to receive special book awards. Some achievements that are rewarded include:

• Earning three or more perfect papers
• Earning four or more gold medals

To earn special book awards, you should take at least one Advanced Level exam. You may retake Advanced Level Poetry or Prose twice and the Advanced Reading Comprehension Exam multiple times, and they would still count towards the award. However, you can only take lower-level exams once to qualify.

If you win gold on an advanced exam, you will also be mailed an application for the Maureen O’Donnell Academic Scholarship. Up to 15 students can receive $2,000 if they agree to take up at least one Latin or classical Greek course every semester in their first year of college.

How to Qualify for the National Latin Exam

Interested in taking the National Latin Exam? Here’s how:

Eligibility

If you’re learning Latin, regardless of your age, you can automatically try taking the National Latin Exam. However, a Latin teacher, school principal, or other official must be the one to submit the registration. You’ll also need someone to proctor the test.

Required documents

Registration is done entirely online through the Lingco platform. You won’t need to worry about this since your teacher should be the one to create an account.

Contest fees

National Latin Exam fees vary by location.

For schools in the US and Canada, exams cost $8 each. There’s a handling fee of $15 for one to ten exams, and $25 for 11 or more exams.

Meanwhile, each exam is $10 for schools outside the US and Canada. There’s also a flat handling fee of $50.

Registration deadline

The NLE is held each winter. Here’s a quick look at the important dates for the 2026 NLE:

Late registrations are not accepted. So, make sure your teacher or school coordinator registers you through Lingco on time, and pay the fee within 30 days if you want to take the next exam.

How to Get into the National Latin Exam

As a student, it’s pretty easy to get into the National Latin Exam. Just follow these steps:

Step 1: Identify your exam level.

First, determine which exam level matches your Latin background. You can consult the official NLE syllabus and flowchart and talk to your Latin teacher. The NLE offers multiple levels from Introduction to Latin up through advanced prose, poetry, and reading comprehension exams.

Step 2: Ask your teacher to register.

Since the NLE is administered through schools, your Latin teacher (or school administrator) should be the one to handle the actual registration. If your class has never taken the NLE before, the teacher should set up an account on Lingco, which is the online registration platform. The teacher will use Lingco to enter the number of students taking each level of the exam.

If you’re homeschooled, a parent or tutor would do this on your behalf. Be sure the person registering you has all the necessary information like your name, grade, school or homeschool designation, and chosen exam level.

Step 3: Take the exam.

If your school chooses to take the paper exam, the test booklets and answer sheets will be delivered to your school in February. Your designated proctor should then administer the exam during the testing window.

After testing, the answer sheets will be mailed back to NLE the same day using the provided return envelope. Your scores and awards will arrive by late spring.

If your school opts for the online exam, you’ll log into the Lingco platform during the exam window and take the test on a laptop or desktop, ideally with the latest version of Google Chrome. Technical requirements include a stable internet connection and a screen at least 1280×720 pixels. iPads and tablets may work, but use a desktop if possible.

After the exam window closes, results are processed as usual and scores are reported to the school electronically.

How to Win the National Latin Exam

Preparing well can maximize your chances of earning a medal in the National Latin Exam. Here are some tips to help you:

1. Master the fundamentals.

Make sure you have a strong foundation in Latin grammar and vocabulary!

Dedicate significant time to memorizing noun declensions (all cases and numbers), verb conjugations (all tenses, moods, and voices), adjective agreements, pronouns, and adverbs. Practice reciting them, writing them out, and identifying them in context.

Of course, beyond just memorizing forms, you should also understand case usage, verb agreement, and clauses.

Building a strong vocabulary is another important part of mastering Latin. Using flashcards is a common way to memorize new words and their principal parts. You can also pay attention to English derivatives from Latin words, which may make them easier to remember while understanding the roots of English words. Try to learn vocabulary in context rather than just isolated words as well.

2. Practice with official exams and quizzes, and other resources.

The National Latin Exam website has a detailed syllabus for each level of the exam, which you can use as a roadmap for what to study.

One of the most effective study methods is to check the past exams on the NLE website, which they offer for free. You can use them to take practice tests under timed conditions to simulate the actual exam environment and improve your pacing. Then, after checking your answers, understand why you got a question wrong and if you truly understood your correct answers.

Websites like quiz.nle.org also offer interactive quizzes that provide immediate feedback, making studying more engaging. Meanwhile, resources like Memoria Press offer study guides tailored to different NLE levels, providing structured content review and practice.

Remember that Latin requires consistent practice. Short, regular study sessions are often more effective than cramming. For higher levels (namely Intermediate Reading Comprehension, Advanced Latin Prose/Poetry), focus on developing your reading comprehension skills with authentic or adapted Latin passages. Practice translating and answering questions based on the text.

3. Study Roman culture, history, and mythology.

The NLE also includes a significant portion on Roman civilization. Here are some topics you should read up on:

• Familiarize yourself with the major Roman gods and goddesses, key myths, and heroic figures.
• Know important periods, key figures (emperors, generals, authors), and significant events in Roman history.
• Be able to locate important cities, regions, and geographical features of the Roman world.
• Understand daily life, customs, social structures, government, famous sayings, and aspects of Roman architecture and engineering.
• Some exams may include questions on common Latin phrases, abbreviations, or elements of oral Latin.

You can check books like The Romans (Usborne) or Memoria Press guides for your level, which can give you a quick cultural refresher.

5. Manage your test-taking strategy.

Read very carefully! Pay close attention to every word in the question and all answer choices.

Use the process of elimination to narrow down your choices. The NLE does not penalize for incorrect answers, so it’s always better to make an educated guess than to leave a question blank.

Pace yourself so you have enough time to attempt all questions. If you get stuck on a difficult question, mark it and come back to it later.

National Latin Exam Previous Winners

Many students across the country and around the world have earned top honors on the National Latin Exam, and their names are often published in Torch U.S., the official magazine of the National Junior Classical League. Here are a few recent winners and their schools:

• Ayilé Martelly (Bronx High School of Science, NYC). Perfect paper certificate on the 2024 Introductory Level.
• Caroline Jiang (Bronx High School of Science, NYC). Perfect paper certificate on the 2024 Beginning Latin Exam.
• Yuhang “Henry” Zhang ’25 (Ravenscroft School, North Carolina). Special Book Award for earning his fifth Gold Medal on the NLE.
• Ellene Warner ’26 (Ravenscroft School, North Carolina).  Received a Special Book Award for earning her fourth Gold Medal on the NLE.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a good score on the National Latin Exam?

A good score depends on the level and the year’s grading. Generally, scoring above the national average earns a Cum Laude certificate. To earn a Gold Medal (summa cum laude), you usually need nearly all questions correct.

2. How prestigious is the National Latin Exam?

The NLE is a widely respected contest in classical education. While it’s primarily an academic challenge rather than a national ranking, earning a medal or scholarship is impressive on a resume. Many colleges and language programs recognize NLE awards as evidence of commitment to Latin.

3. How many questions are on the National Latin Exam?

The standard NLE levels have 40 multiple-choice questions, to be completed in 45 minutes. The specialized Reading Comprehension exams have 36 questions because they use longer Latin passages.

Takeaways

• The National Latin Exam tests your knowledge of the Latin language and Roman life, mythology, and geography.
• The window test dates for 2026 are February 23 to March 13, 2026.
• Anyone who studies Latin can take the NLE. However, their school or parent/tutor (if homeschooled) should be the one to register the student.
• To get a good score on the NLE, you should master the fundamentals, practice with official exams and quizzes, and other resources, study Roman culture, history, and mythology, and manage your test-taking strategy.
• Interested in other opportunities that are related to languages or classical history? Get your profile evaluated and see what else is out there for you.