2026 NIE Exam
Results are now available!
Scores, medals, monetary prizes, and scholarship winners have been published. Visit the results page to see the full list of achievers.
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What is the National Italian Exam?
Established in 1985, the National Italian Exam (NIE) is the official national language contest of the American Association of Teachers of Italian (AATI) for middle and high school students. The NIE is a web-based proficiency and performance assessment that measures written and aural interpretive skills, aligned with the ACTFL Performance Descriptors and the 2012 ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines.
The mission of the NIE is to provide:
The exam also supports student preparation for important credentials such as the Seal of Biliteracy and the SAT II, and can help make students eligible for Società Onoraria Italica scholarships.
Every year, more than 6,000 students nationwide participate in the NIEn which is an extraordinary opportunity to showcase and celebrate the achievements of Italian language learners.
The mission of the NIE is to provide:
- Visibility and promotion for Italian programs across North America;
- A high-quality assessment tool that offers diagnostic feedback for teachers and learners;
- A positive instructional impact, helping inform curriculum design and classroom practice.
The exam also supports student preparation for important credentials such as the Seal of Biliteracy and the SAT II, and can help make students eligible for Società Onoraria Italica scholarships.
Every year, more than 6,000 students nationwide participate in the NIEn which is an extraordinary opportunity to showcase and celebrate the achievements of Italian language learners.
