What is the National Italian Exam?
NIE 2025
We are excited to announce that registration for the 2025 National Italian Exam will soon be open. Below are the key dates and details:
To receive the special code to register your classes for the NIE, please complete the form at the link below. If you participated in the NIE last year, please check your email, as we have already sent the link to the list of registered teachers. For more details on the deadlines and procedures, the Registration and Administration page on this site. |
Established in 1985, the NIE is the official national language contest for middle and high school students of the American Association of Teachers of Italian. It is a web-based proficiency and performance assessment that measures written and aural interpretation skills in alignment with the ACTFL Performance Descriptors and the 2012 ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines. The mission of the NIE is to provide:
- an opportunity for the visibility and the promotion of Italian programs in North American schools; - an assessment tool that can be used by teachers and students as a diagnostic feedback; - a measurement of language skills that can constitute a positive washback to help inform high school instruction and curricula. The NIE can be used to support students in preparation for the official exams of Seal of Biliteracy, the SAT II, and it can make them eligible for the Società Onoraria Italica scholarships. In addition, the NIE provides an excellent opportunity to highlight our students' success as every year over 6.000 high school students of Italian take the exam nationwide. AATI offers an extensive regional and national prize program that consists of monetary prizes, study-trips to Italy, medals and certificates to award students of all different language proficiency to celebrate their accomplishments. On this website teachers will find all the necessary information about the exam and how to register their students. |
Student Testimonials
Inspiring Words from Our Participants
"Dear AATI,
I would like to take the time to thank you for the wonderful opportunity I was given to not only participate in taking the National Italian Exam, but also be among a large group of contestants with a chance to receive an award for my achievements. With the encouragement and motivation from my teacher, I was inspired to take part in the competition and test my knowledge on the language I have been studying for the past three years of my high school career. My confidence in speaking, writing, listening, and comprehending Italian has only improved throughout the years and I did not want to miss out on the opportunity to challenge myself and take the exam. Overall, I enjoyed taking the exam as the questions were challenging yet manageable and the audios were not difficult to interpret. This experience has been great and I wish to encourage other Italian students to partake in this exam as well."
Nayalyn Lazaro
Join the National Italian Exam
Inspired by this testimonial? Learn more about the National Italian Exam and register today!
Inspired by this testimonial? Learn more about the National Italian Exam and register today!
Our Platform
The rapid technological advances have resulted in a variety of computer‐delivered language tests and platforms for creating customized assessment. The NIE is committed to providing students and teachers with the best online testing experience and to guaranteeing a fair, valid test for all test-takers. Starting in 2021, the NIE will be hosted by Lingco, an online language instruction and assessment platform used by high schools, colleges, and universities all over the country. Teachers will find step-by-step instructions and video tutorials on how to register their students and administer the exam using Lingco on this site.
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NIE Information Materials
Flyers and brochures
This standardized package contains brochures for parents and students, which can be used to introduce the NIE in your schools.
Supporting Italian Language in the USA
The NIE's mission is to promote Italian Language in the USA. Learn what some students think about learning Italian in this video produced by the Embassy of Italy.
Exam Registration and Administration |