AATI
NATIONAL ITALIAN EXAM

NIE 2021 Registration

 Dear members, we are pleased to announce that registration for the 2021 National Italian Exam is now open! The following are some important dates to remember.

• November 18, 2020 - February 14, 2021 - Regular registration
• February 15, 2021 to February 22, 2021 - Late registration

For more detailed information on registration timeline, process and cost, please visit the Exam Registration page on the main menu.

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NIE 2021 Exam Window

The new window for the 2021 exam is
March1st - April 15th, 2021
Teachers can administer the exam in class or at home using a favorite video-conferencing tool. For more information see our Exam Administration page.

Due to recent technical difficulties, we will be pausing the NIE from Thursday, March 11th, and re-opening it on Monday, March 15th. We apologize for the inconvenience this may cause. As you know, we are using a new platform this year and as such there are a few technical issues that still need to be ironed out. The Lingco team will be working hard to get us back on track and will be available for technical support in the weeks ahead as your class takes the exam. As a result of this delay, we will be extending the deadline for the exam to April 15th.
 
Thank you for your understanding and your patience while we work through this.

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NIE Practice Exams

Teachers and students registered on Lingco can access a set of practice exams directly from the platform. See the instructions on the dedicated section of this site.

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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.

What is the National Italian Exam?

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.
The National Association of Secondary School Principals has placed the NIE on the NASSP National Advisory List of Contests and Activities for 2020-2021.

On this website teachers will find all the necessary information about the exam and how to register their students.

We wish good luck to all the students who participate in the NIE!

The National Association of Secondary School Principals has placed the National Italian Exam on the 2020-2021 NASSP List of Approved Contests, Programs, and Activities for Students.

SUPPORTING ITALIAN 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

find out more

Explore the NIE

the Exam

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Find out more about exam topics, content and structure

Awards

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Learn about the different awards and prizes for students and teachers

Winners

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Take a look at our winners from the current and past years.