Exam Overview
Overview and Structure of the Exam
- Levels: the exam is delivered electronically through Lingco and presents 6 levels (Novice, Level 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
- Sections: to facilitate exam administration, each level is divided in an interpretive listening/viewing and an interpretive reading section that can be administered at different times.
- Questions: each level is comprised of 50 selected-response items (except for Novice level which is comprised of 40 items), 25 for the interpretive listening/viewing section and 25 for the interpretive reading section.
- Time: students have 40 minutes to complete each of the section (for a total of 80 mins if both sections are taken together).
- Content: the questions include a variety of authentic short audio /video segments and written texts followed by questions that elicit skills appropriate to each level of performance (ranging from recognition, main idea, text purpose and audience, to supporting details).
- Administration: teachers can decide to administer the exam in one or in two separate sessions, according to their needs.
For more information on the typologies of the questions, the lexical domains and samples of performance, consult the specifications at the link below.
Topics and Skills
AATI sought to develop a test that reflects the ACTFL Performance Guidelines in terms of topics and tasks, and that uses the Proficiency Guidelines as the basis for both item development and rating scale. When taking the NIE students performance is evaluated against descriptors that define a set of language content and contexts, while their language abilities are determined according to the assessment criteria in the proficiency guidelines.
The test was developed in consultation with Italian language teachers from across North America and uses a variety of student performances to assess their progress toward proficiency. Alignment with the ACTFL Performance Descriptors and the thematic content of each level was initially established by analyzing the responses to a national survey among K-12 teachers of Italian and subsequently, adjusted empirically through a piloting stage. Information about type of performance elicited, sub-skills, vocabulary domains, and type of texts for each level of the exam is available for download below. The NIE is modeled following the AAPPL and STAMP exams, used to certify the Seal of Biliteracy.
AATI sought to develop a test that reflects the ACTFL Performance Guidelines in terms of topics and tasks, and that uses the Proficiency Guidelines as the basis for both item development and rating scale. When taking the NIE students performance is evaluated against descriptors that define a set of language content and contexts, while their language abilities are determined according to the assessment criteria in the proficiency guidelines.
The test was developed in consultation with Italian language teachers from across North America and uses a variety of student performances to assess their progress toward proficiency. Alignment with the ACTFL Performance Descriptors and the thematic content of each level was initially established by analyzing the responses to a national survey among K-12 teachers of Italian and subsequently, adjusted empirically through a piloting stage. Information about type of performance elicited, sub-skills, vocabulary domains, and type of texts for each level of the exam is available for download below. The NIE is modeled following the AAPPL and STAMP exams, used to certify the Seal of Biliteracy.
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Overview of the Exam Structure and Tasks
40 mins x 2 sessions / 2 hours x 1 session |
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Exam Section |
Number of Questions |
Task Type |
What do students have do to? |
Time |
Reading Interpretation |
25 (20 for Novice) |
Multiple Choice Matching |
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40 mins |
Listening and Viewing Interpretation |
25 (20 for Novice) |
Multiple Choice Matching Ordering |
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40 mins |