The individual members of the Writing/Steering Committee, all seasoned teachers with experience using a wide variety of textbooks and teaching methods, begin writing the exams each spring. By the middle of August the members, meeting together as a committee, begin the difficult task of reviewing each exam with respect to the level of difficulty, accuracy, and content.  After several revisions, the exams are sent to the consultants for their in-depth critiques.  Acting upon their suggestions, the committee makes further changes.  After a final review, fine-tuning, and proofing, the exams are printed and sent to the schools.

It usually takes the committee twelve to fifteen sessions averaging three to four hours each to complete the work associated with the exams.  In addition to the general working sessions, each committee member spends hours taking care of specific tasks such as answering correspondence, word processing, record keeping, publicizing the exam, and writing newsletter articles.

Every fall the Writing/Steering Committee sends drafts of the seven exams to the consultants who are current high school teachers, college professors, or former educators.  These consultants are split into two groups, the first group receiving the exams around mid-September and the second group in mid-October.  David Perry, our macron specialist, adds the macrons to all the Latin words on the exams.  The consultants carefully critique every question on each of the exams, offer suggestions for improvement, and return their comments to the Writing/Steering Committee within a week’s time. Their ideas and contributions are invaluable in the process of preparing the exams for distribution to national and international Latin students.

The NLE Scholarship committee is composed of seven readers: three college professors and three high school teachers plus the Chair.  Only two professors and two high school teachers serve as readers each year.  The applications are read several times prior to the selection of the twenty-one scholarship winners and five alternates.  The first screening is done by the Chair.  A second screening is then done to determine which applications will be sent to the readers.  Approximately ninety applications are sent to the readers for a third reading.  Each reader selects his top thirty-five applications and returns these selections to the chair.  At this time, the committee members’ choices are collated, and the winners are chosen.  The names of the Scholars are announced at The American Classical League Institute late in June.

The members of the NLE Advisory Committee represent the various geographic areas of the country, from both public and private middle schools, high schools, and colleges.  Their job is to listen to suggestions that teachers around the country may have regarding the exams.  When the Advisory Committee meets with the Writing/Steering Committee at the ACL Institute each June, these suggestions are presented and discussed.  Please contact any of these members with your comments, suggestions, questions, or concerns about the National Latin Exam.  This is a very important way in which your ideas can receive attention.