The National Spanish Assessments
Registration Window: August 15th through June 30th
Exam Window: Open upon receipt of access until June 30th, 2023
Cost: $3 per-student.
What is the NSA (National Spanish Assessments)?
The National Spanish Assessments (NSA) is an online, standardized assessment tool which tests both achievement and proficiency via computer-graded and rater-graded modules for students studying the Spanish language and is administered by the National Spanish Examinations (NSE), a program of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP).
The NSA was originally created in 2018 and is written from the same specifications and standards as the National Spanish Exam (NSE). Like the NSE, the NSA is a valid and reliable assessment of student achievement and proficiency.
However, the NSA is not a contest.
* Teachers do not need to register students for specific levels for the NSA. Any students registered will have access to all six levels that include all modules of the exam. Determining the appropriate assessment module to administer should be decided by the teacher and the student.
* Students may take multiple levels if desired.
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Content The National Spanish Assessments is comprised of modules:
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Purpose
The purpose of the National Spanish Assessments (NSA) is:
- To promote proficiency in interpretive, presentational and interpersonal communication
- To assess the national standards as they pertain to learning Spanish
- To measure student growth during the learning process
- To provide several options for testing different skills
Feedback
Teachers state that they use the National Spanish Assessments to, "Prepare students to take other standardized tests such as AP, IB, SAT II and college placement exams."
Administrators state that they can use data from the National Spanish Assessments to, "Create reports to show how their schools have improved over an academic year."
Mission
The mission of the National Spanish Assessments (NSA) is to promote language proficiency and to recognize student achievement in the study of Spanish.
The National Spanish Examinations (NSE) and the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP) are committed to providing teachers with assessment tools and offering students opportunities to know their proficiency ratings in reading, writing, listening, and speaking!
Content & Format
The National Spanish Assessments (NSA) are a proficiency-based online exam designed to give teachers many different options and results for testing students.
For a comparison between the National Spanish Exam (national contest) and the National Spanish Assessments (NSA is a non-contest) click here.
Click this link to view an updated Exam Format and Length PDF as of 8/5/2022.
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The National Spanish Assessments are comprised of modules:
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Computer-Graded Modules (4) |
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Module 1 |
Interpretive Communication – Reading Comprehension |
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Module 2 |
Interpretive Communication – Listening Comprehension |
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Module 3 |
Vocabulary |
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Module 4 |
Grammar |
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Rater-Graded Modules (2) (The following modules are currently under development!) |
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Module 5 |
Interpersonal & Presentational Communication – Writing |
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Module 6 |
Interpersonal & Presentational Communication – Speaking |
The NSA Specific Level Exams test a specific level of proficiency. (see chart below)
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Specific Level Exams |
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Assess content and performance standards at a specific level! |
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Four modules (20 minutes each): 1. Reading 2. Listening 3. Vocabulary 4. Grammar |
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For Specific Level Exams
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NSA Standards |
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Exam Specifications |
Test Administration
Tests can be administered any time between August 15th and June 30th and must be administered in the same academic year in which they were registered.
Usernames and passwords will be released to teachers the week after the registration is submitted and the invoice is paid. For more guidelines on administering the NSA: Test Administration.
Results
Results are available immediately! See the NSA Proficiency Conversion Chart.
Scores on the National Spanish Assessments can be converted to proficiency ratings for the Interpretive Communication modules of Reading and Listening as follows. The scores can be converted into ratings from the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference). Note: Levels do NOT necessarily correspond to course levels but rather to proficiency levels. (i.e. Level 3 ≠ Spanish III)
Cost
In order to register students for the National Spanish Assessments, the teacher must be a member of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP). Membership renewal dues are $65 per year and can be paid either (1) directly on the NSA online registration form or (2) on the AATSP website.
The National Spanish Assessments cost $3 per student, and the cost includes two tests with each of the four modules at all levels.
There is no discount for teachers wishing to administer only some of the modules. Paying $3 per student entitles the students to all NSA levels including all modules. It is up to the teacher which exams are to be administered.
The NSA invoice must be paid by credit card. Once a teacher registers and pays for the National Spanish Assessments, they will receive a confirmation invoice within the teacher’s online account and with Lingco Language Labs.
Printable Certificates
Teachers can print out a certificate for each student stating the student’s proficiency level for Interpretive Communication: Reading and Listening.
Click here for NSA Printable Certificates.
Prizes & Scholarships?
The National Spanish Assessments have no student prizes.
However, teachers that administer the NSA are eligible to apply for our Teacher Awards (Scholarships and Stipends)!