National Spanish Challenge

The National Spanish Challenge (NSC) is an online elementary contest for students in Grades 1 – 6 who are studying Spanish as a second language.

Divisions of Competition

The National Spanish Challenge has 5 divisions of competition based on:

(1) the student’s grade level and

(2) how the student has been exposed to learning Spanish

Division	Is for a student in Grade	Who
*Non-Immersion Divisions*
A	1 2 3	Has no experience studying Spanish other than the classroom
B	4 5 6	Has just begun studying Spanish and has no experience studying Spanish other than the classroom OR Is in a strictly oral program
C	5 6	Has studied Spanish for several years
*Immersion Divisions*
D	1 2 3	Is in an immersion or partial immersion program OR Has been privately tutored for two or more years OR Is studying in a Spanish-speaking country OR Has had more than one year of immersion preschool.
E	4 5 6	Is in an immersion or partial immersion program OR Has been privately tutored for two or more years OR Is studying in a Spanish-speaking country

Teachers can find the appropriate Division of Competition for their students by referring to the following chart:

If the student is enrolled in	And	Then the student will compete in
Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3	Has no experience studying Spanish other than the classroom	Division A
Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3	Is in an immersion or partial immersion program OR Has been privately tutored for two or more years OR Is studying in a Spanish-speaking country OR Has had more than one year of immersion preschool.	Division D
Grade 4	Has just begun studying Spanish and has no experience studying Spanish other than the classroom	Division B
Grade 4	Is in an immersion or partial immersion program OR Has been privately tutored for two or more years OR Is studying in a Spanish-speaking country	Division E
Grade 5 Grade 6	Has just begun studying Spanish OR Is in a strictly oral program	Division B
	Has studied Spanish for several years	Division C
	Is in an immersion or partial immersion program OR Has been privately tutored for two or more years OR Is studying in a Spanish-speaking country	Division E

For purposes of the National Spanish Challenge, partial immersion is defined as any program with 500 minutes per week in Spanish.

Format

The National Spanish Challenge has different types of questions in five (5) individual sections.

Exam Section	Divisions	Questions
Section 1 Vocabulary: Picture Identification with spoken sentences	A, B, C, D, E	20
Section 2 Interpersonal Communication: Logical Responses	B, C, D, E	10
Section 3 Interpretive Viewing	C, D, E	7
Section 4 Interpretive Reading - Sentences	C, D, E	8
Section 5 Interpretive Reading - Texts	C, E	5

Content

Click on the following link to view the specification for the National Spanish Challenge.

Click on the following link to view the types of questions on the National Spanish Challenge.

Registration for the National Spanish Challenge

Registration for the National Spanish Challenge takes place from November 1 through January 31.

If you are already an AATSP member, you can visit the AATSP Member Registration form to both register your students for the NSC and to renew your AATSP dues.
If you wish to register as a non-member, click here to Register as a Non-Member.

NOTE: Before registering, please read the section below on COST.

Cost

There are two mandatory costs associated with giving the National Spanish Challenge: (1) cost per teacher and (2) cost per student.

Cost per Teacher. There is a $75 cost to each teacher administering the National Spanish Challenge. This cost covers administrative expenses associated with each teacher regardless of the number of challenges he/she administers. Teachers may only register students who are currently enrolled in their classes, and must enroll each student for the challenge division that best matches the student’s learning experience.

NOTE: AATSP members do not have to pay the $75 per teacher cost, as giving the National Spanish Challenge is a benefit of AATSP membership.

AATSP members must have paid their 2021 membership dues in order to avoid paying the $75 test administration fee. (2021 AATSP dues may be paid directly on the NSC registration form.) Teachers who are not current AATSP members and would like to join the AATSP, visit www.aatsp.org. (Click here for Benefits of Joining AATSP.)

Cost per Student. Each school pays a $5.00 fee per challenge. This fee covers one online National Spanish Challenge, printable certificates for students who earned recognition, and prizes for individual performance as shown below.

Payment

Payment Option 1: Pay by check.

Teachers are to MAIL a copy of the e-mail invoice along with a CHECK made payable to NATIONAL SPANISH EXAMINATIONS to:

National Spanish Examinations
PO Box 2058
Valparaiso, IN 46384

Payment Option 2: Pay by credit card. (Visa, Mastercard, and Discover only)

Teachers can click below to pay by credit card. You will be taken to our payment page where you will be asked to put in the amount shown in your invoice and your confirmation number.

To use our online payment system you will need to use a modern web browser.

Note: All Registration invoices must be over $10.00 to be paid online.

[Note: NSE is not able to accept purchase orders as a form of payment.]

Test Administration

All students competing in the NSC must complete the challenge between March 1 and April 10. (Note: Teachers will receive usernames and passwords for all registered students on or about February 22.)

NOTE: The National Spanish Challenge test window will be extended until the end of the day on Thursday, April 15, 2021. Access to exams will be closed after Thursday, April 15, 2021.

Results

Official results for the National Spanish Challenge will sent to teachers via email by May 1. Prizes (see below) will be mailed directly to schools by mid-May.

Prizes

Students participating in the National Spanish Challenge will receive the following awards based on the number of points they have earned.

Division A	Prize	Points needed
Outstanding Achievement	Bronze Ribbon	75-100
Excellent Achievement	Orange Ribbon	50-74

Division B	Prize	Points needed
Outstanding Achievement	Silver Ribbon	110-150
Excellent Achievement	Purple Ribbon	75-109

Division C	Prize	Points needed
Outstanding Achievement	Gold Ribbon	185-250
Excellent Achievement	Blue Ribbon	125-184

Division D	Prize	Points needed
Outstanding Achievement	Silver Ribbon	170-225
Excellent Achievement	Purple Ribbon	110-169

Division E	Prize	Points needed
Outstanding Achievement	Gold Ribbon	185-250
Excellent Achievement	Blue Ribbon	125-184

Certificates

NSE has provided a certificate of recognition for outstanding achievement on the National Spanish Challenge. Teachers can recognize and celebrate student achievement by clicking here for printable certificates.