National Spanish Assessments

National Spanish Assessments

The National Spanish Assessments (NSA) are a proficiency-based exam designed to give teachers many different options for testing students.

CONTENT and FORMAT: 

There are two types of National Spanish Assessments (NSA):

1. The NSA Specific Level Exams which test a specific level of proficiency. (see chart below)
   (suggested for earlier levels of instruction)
2. The NSA All Level Proficiency Exam which assesses a range of levels between Intermediate-Low and Advanced-High
   (suggested for high school level 4 and above)

National Spanish Assessment (NSA) REGISTRATION:

Registration for the National Spanish Assessments takes places during the academic year (from August 1 through June 30).   The cost is $3 / student for all exams.

Note: Registering teachers must be members of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP).  Administering the NSA is a benefit of membership.

To register for the National Spanish Assessments (NSA, NON-CONTEST), please call the office at 219-465-2100.

Once a teacher registers and pays for the National Spanish Assessments via credit card, he/she will receive a confirmation invoice containing a username and password for the teacher’s online account as well as usernames and passwords for all students registered.

TEST ADMINISTRATION:

Tests can be administered any time between August 1 and June 30 and must be administered in the same academic year in which they were registered.

Usernames and passwords will be sent to teachers the week after the registration is submitted and the invoice is paid.

RESULTS:

Results are available immediately.  To get results, teachers should:

1. Log in to their teacher Quia account.
2. Click on “Quizzes” in the upper left-hand corner.
3. Open the folder of the test level for which they wish to view results.
4. Click on “Score Reports” for the correct module.
5. View results as desired.

 Click here if you would like more information on Retrieving Class and Student Results.

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 in red are ratings for the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference).

NOTE: The levels do NOT necessarily correspond to course levels but rather to proficiency levels. 
(i.e. Level 3 ≠ Spanish III)

COSTS:

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).  Dues are $65 per year and can be paid either (1) directly on the NSA online registration form above or (2) on the AATSP website (www.aatsp.org).

The National Spanish Assessments cost $3 per student, and the cost includes two tests for each of the four modules as outlined above (8 tests total).  There is no discount for teachers wishing to administer only some of the modules.  Paying $3 per student entitles the students to all eight (8) exams.  It is up to the teacher which exams are to be administered.  The NSA invoice must be paid by credit card.

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 printable certificates.

PRIZES and SCHOLARSHIPS:

The National Spanish Assessments have no prizes.  If a teacher would like for students to compete for prizes and scholarships, teachers should register students for the National Spanish Examinations on the NSE registration page.