Slice of Life Day 5: NLE

For the past few months, Latin students have been trying to compact as much knowledge related to Latin vocabulary, grammar, and culture into our brains as possible, in an attempt to ace the National Latin Exam (NLE). This is an annual assessment comprised of forty questions concerning concepts throughout our Latin I textbook and even some things which are not in this year's curriculum. Magistra has been trying to prepare us by administering to us and reviewing every NLE ever given, so that we can get ourselves familiarized with the type of questions. She has diagrammed verb conjugations on the board, given us mnemonic devices to remember culture facts, and explained all of the concepts that we need to commit to memory.

In the beginning, we were lucky to get twenty out of forty questions correct. Now, in the past week, my highest score was a thirty-eight. :D Most of us are striving to earn recognition as a silver or gold medal winner. In past years, scores of around thirty-two to thirty-five equated to silver medals, and scores of around thirty-six and up equated to gold medals.

Today, we took our last practice NLE before we take the real deal on Tuesday during third period. My score would have earned me a silver medal, had I actually submitted that paper in 2012. :/ For many of us, we will be devoting quite a bit of time this weekend to studying Latin, as being honored with a gold medal on a national exam would make for an awesome resume item.

Good luck next week, fellow Latin students! "And may the odds be ever in your favor." :D