Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ for on-line testing

Q: [How does a teacher enter students ]
A: [Visit our registration information page.]

Q: [What's on the test? How does one prepare students ]
A: [The 2021 Specifications for levels 01-5 and for FLES are available on this web site. Reviewing these specifications and practicing with previous contests will help both teachers and students prepare for the coming event. A sample of the test levels is located here. Complete review is included in student Contest registration.]

Q: [At what level must a student enter ]
A: [Students take the test for the level at which they are currently receiving school credit (or equivalent). See FLES or 01-5 enrollment guidelines for complete details.]

Q: [What is the difference among Divisions ]
A: [Since students have varying background and experience, we have designated the following Divisions:]

Division A is designed, en principe, for students who begin their study of French in American secondary schools without any significant prior French experience.
Division B is for students with some prior or outside experience with French.
Division C is designed for students whose French background is more extensive than students in Division B (i.e. native speakers).
Division D is designed for students who have just started a new level of French at Contest time (and who won't complete it before the end of the school year.)
Division E is for students not currently taking French.

For complete details see the 01-5 enrollment guidelines.

Q: [What are the dates for Contest administration ]
A: [A range of dates is provided to compensate for local school activities and holidays. Chapters are requested, however, when administratively possible, to select a single date for all participants within the Chapter. For 2023 the FLES Contest dates are February 13-March 6; the Secondary Contest dates are February 15-April 5.]

Q: [Where may the contest be held ]
A: [The Contest may be held anywhere! We offer both in-person and virtual proctoring.]

Q: [Is remote testing/proctoring available?]
A: [We understand that some schools may be completely closed and that teachers will be using distance learning techniques. The online Contest is perfect for this situation. However, students MUST BE PROCTORED. If students are NOT proctored, they will be Hors Concours and ineligible for national awards. Please contact us for details on proctoring your students virtually. We will require teachers to complete an attestation form confirming the students were proctored.]

Q: [What are the fees ]
A: [The following fees represent the National expenses, for basic test development and computer hosting; administrative costs; publicity; and prizes. Chapters normally add a charge to these fees to support local Contest expenses. ]

Individual tests:

AATF members: $5.00* PLUS local fees, if applicable

Non-members: $10.00* PLUS local fees, if applicable

*Chapters add additional fees to support local Contest expenses .

Q: [What Prizes are awarded and to whom ]
A: [There are two categories of awards: Chapter and National. Chapters offer prizes to those students who are among the top percentiles at the Chapter level for each level and division. National prizes are subsidized out of the fees paid by each entrant. National Prizes include Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze medals and Honorable Mention certificates.]

Q: [How many students may enter Le Grand Concours ]
A: [The Executive Council of the AATF recommends that teachers enter all of their students. The purpose goes far beyond "winning" or receiving national recognition. It provides a solid class activity; it also provides a national "guide" to help teachers determine how their students perform, item by item, based upon major grammatical concepts, reading comprehension, aural comprehension, and cultural topics. Individual student scores are never published by the National Office]

Q: [Is the Contest available on paper ]
A: [NO! Beginning with the 2020 Contest, online testing only is available.]

Q: [Who scores the test ]
A: [We do! All tests will be computer-scored by AATF. Results will be sent in a timely fashion.]

Q: [Any final tips ]
A: [Join AATF! Help us work to encourage the study of French. Enter all of your students in Le Grand Concours. Since all prizes at the National level are partially subsidized out of participants' fees, the greater the number of participants, the greater the number and quality of prizes. Send suggestions for improving our efforts to the appropriate member of the Grand Concours National Committee. If in doubt, send comments to the National Director.]