James Clemens’ proficiency shown in National German Exam

MADISON – Students enrolled in German at James Clemens High School earned outstanding scores on the National German Exam.

Each year, the National German Exam is administered to more than 15,000 high school students. In its 65th year, the exam provides individual diagnostic feedback and rewards students with a prize program. Exam results allow teachers to compare students across the country.

All James Clemens students in German 3 completed the national exam, which is optional:

• Gold Medal – Sophomores Emily Caldwell and Virginia Hardy and senior Piper Roome ranked in 90th percentile or better.

• Silver Medal – Juniors Isabella Carlock, Zoe Hagood and Kristin McCain.

• Bronze Medal – Senior Tyler Hausermann.

• Achievement Award – Juniors Darby McKay and Luca Stratz.

In addition, “sophomore Emily Caldwell has been awarded an American Association of Teachers of German/Padagogischer Austauschdienst or AATG/PAD National German Exam Scholarship for this summer,” Boynton said. “Emily is our third recipient of this award in James Clemens’ history.”

To win, Caldwell first had to score in Gold Medal range for her language exam. Then, she competed against other Alabama students in a live interview in English and German. “I’m so proud of her!” Boynton said.

In June/July, Caldwell will travel on a three-week trip to Germany. She will attend classes at an academic high school, stay with a German host family in Hamburg and Bonn and take various excursions. The program will cover expenses for transportation and homestay.

Boynton does not require students to take the National German Exam. It’s not a classroom grade. Students showed initiative to tackle the exam.

Each level of the National German Exam has 100 multiple choice questions, divided into two parts. The 40-minute listening and viewing portion features brief audio and video segments. The reading portion presents graphs and images.

Each set of questions has five to 12 multiple choice options. Students also must identify the main idea, details, inferences and intended audience. A question set may include vocabulary.

Boynton served as exam proctor.

“Year after year, my students continue to make me so proud and excited for their futures,” Boynton said. “They work hard. Their performance on an exam like this gives them evidence of their growing skills and knowledge.”

The exam motivates students to continue working towards other goals, such as Alabama State Seal of Biliteracy, Global Seal of Biliteracy and Advanced Placement credits in world languages, Boynton said.

“We’re also graduating our largest cohort yet of seniors with the Alabama State Seal of Biliteracy… students are representing 12 different languages! It’s great how this program has steadily grown each year,” Boynton said.