Guidelines for All Exams
Whether taking the exam in person or online, you must adhere to the guidelines below to ensure your work is your own and to prevent exam passages from being shared. All exams are proctored by ATA-certified translators to make sure all guidelines are being followed.
Failure to abide by these guidelines can result in forfeit of your exam registration fee, restrictions on future certification eligibility, and ATA ethics sanctioning.
You may not use
- email, chat rooms, or forums
- AI or MT tools, such as Google Translate, to generate translations of any length
- CAT tools or translation memories
- unauthorized websites
See full list of permitted online resources - more than one screen
You may use
- most resources stored on your computer, including dictionaries and glossaries
- approved websites
See full list of permitted online resources - any printed resources you wish
Exam passages must remain private
You may not copy, type, photograph, or otherwise capture the exam passages. You may not discuss or reveal the contents of the examination.
Signed Statement Required
You must sign a statement acknowledging that certain activities are prohibited and the consequences of noncompliance.
Noncompliance can result in forfeit of your exam registration fee, restrictions on future certification eligibility, and ATA ethics sanctioning.
More information is available from the ATA Certification Program Manager.
In-Person Exams
Requirements
You must bring your own laptop with the following:
• plain-text editor (WordPad for Windows or TextEdit for Mac)
• USB port for ATA-supplied USB drive
• Wi-Fi capability
• power cord
How Does the In-Person Exam Work?
You will input your translation using WordPad for Windows or TextEdit for Mac (with grammar and spell-check utilities disabled) onto an ATA-supplied USB drive.
In the event of a technical malfunction, you can still complete the exam by hand. Therefore, you may wish to bring paper dictionaries and other print resources as a backup.
Online Exams
Requirements
You must use your own computer with the following:
• single screen
• front-facing webcam
• microphone
• reliable internet connection with a minimum of 3 Mbps upload speed
• current version of Google Chrome or Firefox browser
• power cord
You must have a mobile device (smartphone or tablet) to use as a second camera. You must download the ExamRoom.AI app for Android or iPhone before taking the exam.
You must agree to be recorded while you take the exam. You and your computer activity will be monitored by proctors.
You must meet all minimum technical requirements. CLICK HERE to see the full list.
How Does the Online Exam Work?
You will input your translation using the vendor’s website. Grammar and spell-check utilities will be disabled, and copy/paste commands will not be allowed.
In the event of a technical malfunction, you must contact the online exam vendor. Their contact information will be provided when you register for the exam.
How to Prepare for the Exam
Exam-taking strategies, articles, checklists, and advice have been gathered from successful candidates and exam graders.
Take a Practice Test
The practice test is an excellent way to measure your readiness. It consists of an actual exam passage from a previous year.
How is the Exam Graded?
ATA exam results are pass or fail only. This is the prevailing practice of many high-stakes credentialing exams.
Register for an Exam
See the schedule of upcoming exams and learn how to register.