Certamen FAQ
Quick answers about Certamen, the Latin quiz bowl competition associated with the Junior Classical League (JCL) and the National Junior Classical League (NJCL).
What is Certamen?
Certamen is a fast-paced academic competition for students of Latin and the classical world. The word certamen is Latin for “contest” or “competition.” In the United States, Certamen is commonly associated with the Junior Classical League (JCL) and the National Junior Classical League (NJCL). The simplest description: Certamen is quiz bowl for Latin and the ancient world.
How do you pronounce Certamen?
Certamen is pronounced roughly ker-TAH-men.
Is Certamen the same as quiz bowl?
Certamen uses a quiz-bowl structure — buzzers, tossups, bonuses, teams, and moderators — but the subject matter focuses on Latin and the ancient Mediterranean world rather than general academic trivia. Some quiz bowl vocabulary and rules do not apply to Certamen. See the glossary note on quiz bowl terms.
What topics are in Certamen?
Certamen questions usually cover mythology, Roman history, Latin language and grammar, Latin derivatives, ancient literature, and Roman life and culture. Category weighting varies by tournament. The glossary categories section defines each area.
How do I practice for Certamen?
Start with one category rather than trying to memorize everything. Practice with real Certamen tossups at match speed, track wrong interrupts, review the clue where you should have recognized the answer, and practice weak categories as a team. Short, frequent practice builds the quick recognition Certamen rewards.
Guides: buzzer timing · building and training a team
What is JCL?
The Junior Classical League (JCL) is a student organization for secondary-school students interested in Latin, Greek, and classical studies. Many American Certamen competitions are connected to local or state JCL chapters.
What is NJCL?
The National Junior Classical League (NJCL) is the national organization for JCL students in the United States. NJCL coordinates local, state, and national Certamen competitions and holds the annual NJCL Convention.
Can beginners play Certamen?
Yes. Certamen rewards strong Latin students, but teams win by dividing knowledge. Beginners can contribute by specializing in one area — mythology is often the most approachable — and by learning when to buzz. Many tournaments also offer Novice divisions so first-year students are not competing directly against advanced players.
What is the difference between Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced Certamen?
These are common experience-level divisions. Novice often roughly corresponds to Latin I, Intermediate to Latin II, and Advanced to Latin III and above. Placement rules differ by state league and tournament; some events use course enrollment, years of study, grade level, or more than three tiers. Mixed-level teams may be placed according to their most advanced member.
Do you need a team to play Certamen?
Competitive Certamen is usually a team tournament, and a Certamen team typically fields four players. Some conventions also offer Open Certamen, which may be more flexible for joining informally. You can start practicing alone, but matches are built around teams.