What is Certamen?​​

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Certamen is a quiz-bowl-style game that tests teams of up to 4 players on classics-related topics such as Roman history, mythology, Latin literature, Latin grammar and vocabulary, Latin state mottoes and abbreviations, etc. Certamen is the Latin word for "contest" or "struggle," which is a fitting name, given the extremely competitive nature of the game. There are three levels of certamen: Novice for students in Latin 1 and below, Intermediate for students in Latin 2, and Upper/Advanced for students in Latin 3 and above.

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The GJCL holds certamen tournaments between schools throughout the year at events such as State Convention and Fall Forum, but the main test is at National Convention, where teams representing each state play each other for the chance to gain the glory and trophy that accompany winning first place. The Georgia Advanced Certamen Team won first place National Convention in 2025.

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How do I study for Certamen?

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Visit the 2022-2023 GJCL Certamen Syllabus for tips on what to study and more information about certamen in general.

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Visit this page for a comprehensive list of resources and sourcebooks for each subtopic of certamen!

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