Introduction to the ATA

Certification Exam
Delaware Valley Translators Association
Armando Ezquerra Hasbun
Philadelphia, May 28 2016
 YOUR SERVER TODAY
Armando Ezquerra Hasbun
ATA certified ENG>SPA
Former Spanish Group Grader (2013)
NAJIT certified
Federally certified Court Interpreter and Exam Juror
2015 recipient of the Harvie Jordan Award
 Accreditation by Examination
• Accreditation Committee in 1963; first implemented in 1973
• Assessment of ability quality, professional translation in specified S-T pair
• Objective evidence of professional competence”
• Associate membership > Active/Corresponding: Voting rights
• Eligibility: ATA membership 4 weeks prior to exam administration
• Handwritten or keyboarded exam
 Exam pairs and directions offered

INTO ENGLISH FROM ENGLISH

Arabic Croatian, Danish, Dutch, Chinese, Croatian, Dutch,

French, German, Italian, Finnish, French, German,
Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese,
Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Polish, Portuguese, Russian,
Ukrainian Spanish, Swedish, and Ukrainian
 The certification process:
The translation exam
• Purpose • Ideal candidate profile
• Usefulness and benefits: Seal, CT, • Investment: $300/$345
Directory listing, Voting rights • Directionality
• Minimum skills measured • Structure
• Validity and Reliability • Written and Keyboarded versions
• Standard for passing: Level 3 ILR • Open book, proctored examination
• Passing rate <20%
 Eligibility to sit for the examination
https://www.atanet.org/certification/eligibility_requirementsform.php

Pay $35 processing fee and meet one of the 5 criteria listed below:
1. Currently certified by the Fédération Internationale des Traducteurs
2. Those with an approved T & I degree or certificate
3. Bachelors’ or higher degree plus evidence of 2 years’ activity as T or I
4. Bachelors<, evidence of 5 years’ activity as T or I
5. ACTFL’s Advanced test scores in Reading (source) Writing (target)
 Eligibility for exam and for recertification
https://www.atanet.org/certification/eligibility_requirementsform.php

• Acknowledgement of the ATA Code of Ethics and Professional Practice

• Rules for using the credential - Accuracy of Information Provided
• Peer-review process
• Continuing Education 20 CEU’s in 3 years
• One hour of Ethics after certification: conference or free, online module:
• http://www.atanet.org/certification/online_ethics_overview.php.
 The certification process:
the structure of the examination
• Translation of two passages: General and Specialized (225-275 words)
• The mandatory passage: layman to layman
• The optional passage: expert to layman
• Option #1: legal, financial, accounting
• Option #2: medical, scientific, technical
• Three-hour, open book, proctored exam. Investmen: $300
 Certification exam grading procedure
(results announced after 15-weeks minimum)
• Anonymous passage reviewed by two independent graders
• Error scale: -1, -2, -4, -8, -16 and up to +3 quality points
• 18 or higher is “Fail”; ranges: 18-25, 26-45, 46+ points
• Pass on both passages by both graders
• Disagreements or borderline scores reviewed by a third grader
• Candidates can apply for certification exam review and appeal
 Framework for Standardized Error Marking
Error detection categories part one

• Addition v. Explicitation • Illegibility

• Ambiguity • Indecision
• Capitalization • Literalness
• Cohesion • Mistranslation
• Diacritical marks/Accents • Misunderstanding
• Faithfulness • Omission
• Grammar • Punctuation
Framework for Standardized Error Marking
Error detection categories part two
• Register • Usage
• Spelling/Character • Word form / Part of speech
• Style • Up to +3 points added for
• Syntax extraordinary translation sample

• Terminology https://www.atanet.org/certification/
aboutexams_error.php
• Unfinished
GRADING GUIDELINES AND DOUBTS

INTO ENGLISH INTO SPANISH

• FUNDEU
• https://www.atanet.org/certificatio • ACADEMIA REAL DE LA
n/Into_English_Grading_2013.pdf LENGUA ESPAÑOLA
• Diccionarios de autoridades
 Failing results

Examination Review Examination Appeal

• 6-month deadline; Jan 1 start • Panel of 3 Certification Graders

• Current ATA membership • Panel’s decision is final

• $200 returnable fee
• $250 returnable fee
• Outcome and reasons
• If changed from ‘Fail” to “Pass”
• Disqualification from the process
• If not changed, marked exam
 The ATA practice test
• The test provides a practical introduction to the nature of the exam and
how errors are marked. It is also a good indication of whether you have a
reasonable chance of passing the exam. The test will be returned to you
with errors marked and classified by type and degree of seriousness.
• Each practice test passage costs $80 for ATA members and $120 for non-
members.
 Elements of a good translation

Primary: grammar Secondary: style

• Semantics • Accuracy and Completeness
• Syntax • Register
• Orthography • Intent
• Punctuation • Flow
• Readability • Pragmatics
 Dictionaries and their intended use
• General English dictionary • News reports and Op Ed pieces
• General foreign language dictionary • Scientific articles and abstracts
• General E<>FL dictionary • Contracts and Handbooks
• General legal dictionary • Legal Statutes and Ordinances
• General medical dictionary • Technical Instructional manuals
• General accounting dictionary • Medical products inserts
• General scientific dictionary • Balances and Audits
 Some sensible advice

https://www.atanet.org/certification/ab
outexams_tips.php
 Still have questions?

Please email the 

ATA Certification Program Manager or call ATA
Headquarters at
(703) 683-6100, extension 3013