ATA - American Translators Association Use of Reference Materials Questions and Answers

Question 1

A candidate preparing for the ATA exam is deciding which reference materials to use. According to ATA rules for both in-person and online exams, which of the following combinations is fully permissible?

Accepted Answer

A collection of personal, printed glossaries and multiple bilingual and monolingual paper dictionaries.

Answer

The ATA allows candidates to use any and all printed reference materials, including personal notes, glossaries, and any type of paper dictionary. Electronic devices, including external hard drives, dedicated electronic dictionaries, and smartphones, are explicitly forbidden. While some online resources are permitted, interactive forums are not, and all access is through the exam software, not a personal smartphone.

Question 2

During the computerized ATA exam, a candidate is permitted to use a specific, pre-approved list of online resources. What is a key restriction when using an approved search engine like Google from this list?

Accepted Answer

The candidate may only search for terms and check usage, but is not permitted to click on any of the search results.

Answer

The ATA's official policy for permitted online resources states that when using a search engine from the approved list, the candidate may search for a term to check spelling or usage but is explicitly forbidden from clicking on any of the search results. This rule prevents access to a wider, uncontrolled range of internet content while still allowing for basic term lookups.

Question 3

What is the primary rationale behind the ATA's policy of allowing 'open book' access to dictionaries and other reference materials during the certification exam?

Accepted Answer

To simulate a professional translator's real-world working environment where such resources are standard tools.

Answer

The open-book policy is designed to reflect how professional translators work. In real-world assignments, translators have access to and are expected to use dictionaries, glossaries, and style guides to produce accurate and high-quality work. The exam aims to test translation skills in a realistic context, not rote memorization of vocabulary.

Question 4

A candidate is taking the exam and encounters an unfamiliar legal term. They have several print resources available. Given the time constraints, which of the following is the most efficient and effective use of these materials?

Accepted Answer

Immediately consult a specialized, subject-specific dictionary (e.g., a legal dictionary) for a precise, in-context definition.

Answer

For specialized terminology, a subject-specific dictionary is the most direct and reliable resource. A general dictionary may not have the term or may provide a definition that is not appropriate for the specific legal context. Wasting time looking up every word or cross-referencing in multiple general dictionaries is inefficient under timed exam conditions. ATA's exam tips recommend using dictionaries judiciously.

Question 5

Which of the following resources is explicitly allowed for both in-person and online ATA certification exams?

Accepted Answer

Printed, personally-created glossaries and style guides.

Answer

The ATA consistently states that all printed resources are allowed for both exam formats. This includes any dictionaries, thesauruses, and personally created materials like printouts and notecards. A personal laptop is used to take the exam but not to access locally stored files (translations are typed into specific software). Other electronic devices like tablets are forbidden, and interactive forums are never allowed.

ATA - American Translators Association Practice Test

ATA - American Translators Association Practice Test

ATA - American Translators Association Use of Reference Materials Questions and Answers