• Admissions
    • Admissions
    • FAQ
  • Current Students
  • Certificate Exams
  • Alumni
  • Internships
  • News & Job Opportunities
  • Contact
  • Social
    • Private
    • Public
  • Admissions
    • Admissions
    • Faq
  • Current Students
  • Alumni
  • Internships
  • News & Job Opportunities
  • Contact
  • Social
    • Public
Login
  • About this program
  • Curriculum
  • Learning & Career Outcomes
  • Your Future
  • Admission
  • Tuition / Payment Plan
University of Massachusetts Boston
Latin American and Iberian Studies Department

Admission Process - Step 2
Translation Program
Entrance Exam

Instructions

Please take up to one hour (60 minutes) to translate the two assigned passages: one from English into Spanish and the other one from Spanish into English. Your translation should be clear, accurate and idiomatic. Type your translation in the corresponding spaces.

BY TAKING THIS EXAM YOU ACCEPT THAT: 

  1. You will not get any feedback or grade.
  2. Results can take some time, and we can’t guarantee that you’ll have them by a certain date.
  3. UMass Boston is not responsible for any personal decision you need to make based on the results. Please email us at admissions@umbtranslation.org if you didn’t get the results three weeks after completing your exam.

Rules of the Exam

  • You must respect the time limit (1 hour). 
  • You must work on your own, without consulting with other people in any way. 
  • Do NOT use machine translators (such as Google Translate). This will automatically disqualify you as a candidate for the program.

If you are ready, you may start the exam. 

Good luck! 

UMass Boston's Translation Certificate Entrance Exam

Time(Required)
Indicate the time you started your exam
:

Passage 1: English into Spanish

Title: “Recognizing the Cultural Differences”
Cultural differences between the United States and many Hispanic countries often appear in attitudes toward time, communication, and social relationships. In the United States, time is usually treated as linear and scheduled; punctuality and efficiency are seen as signs of professionalism. In contrast, in many Hispanic societies, time can be more flexible, and personal relationships may take priority over strict schedules. Communication styles also differ. U.S. culture tends to value directness and clarity, especially in academic or professional settings. Hispanic cultures often rely more on context, tone, and nonverbal cues, which can make communication feel warmer but less explicit. Family and community play another important role. While individual independence is emphasized in the United States, Hispanic countries often stress interdependence, respect for elders, and close family bonds. Understanding these differences helps reduce misunderstandings and encourages cultural sensitivity in an increasingly interconnected world for students, travelers, and professionals in global contexts.

Passage 2: Spanish into English

Título: “Abuelos a distancia: jugar, malcriar, acompañar y construir recuerdos a 10.000 kilómetros”
Hay gestos que parecen inamovibles: el plato preferido que se repite, el abrazo que calma y la complicidad que no se explica. Pero, cuando el crecimiento de los nietos empieza a ocurrir lejos, en otro huso horario y con una pantalla de por medio, ¿qué lugar queda para los abuelos cuando el vínculo tiene que “viajar” por Wi-Fi? Cada vez más familias argentinas se enfrentan a una transformación silenciosa: la “abuelidad”— vínculo que nace de la relación entre abuelos y nietos— a distancia. No se trata solo de extrañar, sino de aprender a estar cuando el cuerpo no puede. A través de videollamadas, viajes estratégicos y despedidas que duelen, los adultos mayores construyen una presencia nueva: reinventan gestos, rutinas y costumbres para no quedar al margen.
Time(Required)
Indicate the time you finished your exam
:
Indicate today's date
MM slash DD slash YYYY
By checking this box I confirm that I followed the Rules of the Exam(Required)
I respected the time limit (1 hour).
I worked on my own, without consulting with other people in any way.
I did NOT use machine translators (such as Google Translate).

Primary Sidebar

Directory - Categories

Arts and Literature (3)
Business and Finance (2)
Education (3)
Health (2)
Legal (2)
Localization (2)
Marketing (4)
Medical (3)
Other (5)
Technical and Scientific (2)
Technical Translation (1)

CONTACT US

For information about application procedures, program fees, or registration, please contact:

Translation Program Admissions
Phone: 617.287.7549
admissions@umbtranslation.org

For academic and professional information, please contact:

Diego Mansilla, PhD
Program Director
Diego.Mansilla@umb.edu

© 2026

UMASS BOSTON // Website by Webstuff