Via Plana adopts a radically new, systematic approach to the teaching of advanced Latin grammar through the medium of unseen translation. Rather than just another random collection of unseen exercises, presented to the student in the optimistic hope that somehow, they will muddle through and absorb some of the finer points of Latin grammar along the way, it provides a graduated learning environment suitable for those approaching points of grammar for the first time, and for those revising the same points at a later stage.

Each chapter presents in detail a grammatical feature and then reinforces understanding of it through translation exercises set at five graduated levels. This offers sixth formers and university undergraduates a 'smooth road' to fluency via a structured series of exercises, primarily translation-passages extracted from major Latin authors, focusing specifically on each grammar feature in turn and graduated in difficulty to match the students' increasing level of ability.