Examiners' Recommendations to DPSI Candidates & Course Providers

Every year, examiners are asked by CIOL Qualifications to provide recommendations on how candidates may be helped to perform better in the DPSI examination. Although not all candidates taking the examination have necessarily followed courses the examiners would like to provide the following advice to candidates, and also to course providers on how they can support their students in their preparations for the DPSI examination. This is a summary of advice gathered from the last few DPSI exam rounds.

Recommendations to Candidates

General advice

• Candidates should bear in mind that the DPSI is a professional examination at degree level and ensure that they are proficient in both English and the target language prior to registering on a DPSI course. It is vital to be able to write well in the target language in order to be able to produce a translation which reads like an original piece of writing.

• Study past exam papers.

• Exam dates and fees for the Diploma in Translation

The standard of a candidate’s work is assessed by breaking down the constituent elements that make up a professionally usable translation, i.e. how the candidate understands the source text (decoding) and renders this into the target language (encoding) in such a way that the text reads as if it had originally been written in the target language.

Candidates should also be aware of strategies that can assist in the production of faithful translations. As a guide, consider the following recognised techniques:

Direct translation techniques

They are used when structural and conceptual elements of the source language can be transposed into the target language:

Preparing for the Diploma in Translation

How can I prepare for the exam?

The CIOL Qualifications Level 7 Diploma in Translation is a high-level professional qualification, set at Master's/postgraduate level. It is the responsibility of each candidate to ensure that they are sufficiently prepared for the exam, competent in both the source and target languages, have very good writing skills and the ability to translate quickly and very accurately at a professional level.

Diploma in Translation (DipTran) – a professional translation qualification – the international gold standard for translators. 

IoLET Educational Trust (IoLET), trading as CIOL Qualifications (CIOLQ), is the associated charity of the Chartered Institute of Linguists.

CIOLQ is governed by the IoL Educational Trust Board (ETB) which meets four times a year.