NAATI will introduce a new Professional Interpreter test format for the Annual Program 2008 and for Special On-demand tests taken from 1 March 2008. This new format is described below. Up until this time the current format will be retained.

Current Format

Section One: Dialogue interpreting (2 x 25=50 marks)
There will be two (2) dialogues in different subject areas each of approximately 10-15 minutes duration between an English speaker and a speaker of the LOTE. Each dialogue will be approximately 400 words and will be divided into suitable segments which will not normally exceed 60 words. Four (4) questions as described below will relate to and follow each preceding dialogue.

Social and Cultural Awareness Questions (10 marks)
There will be two (2) questions related to each dialogue. The first question is asked in English and is to be answered in English. The second question is asked in the LOTE and is to be answered in the LOTE.

Ethics of the Profession Questions (10 marks)
There will be two (2) questions related to each dialogue. The first question is asked in English and is to be answered in English. The second question is asked in the LOTE and is to be answered in the LOTE.

Section Two: Consecutive interpreting of Passages (2 x 15=30 marks)
There will be two passages of approximately 300 words each. The first passage will be in the LOTE and the second passage in English. After having listened to the passage, the candidate is required to interpret into the other language almost immediately, providing a structured and accurate rendering of the original. The passage will be read only once and no repeats of any parts are allowed. Note-taking is encouraged. Two (2) weeks prior to the test, the State/Territory Office will provide the candidate with the topics for each of these two passages.

To achieve a pass candidates must score a minimum of:

• 5/10 for Social/Cultural Aspects questions
• 5/10 for Ethics of the Profession questions
• 35/50 for both consecutive interpreting dialogues
• 21/30 for both consecutive interpreting passages
• 70/100 Overall.

New test format introduced from 1 March 2008

Section One: Dialogue interpreting (2 x 25=59 marks)
There will be two (2) dialogues in different subject areas each of approximately 10-15 minutes duration between an English speaker and a speaker of the other language. Each dialogue will be approximately 400 words and will be divided into suitable segments which will not normally exceed 60 words. Four (4) questions and a sight translation task as described below will relate to and follow each of the two dialogues.

Social and Cultural Awareness Questions (10 marks)
There will be two (2) questions relating to each of the dialogues. The first question is asked in English and is to be answered in English. The second question is asked in the LOTE and is to be answered in the LOTE.

Ethics of the Profession Questions (10 marks)
There will be two (2) questions relating to each of the dialogues. The first question is asked in English and is to be answered in English. The second question is asked in the LOTE and is to be answered in the LOTE.

Sight Translation (2 x 10=20 marks)
There will be two (2) sight translation pages in different subject areas, each of approximately 200 words in length. One (1) will be in the LOTE and is to be sight translated into English and one (1) will be in English and is to be sight translated into the LOTE. Each one will be related to the preceding dialogue.

Section Two: Consecutive Interpreting of Passages (2 x 15=30 marks)
There will be two passages of approximately 300 words each. Each passage will be divided into two (2) sections of no greater than 170 words. The first passage will be in the LOTE and the second passage in English. Each section will be played separately and having listened to the section of the passage, the candidate is required to interpret into the other language almost immediately providing a structured and accurate rendering of the original. The passage will be read only once and no repeats of any parts are allowed. Note-taking is encouraged. Two (2) weeks prior to the test, the State/Territory Office will provide the candidate with the topics for each of these two passages.

To achieve a pass candidates must score a minimum of:

• 35/50 for both consecutive interpreting dialogues
• 21/30 for both consecutive interpreting passages
• 14/20 for both of the sight translation tasks
• 70/100 for these three parts (consecutive and dialogue interpreting and sight translation) of the test overall.

• 5/10 for Social/Cultural Aspects questions
• 5/10 for Ethics of the Profession questions