Written by Aurélie Sheehan, Manager ‑ Certification Policy and Development at NAATI.
Planning to sit the NAATI Certified Translator test?
In 2018, NAATI launched its current Certification system offering a range of certification levels across two streams of testing: interpreting and translation. Although several levels are available in the interpreting stream, the translation stream has only one test level: the generalist Certified Translator (CT) test, available in 36 languages and in both directions for each language.
How did NAATI design the CT test?
NAATI’s Certification System is designed to evaluate whether an individual is competent to practise as an interpreter or translator. It does this by setting minimum performance standards across several areas of competency. Individuals who demonstrate that they meet these standards are awarded NAATI certification.
To design the Certified Translator test, NAATI established the main Knowledge, Skills, and Attributes (KSA) that are expected from professional translators. Some of the KSAs are addressed in test prerequisites or through professional development and others are tested directly in the Certified Translator test.
The CT test is designed to assess your ability to provide quality, professional translation of complex but non-specialised written language, in a specified language combination and direction. It is a generalist test that directly assesses three skills: meaning transfer, application of norms and conventions, and language proficiency enabling meaning transfer in the target language.
>> Find out more about NAATI’s KSAs for translators
What is the test format?
The CT test is composed of two compulsory parts: one translation section in which you must translate two of the three proposed texts, and a revision section. There is no choice of tasks for the revision. In total, you will complete 3 tasks in the test: two translations and one revision.
All test tasks are from different domains including government, legal, health, technology, science, business, community, society, culture, education, tourism, finance, consumer affairs, insurance, economics, employment, housing, environment, social services, service/manufacturing industries and migration and settlement.
You can choose the language direction in which you want to sit the test. However, to sit it in both directions, you will need to sit two separate tests.
Who can sit the CT test?
To be eligible to sit the CT test, you must satisfy several prerequisites by demonstrating competency in intercultural and ethical knowledge and by having completed the relevant level of training. The minimum level of training recommended to sit the CT test is an Advanced Diploma.
To recognise different profiles and backgrounds, NAATI offers four eligibility pathways. If you are still considering training options, you can undertake training at a NAATI-endorsed institution or at a non-endorsed institution. Depending on your training, you may be required to sit NAATI’s intercultural competency and ethical competency tests.
Practitioners who already hold a CT credential or a Recognised Practising Translator credential are automatically eligible to sit the CT test in a different language combination.
>>Find out more about prerequisites and pathways at Certified Translator - NAATI
Preparing for the test
To support you with your test preparation, NAATI has developed a one-stop preparation module that is accessible to all, even to those who have not booked a test yet. This valuable resource provides free practice tests in your language along with self-review sheets allowing you to evaluate yourself against the criteria you will be marked on in the real test.
If you want examiner feedback, you can also book a paid practice translation task. This will allow you to book a mock session for one translation task which will then be marked by one examiner. Mock test results do not count towards the official certification test results.
In addition to practice tasks, the preparation module provides valuable resources that are key to candidates’ preparation: NAATI language policies for translator tests, the CT test assessment rubrics, the list of error categories for the revision task, the whitelist of online resources allowed during the test, and candidate instructions. Make sure to check out these resources as part of your preparation.
The list of error categories and the whitelist of online resources will also be provided during the test.
How can you increase your chances of success?
Successful candidates who have shared some of their preparation tips with NAATI recommend building your own glossaries, getting tips from already certified practitioners, getting your practice translations reviewed by a peer and, of course, practice, practice, practice...
D-day... Sitting the CT test
The CT test is administered online with live chat support via NAATI’s testing platform and lasts three and a half hours.
You will have access to a spellcheck functionality and a whitelist of online resources to help you during the test. You may also use printed or downloadable dictionaries, thesauri, and glossaries (including those you have developed yourself!).
Although NAATI endeavours to create an authentic testing environment as much as possible, machine translation is not allowed during the CT test.
>>Find out more about the testing platform, the technical set-up and the resources allowed at Certified Translator (CT) Candidate Instructions - NAATI
How is the CT test marked?
All NAATI tests, including the CT test, are marked by two independent examiners who have been trained to set and mark NAATI tests. Examiners assess each test task using the CT test assessment rubrics. In case of a disagreement between the two initial examiners, a third examiner will be asked to mark the test to ensure maximum reliability in the test results issued.
Candidates receive their results within ten weeks.
>> Download the CT test assessment rubrics at Certified-Translator-Assessment-Rubrics.pdf (naati.com.au)
DID YOU KNOW?
- There are currently close to 4,000 active Certified Translators
- NAATI engages close to 200 examiners to mark candidates’ CT tests across the 36 languages offered.
Find out more on the NAATI website at Certified Translator - NAATI
Photo credit: Andrew Neel on Unsplash