How can I prepare for the exam?
The CIOL Qualifications Level 6 Diploma in Public Service Interpreting is a professional qualification, set at degree 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 interpreting and writing skills and the ability to interpret at a professional level. It is essential that you read the Qualification Specification and our Candidate Information for detailed information about the exam format, criteria and regulations.
The exam is available both to candidates attending courses and to independent candidates. It is good practice to prepare for a professional qualification by following a course of study. Courses are available in different regions of the UK. Please refer to the list of courses and contact course providers directly. Please note that as the Awarding Organisation for the DPSI, we are unable to endorse or recommend any particular course.
Preparing to take the DPSI online
An online demo test is available to help you in preparing to take the DPSI online. This is recommended, to familiarise yourself with the exam software in advance.
This YouTube video guide (click the link or on the picture below) offers advice on joining the DPSI Oral Unit.
This YouTube video guide (click the link or the picture below) offers advice on joining the CIOLQ Online Exam Delivery Platform for written units.
For the DPSI Law pathway, you may wish to supplement your preparation and studies with a five-part interactive preparatory online workshop available to CIOL members in our webinar library. Non-members and CIOL Study Affiliates can purchase past DPSI papers using this form DPSI Past Paper Order Form.
Examiner Reports & Sample Law Paper
Candidates may also be interested in recent DPSI Examiner Reports which set out recommendations for candidates based on previous DPSI candidate performance by language. A sample Law paper in English is also available here.
DPSI Role Play Topics
Role Play topics from the March 2024 DPSI exam are available to download here.
Unit 01
Interpret consecutively and simultaneously in the public services
CIOL Qualifications (CIOLQ) listened to feedback received from candidates and training providers and made the decision to change the way in which Unit 01 of the CIOL Qualifications Level 6 Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (DPSI) is examined. The initial move in 2020 to online assessment (due in part to the Covid-19 pandemic) and our decision to continue to offer online assessments presented an opportunity for us to review and improve the way in which we assess this unit.
Following the success of this approach in the last several years, Unit 01 will continue to be assessed via Microsoft Teams using an audio recording for Unit 01 – Part B. You will listen to the audio recording through headphones and interpret simultaneously. In the live exam each audio recording will be approximately 4 minutes in length.
An English Unit 01 paper is available here: DPSI Sample Paper U01.pdf
Key points:
- An invigilator will support you during your Unit 01- Part A and Part B exam
- Your laptop/pc must always have a camera and microphone access
- You must ensure you have good quality headphones
- You must have either Microsoft - Windows 10 or for Macs - OS-X10.9 or later
- Minimum bandwidth requirement of at least 2Mbps down/1Mbps up
- It is highly recommended that where possible an ethernet cable is used, for faster internet and more reliable connectivity
More about Unit 01:
Part A – Interpret consecutively between an English Speaker and a speaker of the Other Language. Both speakers will be present and the exam will be conducted on Microsoft Teams. A recording will not be used for Part A. Role play topics will be published on our website in advance of the March 2023 session. You will be required to interpret consecutively for approximately 20 minutes.
Part B – Interpret simultaneously. You are not required to whisper.
You will listen to two audio recordings which you will be required to interpret simultaneously. On the day of the exam an invigilator will share the audio recordings with you. The two recordings cannot be slowed down and there will be no repetition. The recordings will be as follows:
- Recording 1: Interpret simultaneously from your chosen language into English
- Recording 2: Interpret simultaneously into your chosen language from English
Both Recording 1 and Recording 2 will be on the same broad topic but could be from a different area. Role play topics will be published on our website in advance of the March 2023 session. You will be required to interpret simultaneously for a period of 10 minutes.
The format of the assessment has been changed for online delivery, but the learning outcomes and assessment descriptors remain the same. The marking and moderation of completed assessments and results processing remain unchanged.
If you have any questions please contact our Client Services Team (CST) by email to info.dpsi@ciol.org.uk