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What is the DPSI?

The ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Qualifications Level 6ÌýDiploma in Public Service Interpreting (DPSI)Ìýhas beenÌýthe benchmark qualification for public service interpreting for over 30 years, and is now available fully online.Ìý

What are the benefits?

Recognised by the UK Ministry of Justice and for the UK Police PAIT Scheme, the DPSI is alsoÌýstrongly recommended for work in Health and all public service contexts.

• Enhance your career - you will be entitled to:
  
  • Use the title 'DPSI' after your name
  • Apply for full membership of the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½
  • Apply for registration on the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI)
  • Take on the highest level and best paid public service interpreting work
• ​The DPSI is anÌýOfqual-regulated, nationally recognised qualification

What format does the exam take?

The qualification is composed of five units:

• Unit 01: Interpret consecutively and simultaneously
• Unit 02: Provide a sight translation into EnglishÌý
• Unit 03: Provide a sight translation from English
• Unit 04: Translate into EnglishÌý
• Unit 05: Translate from English

For detailed information on the content and format of the qualification please refer to the DPSI Qualification Specification.

How can I prepare for the exam?

The ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ QualificationsÌýLevel 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 theÌýQualification SpecificationÌýand ourÌýCandidate InformationÌýfor detailed information about the exam format, criteria and regulations.

The exam is available both to candidates attending coursesÌýand 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 theÌýlist of coursesÌýand 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 theÌýDPSI online

An 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 (click the link or on the picture below) offers advice on joining the DPSI Oral Unit.Ìý

°Õ³ó¾±²õÌýÌý(click the link or the picture below) offers advice on joining the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½Q Online Exam Delivery Platform for written units.Ìý

For the DPSI Law pathway, you can supplement your preparation and studies with a five-part interactive preparatory online workshop available to ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ members in our webinar library. Non-members and ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½Ìý³§³Ù³Ü»å²âÌý´¡´Ú´Ú¾±±ô¾±²¹³Ù±ð²õ can purchase past DPSI papers using thisÌýÌýDPSI Past Paper Order Form.

Examiner Reports & Sample Law Paper

Candidates may also be interested in recentÌýDPSI Examiner Reports which set out recommendations based on previous DPSI candidate performance by language. A sample Law paper in English is also available here.Ìý

DPSI Role Play Topics

Role Play topics for the November 2024ÌýDPSI exam are available to download here.Ìý

Unit 01

Interpret consecutively and simultaneously in the public servicesÌý

ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Qualifications (ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½Q) listened to feedback received from candidates and training providers and made the decision to changeÌýthe way in which Unit 01 of the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ 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 forÌýUnit 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:ÌýDPSI Sample Paper U01.pdf

Key points:

• An interlocutor 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 headset with a microphone
• You must have either Windows 10 or 11 for Microsoft or macOS 12.0 or higher for Apple Mac
• Minimum bandwidth requirement of at least 5 Mbps Upload / 10 Mbps Download
• It is highly recommended that, where possible, a wired network is used, for faster internet and more reliable connectivity

More about Unit 01:

Part AÌý– 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 are published on our website in line with the dates confirmed in the Key Dates document. You will be required to interpret consecutively for approximatelyÌý20 minutes.

Part BÌý– Interpret simultaneously. You are notÌýrequired 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 are published on our website in line with the dates confirmed in the Key Dates document. You will be required to interpret simultaneously for a period ofÌý10 minutes.

The format of the assessment has been changedÌýfor online delivery, but the learning outcomes and assessment descriptors remain the same. The marking and moderation of completed assessments and results processing remain unchanged.Ìý

If you have any questions please contact our Client Services Team (CST) by email toÌýinfo.dpsi@ciol.org.ukÌýÌý

Dates

Registration for the November 2024ÌýDPSI exams is now closed. Please note minimum candidate numbers are required for certain languages to run, so please be ready to register early to avoid disappointment in 2025.

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Fees

For November 2024Ìýthe following fees applied:ÌýÌý

• Unit 01 - £300
• Unit 02 -Ìý£250
• Unit 03 - £250
• Unit 04 - £250
• Unit 05 - £250

Full exam entry (or a combination of any four units)Ìý- £995

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For more information, please check our Exam Fees, Invoicing and Billing Policy on our Policies page.

Registration

Registration for the November 2024ÌýDPSIÌýis now closed. Please note minimum candidate numbers are required for certain languages to run, so please be ready to register early to avoid disappointment in 2025.

If you are interested in other languages or in taking the DPSI in 2025, pleaseÌýexpress an interest here.Ìý

For help and support with registration and payment contact us atÌýinfo.dpsi@ciol.org.uk

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