DipTrans source text format when using a computer Thread poster: Marta Fernandez-Suarez (X)
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Marta Fernandez-Suarez (X) 
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:45
English to Spanish
Hi
I wonder if any body is taking this exam this week in the European College of Business and Management (ECBM) so that they can do it on a computer.
If so, do you happen to know if the source text is going to be given on paper or whether you will actually see it on the screen. Well, I know, it may not seem a very important question, but I would just like to know as much as the conditions you take this exam in as possible.
I profit to wish everyone taking t... See more Hi
I wonder if any body is taking this exam this week in the European College of Business and Management (ECBM) so that they can do it on a computer.
If so, do you happen to know if the source text is going to be given on paper or whether you will actually see it on the screen. Well, I know, it may not seem a very important question, but I would just like to know as much as the conditions you take this exam in as possible.
I profit to wish everyone taking the exam all the best!
Regards,
Marta ▲ Collapse
| | | | | On paper last year at my local centre | Jan 12, 2009 |
I word-processed my translations when I sat the DipTrans last year at the Brasshouse Centre in Birmingham. The source texts for all language pairs were on paper, so unless they've changed the arrangements since last year or they have different arrangements in place for different centres (which would surprise me), I think that's what you can expect. Do check your work extra-thoroughly, it's so easy to miss out a word or mistype something even when you think you're being careful... Good luck!
| | | | Marta Fernandez-Suarez (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:45
English to Spanish
TOPIC STARTER
Hi
Thank you very much. Yes, I do not think the conditions would vary much between sites.
I will get hold of a paper tray then, as I might miss a line otherwise. Missing 5% of the source is a fail, and a line must be more than a 5%.
Well, in case any one is coming with me and happens by any remote chance to be reading this, I have asked direct about two other things:
- space around you: they told me that there is a fairly big table where you c... See more Hi
Thank you very much. Yes, I do not think the conditions would vary much between sites.
I will get hold of a paper tray then, as I might miss a line otherwise. Missing 5% of the source is a fail, and a line must be more than a 5%.
Well, in case any one is coming with me and happens by any remote chance to be reading this, I have asked direct about two other things:
- space around you: they told me that there is a fairly big table where you can place your dictionaries and book case (I think they said a book case) for you to place the dictionaries you are not using at any one time
- printing: in my case they'll be 15 people using the same printer on the room, so it is on everyone's interest to try and print as little as possible, recomending to print the text just twice (a draft and the definitive version to hand it for marking)
Regards,
Marta ▲ Collapse
| | | | Paul Malone
France
Local time: 19:45
Member (2004)
French to English
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| It is usually always on paper | Jan 12, 2009 |
I've done the Dip Trans for two different language combinations and the source text has always been on paper. I did German to English last year.
Knowing the IOL Educational Trust as I do, I don't think they will have gone entirely paperless just yet
Good luck for the exams,
Paul
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Marian Vieyra
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:45
Member (2007)
French to English
+ ...
| DipTrans format | Jan 13, 2009 |
Marta, yes they provide the same paper format for the exam to all candidates. Some people still like to write by hand.
You are given notice when you have to print out your text, about half an hour before the end, so you actually have a little less time than those writing their exam by hand.
I remember we had to use double-line spacing for handwritten work, you probably need to do so for type-written as well. Remember to set your spacing before you start!
¡Suer... See more Marta, yes they provide the same paper format for the exam to all candidates. Some people still like to write by hand.
You are given notice when you have to print out your text, about half an hour before the end, so you actually have a little less time than those writing their exam by hand.
I remember we had to use double-line spacing for handwritten work, you probably need to do so for type-written as well. Remember to set your spacing before you start!
¡Suerte! ▲ Collapse
| | | | Angela Dickson (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:45
French to English
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Marian Vieyra wrote:
You are given notice when you have to print out your text, about half an hour before the end, so you actually have a little less time than those writing their exam by hand.
This wasn't the case when I sat the exam - we were told at the Brasshouse Centre that we needed to have everything printed before it was time to hand in. No half-hour limit. I don't remember exactly what I did but I finished in time (and passed) so there wasn't a problem.
I second the advice to double-space your text.
| | | | Marta Fernandez-Suarez (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:45
English to Spanish
TOPIC STARTER | Cheers again | Jan 13, 2009 |
Hi
Thank you all for the advice and the good wishes!
Yeap!, half an hour seems like a lot to me, though better be ready (if only mentally...) for that just in case.
Thanks for the double space tip too.
Kind regards,
Marta
[Edited at 2009-01-13 17:29 GMT]
| | | | Louise Souter (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:45
Spanish to English
+ ...
| DipTrans source text format when using a computer | Jan 13, 2009 |
I just took the exam today. Even though we could use a computer, the source text was on paper. We only had Word Pad, which I am not used to and we had to save our target texts on to a pen drive for the invigilator to print and this only took five minutes. Good luck!
[Edited at 2009-01-13 22:38 GMT]
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Angela Dickson (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:45
French to English
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| most important... | Jan 14, 2009 |
I meant to say yesterday, but forgot - good luck to anyone taking the exam this year (sounds like they are already happening).
| | | | Marta Fernandez-Suarez (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:45
English to Spanish
TOPIC STARTER
Hi
First to put things right and state the obvious mistake of my first post: 5% would be more than a line on a text with about 600 words...
..........
I finally took the exam today and this was just to give some details in case someone finds them useful. In the college where I was taking the exam:
- most people where sitting at a big table with another person. So two terminals and two big shelves above where you can place your dictionaries
... See more Hi
First to put things right and state the obvious mistake of my first post: 5% would be more than a line on a text with about 600 words...
..........
I finally took the exam today and this was just to give some details in case someone finds them useful. In the college where I was taking the exam:
- most people where sitting at a big table with another person. So two terminals and two big shelves above where you can place your dictionaries
- we must have been about 15 in the room, so it was not very noisy at all, the only noise coming from the keyboards
- we did not have to print the definitive version half an hour before the end, so most people (but the fastests) printed the version to hand in during the last 10 minutes. You do have to make sure, of course, that it is printed by the end of the exam time
- they are using Word 2007. It took a bit for some of us to get the hang of where the icons and functions were, but they are there. Those who were too set on the 2003 ways and were completely lost, were helped to find the basics (ie. Print) and there were also some instructions on how to do the Header, Footer and so on. It is the student's responsibility, though, to ultimately make sure s/he knows all this beforehand, but they were thankfully very helpful
- the whole thing seemed very well organised to me
Best regards,
Marta
P.S.: I am not getting a commission for this post from the college, purely, really, just wanting to explain how it is like. I suppose it is similar every year, so someone might find it useful in 2010
[Edited at 2009-01-15 22:26 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Is spell checking allowed? | Feb 15, 2009 |
Interesting to read of people's experiences.
Those who have used computers in the exam, did they have spell checking dictionaries or were these removed or disabled?
The exam centre where I will most likely do the test only allows handwritten submissions, which is very artificial as every translator surely uses a computer and spell checks their work. It's an extra task to have to check target text spellings the long way (as well as being harder to edit handwritten work),... See more Interesting to read of people's experiences.
Those who have used computers in the exam, did they have spell checking dictionaries or were these removed or disabled?
The exam centre where I will most likely do the test only allows handwritten submissions, which is very artificial as every translator surely uses a computer and spell checks their work. It's an extra task to have to check target text spellings the long way (as well as being harder to edit handwritten work), so I'm wondering if it is worth using a different exam centre.
For the time being on my preparatory course I'm doing everything by hand.
[Edited at 2009-02-15 14:14 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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