DELA Information
Diagnostic English Language Assessment (DELA)
Strategies for Success: developing your academic language skills
Studying effectively at university is a ‘step up’ from your secondary school experience. All students, both native and non-native speakers of English, need excellent academic English skills in order to fully engage in their studies AND get good marks.
As a first-year student, you may require assistance in developing the sophisticated language skills that you need at tertiary level. This is why the University is asking many students to take the Diagnostic English Language Assessment (DELA).
What is DELA?
DELA is a diagnostic tool that identifies the academic language skills you may need to develop further in order to do well in your studies. It also recommends ways in which you can improve your academic English within your degree structure. DELA takes 2 hours to complete and has 3 components for which you will receive results and recommendations:
- Reading (45 minutes)
- Writing (30 minutes)
- Listening (30 minutes)
To get more information about DELA, including sample reading, listening and writing tasks, read the DELA Handbook (105KB |PDF). DELA is a post-entry assessment, which means that it does not affect your admission to University.
top of pageWho should take DELA?
We recommend DELA to any student, undergraduate or graduate, international or domestic, who wishes to improve their academic language skills. However, DELA is compulsory for commencing undergraduate students who have less than 30 VCE English, 35 VCE ESL, 7 IELTS, or equivalent (20KB | PDF) (but not Study Abroad and Exchange students).
If you are uncertain about whether you need to take DELA, please contact your faculty DELA representative. A list is provided below:
Faculty/Degree |
Representative |
Phone |
|
Arts |
Nadia Aly |
8344 4003 |
|
Biomedicine |
Rebecca Croser |
8344 5288 |
|
Dentistry |
Annette Bird |
9341 1508 |
|
Economics & Commerce |
Andrew Dun |
8344 9793 |
|
Education |
Katherine Petrucco |
8344 8243 |
|
Engineering |
Michelle Bellino |
8344 7837 |
|
Environments/MSD |
Luke Sheehy |
8344 4289 |
|
Land and Environment |
Louisa King |
8344 6390 |
|
Law |
Kaye Nankervis |
8344 4476 |
|
Medicine |
Neville Mabotha |
8344 7767 |
|
Nursing |
Alison Kennett |
8344 9404 |
|
Physiotherapy |
Asogan Pather |
83444047 |
|
Science |
Phillip O’Neill |
8344 6234 |
|
Social Work |
Bronwyn Bell |
8344 9411 |
|
Veterinary Science |
Helen Smithwick |
8344 8906 |
|
VCA and Music Parkville campus |
Andrew Hall |
8344 6238 |
|
When should I take DELA?
If your faculty has advised you to take the DELA, or you would like to learn more about your language skills and the kinds of English language programs that will help you develop your academic English, you need to register here.
Faculty |
DELA session |
|
Tuesday, 21 July |
|
Thursday, 23rd July |
|
Friday, 24th July |
|
Tuesday, 4th August |
To find the location of your DELA session, see the Parkville campus map at http://www.pb.unimelb.edu.au/CampusMaps/Parkville.pdf
When will I get my DELA results?
Your DELA results and recommendations will be emailed to you 3 working days after you sit the DELA. Some students will be required to undertake further academic language studies, such as Academic English credit subjects, additional tutorials or individualised programs, depending on your faculty specifications. All students who take DELA will be provided with recommendations to further develop their English. It is important that you discuss these recommendations with your student adviser.
What do the DELA results mean?
You will receive a result (out of 6) for each skill (reading, writing and listening), an explanation (20KB | PDF) of your specific strengths and weaknesses in these skills, and advice about what you should do to further develop them. Your results will also be sent to your Student Centre and will become part of your study plan, but will not appear on your University transcript or influence your academic marks.
If your average DELA score (your reading, listening and combined writing scores are weighted equally) is 3.3 or less, you will be required to take up one of the English language study options available at the University, preferably in your first semester of study. If you score higher, you may nevertheless benefit from English language programs available to you. A list of programs by undergraduate course can be viewed in the table below.
What language program will I be required to undertake if DELA indicates I need follow up academic English?
The language program that is best for you will depend on what course you are studying and whether English is your first or second language. For example, if English is your first language, you will not be required to take Academic English (175-120), but your faculty will provide you with a program that will help you develop your academic language skills. It is therefore important that you discuss the results of DELA with your faculty student adviser. Below is a general guideline to the language program that your faculty has determined you should take up if DELA indicates you require further development to support your academic studies:
Faculty/Course |
Language Support (undergraduate students only) |
|
B Environments (ABP) |
Adjunct Tutorial Program: Reshaping Environments |
Arts |
Academic English (175-120) |
Economics and Commerce |
Academic English for Economics and Commerce (175-125) |
Education |
N/A |
Engineering |
Academic English (175-120) |
Agriculture (Land and Environment) |
Adjunct Tutorial Program: Maths or Biology |
Law |
N/A |
MDHS (Biomedicine) |
Adjunct Tutorial Program: Maths or Biology |
MDHS (Dental Science and Physiotherapy) |
Referral to Clinical Communication and Learning Development programs |
Science |
Adjunct Tutorial Program: Maths or Biology |
Vet Science |
Tailored support on a case by case basis |
VCA and Music |
Southbank campus: Adjunct Tutorial Program: CFI (Better Speaking and Writing ) |
The University also offers a range of academic language and communication skills programs that you can take advantage of. To find out more about these programs, check out these websites:
- Academic Skills Unit (all students): www.services.unimelb.edu.au/asu/
- Academic English credit subjects (for learners of English as a second language): www.linguistics.unimelb.edu.au/areas/esl/
- Clinical Communication Learning Development (Medicine, Dentistry and Health Science students): www.meu.medicine.unimelb.edu.au/curriculum/ccld.html
- Office for Teaching and Learning in Law (Law students): www.otll.law.unimelb.edu.au/
- Teaching and Learning Unit (Economics and Commerce students): http://tlu.ecom.unimelb.edu.au/
- UpSkills Program (research higher degree students): www.gradresearch.unimelb.edu.au/programs/skills/
DELA and Disability
The Diagnostic English Language Assessment (DELA) is a diagnostic tool that assesses student strengths and weaknesses in academic reading, writing and listening. DELA takes around two hours and is comprised of reading, writing and listening tasks. DELA is usually administered to large groups in a lecture theatre environment. Undertaking DELA is mandatory for students whose performance preparatory programs fall within specified ranges. Whilst DELA is mandatory, students with specific disability related characteristics may have already undertaken testing that highlights their strengths and weaknesses in academic activities, or will be unable to participate in specific aspects of DELA, rendering their results unreliable. The following principles should be considered when reviewing whether students disclosing disability who have been identified as having to sit DELA require an adjustment to this requirement.
a) Students who can provide a report of a recent psychological assessment involving a battery of standardised tests devised to assess and diagnose learning disability or acquired brain injury, and where that report adequately demonstrates their strengths and weaknesses in academic activities, may be exempt from DELA.
b) Students who have a sensory or physical impairment that significantly affects their ability to listen, write or read under timed conditions and in a group assessment environment are likely to achieve an inaccurate DELA result and an assessment of their strengths and weaknesses may be better obtained from an alternative assessment.
c) Students who are accustomed to receiving alternative examination arrangements such as additional time or rest breaks for timed assessment should in most cases undertake DELA within the standard conditions and discuss their circumstances with their student advisor following the distribution of results. Where students are accustomed to substantial adjustments (defined as greater than 20 minutes per hour additional time), individualised testing may be arranged through the Disability Liaison Unit.
In any case where it is identified that DELA may be unnecessary or where individualised testing is recommended, it is incumbent on the Disability Liaison Unit to communicate these findings or recommendations to the relevant Student Centre and Student Advisor for consideration and implementation.
Where can I find out more about DELA?
You should contact your Student Centre or speak to your Faculty DELA representative to find out more about DELA sessions and academic language options specific to your needs.
You can also find out more about the Language Testing Research Centre (LTRC), which is responsible for test development and validation, invigilation and scoring as well as for advice on score meaning and general policy matters. Go to www.ltrc.unimelb.edu.au/ to learn more about the activities provided by the LTRC.
Frequently asked questions
You may wish to read the frequently asked questions.(370kb | PDF)