Comprehensive Guide to NAATI CCL

NAATI CCL is a great way to claim 5 bonus points for your Australian PR application. It is not as difficult as the IELTS or PTE test, however, you still need to prepare well to clear the test. If you need help preparing for the NAATI CCL test then this comprehensive guide is for you. Also check out the FAQ page of the official website of NAATI CCL.

NAATI At A Glance

800

NAATI Fees (AUD)

NAATI is not a cheap exam by any means. The fees for test is $800 (including GST). You can pay by credit card or direct deposit.

63

Pass Marks

Each dialogue is marked out of a total of 45 points. In order to pass you need to score at least 29 points for each dialogue, and at least 63 out of 90 overall.

5

BONUS POINTS

As a part of a the points-based PR application candidates who have passed NAATI CCL Test are able to claim five bonus points for Credential Community Language (CCL).

Top Tips for NAATI CCL

Thinking of taking NAATI CCL for 5 bonus points? This comprehensive guide is for you.

1

Fluency

Fluency means speaking at a constant pace, without unwanted pauses. Do not sacrifice fluency for the sake of translation. If you don’t know the appropriate word in either of the languages, use the word as it is. Yes, use the word as it is in English or Hindi. This way you would ensure fluency is maintained.

2

Accuracy

Accuracy and completeness of interpretation are the next two most important factors. Mistakes in these top 3 factors – fluency, accuracy and completeness – have highest penalty. Hence ensure you do not make any mistakes or miss out any important aspects.

3

Practice

Keep practicing as much as you can with as many YouTube, SBS videos you can get hold of. Make sure you record your practice sessions, analyse them critically, identify areas of improvement and ensure mistakes aren’t repeated. Practicing in group or with a friend would help too.

4

Notes Taking

Practice taking short notes rather than writing down the entire sentence. It is practically impossible to write every word while listening to the recording. So the focus should be on writing down short forms and key words and relying on your memory to connect the words to formulate a coherent sentence. Again, practice helps you here. Cm up w ur own shrt cts 🙂

5

Get Facts Right

Make sure you accurately translate the factual aspects of dialogues such a period (week, date, month, years), lists (list of documents), parts of the body (right/left leg or arm, back, head). Mistakes in this will lead to inaccuracy or incompleteness in interpretation. Hence get them right.

6

Focus on Stronger Language

Identify the language which is your strongest suit. Make sure you maximise your score in this. For the other language, focus on minimising your mistakes. If your strength is Hindi to English translation, try to ensure that you make minimal mistakes, if not zero in these sentences. Use your “dialogue repeats" for your stronger language to avoid losing any marks.

7

Generic Words

Familiarise yourself with the common topics. This will ensure you are comfortable with the words associated with a topic. Remember that only about 30% words would be specific to that topic. Rest all will be common or generic words and are most likely to be present in almost all dialogues. Make sure you get these correct.

8

Using English Words

Don’t attempt to translate every word. Some words are too difficult to translate. For these, just use the English word in your translation. For example “Ticket" “Phone" “Internet" etc. Similarly some words can be skipped instead of being translated. For example the English phrase “I wonder". If you don't know the right translation, you are better off not translating to ensure that fluency remains intact.

9

Word Lists

Create your own word list in a spreadsheet and revise it often. Start reading at least 1-2 articles in your LOTE (eg. Hindi, Punjabi) everyday. Even watching Youtube/SBS videos helps. Keep adding new words to your word list everyday when you come across any uncommon words. Categorise them into topics if possible. Soon you will have a master list of words on various topics.

Frequently Asked Questions About NAATI

How do you request for a repetition? Is only one allowed per dialogue?

To ask the examiner to repeat the dialogue, just say “Please Repeat" before the next segment starts. You can take 1 repeat per dialogue.

How many corrections can you make without losing points per dialogue?

There is no mention of number of corrections. Candidates have taken 5-6 corrections per dialogue and have still scored ~70. However, try to keep corrections down to a minimum.

Also if you wish to take the correction option, be sure to practice that by saying “I want to make a correction". Some candidates just raise their hand hoping to get noticed only for the examiner to move on to the next section.

Can I take NAATI CCL test from outside Australia

Yes, NAATI CCL is now delivered online via Microsoft Teams. You can take it from your home using a computer. Just make sure that you have a good Internet connection.

Which NAATI certification exam should I take for 5 bonus points?

On the NAATI website, there are a lot of certifications like translator, interpreter and different levels within that. Choose NAATI CCL if you would like to claim 5 points for migration purpose. “Credentialed Community Language (CCL) Testing"

How soon can I get a date for the NAATI CCL test?

NAATI CCL test dates are in high demand so it is best to book as early as possible. You will see random dates until the time your profile is approved by NAATI. Once it is approved, you will be able to see recent dates.

How much time should I allot for preparing for NAATI considering I can understand and can speak my LOTE (Hindi).

NAATI is not a very difficult exam like IELTS or PTE. Most candidates clear it in their first attempt with 15 days of practice.

For NAATI (LOTE-Hindi) test, are the invigilators Indians?

No invigilator can be from various backgrounds but most are Australians. You will know who your invigilator will be when you receive the invitation. Your invitation email will be sent under your invigilator's name.

Stories From The Frontline

Tips from candidates who have taken NAATI CCL

I am not really a native Punjabi speaker (born and raised in Canada) however I thought my conversational (home spoken) Punjabi would be enough to pass the exam - it was not. I failed the first time. I gave the test for a second time (Online) and spent 6 weeks practicing full-time/intensively (approximately 4-6 hours per day). Passed this time. For me the best resource was the SBS podcasts and radio programs. I listened to the 1 hr podcast every single day and stopped it repeatedly to learn every single word or phrase that I did not know. In addition, I only watched Punjabi news and spend about an hour or two reading and speaking easy/light Punjabi. I think the same could easily be done in reverse by listening to SBS English podcasts and interpreting into Punjabi/Hindi.
Navneet
LOTE - Punjabi
I tried the strategy to translate all the details into each language. I asked for only 1 repeat in the 2nd dialogue. I broke the long sentences into 2 when translating using connecting words: and, therefore, plus etc. In terms of using english word, if the english word is something that is commonly used and understood in your language, it is acceptable. For example, 'ticket' is commonly used as 'ticket' even in Korean so it will be accepted. I scored 76/90. When i reviewed my test looking at the note that i took, I believed I translated pretty much everything accurately but still there was -13 deduction. So i believe no matter how good you are with catching details, there are some general deductions that apply universally to pretty much all candidates, criteria of which nobody really knows. Focus less on catching all the minor details, and instead minimise hesitation and speak fluently to give the examiner a good impression that you have a solid command on English/LOTE. This is enough to pass the test, given that the general idea of the conversations are conveyed.
Yoon
LOTE - Korean
The online NAATI CCL exam is exactly like the face-to-face test. Prior to the test the invigilator inspected the place I was taking the test to ensure there was no chance of cheating. I showed him the environment around using my webcam, then he did an ID check, policy address etc. The difficulty level is definitely higher than face-to-face test, not because of the content itself but because of the audio quality. The audio quality is understandable, yet it wasn't as clear as practice material due to it being carried over Microsoft Teams. I hope the assessor takes this into consideration when marking.
Srilatha
Face-2-Face vs Online
If you are taking NAATI online, you must ensure that there is a strong and stable internet connection, otherwise the audio will be even further compromised. In the worst case, it can be cut off in the middle due to poor connection. In such case, you can ask for a repeat without any penalty. However, the assessor will also be able to hear the audio quality that you hear on your side. So if someone lies that they couldn't hear due to poor reception and ask for a free repeat, they can be in trouble. Both video + audio will be recorded and they will be assessing not only the test, but also suspicious behaviour of the students for possible cheating. You can still take notes. My suggestion: Have a super good internet connection + have a super tidy place to spend less time checking the environment + enhance your listening skills otherwise you may find it difficult to understand.
Venky
NAATI Online Experience
I used my MacBook for the NAATI test using inbuilt mic and speaker (without headset as I didn't have one). Closer to the test date, the invigilator will send you an email containing link to the online room where you can join as a guest. The link is usually sent out approximately 1~2 weeks before the test date as that's when the invigilator check if the test candidate's audio and mic are properly working in your computer.
Diana
UK

Need help with NAATI CCL preparation?

Enter your details in the form to book a live class with one of our experienced NAATI tutors. We can customise the class as per your availability and needs.

Both, group as well as one-on-one classes are available. All classes are online via Zoom.

One-On-One

One-on-one NAATI classes are available for all LOTE. Please register your interest and we will get back to you within 24 hours.

Group Classes

Group classes are available only for English-Hindi at the moment. However we can organise group classes for other LOTE if you have 3 or more friends who wish to prepare together.

Good luck to you with the NAATI CCL exam as well as with your journey to becoming a permanent resident and citizen of Australia.

Still need more help? Contact our NAATI experts who will guide you step by step in preparing for the test.

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