Preparation for DELTA Module 1 should not only include reading a huge amount of methodological literature. There are other strategically important things that will help you pass this exam successfully. Let’s talk about everything below.

1. Learn to write quickly

DELTA Module 1 is a three-hour written exam. And all this time you will need to …guess what, write. Not just to write, but to write a lot and quickly. Therefore, when preparing for the exam, you should not simply summarise and analyse what you’ve read in methodological literature.

Preparation for DELTA Module 1 means getting ready for the paper exam. Unfortunately, a computer version has not yet been invented.

2. Know the exam structure

This is not just advice, but one of the successful strategies for its preparation. For the DELTA exam, you need to clearly know and understand what each task consists of, how to answer it and how to structure your answer so as not to write too much or forget something.

For example, in the first part of the exam, you need to complete 5 tasks:

Paper 1 Task 1 – read the definition and write the correct term. In Task 2, you need to give a full definition and an example illustrating the terms. Both tasks have 6 definitions and 6 terms.

Paper 1 Task 3 – identify 5 features that a student of a certain level will need to successfully complete the task. For each feature, you need to give an example.

In Task 4, identify 5 features of the text specific to its genre. Next, answer 3 questions about the form, meaning and pronunciation of the chosen language from the text.

Paper 1 Task 5 – analyse the text. Identify 3 strengths and 3 weaknesses of the text and give examples from it. Next, choose 1 weak point and justify your choice by giving 3 reasons.

Paper 2 consists of three tasks:

Task 1 – analyse the weaknesses and strengths of the test (context and application are given in the task). Highlight 6 points and describe them based on the portrait of the student given in the task.

Task 2 – an analysis of a lesson from a printed coursebook. Determine the purpose of the tasks, the stages of the lesson, why the exercises are performed in this order, and what the authors’ assumptions are behind this.

Task 3 – analyse traditional and modern views on approaches and methodologies, theories of language acquisition, resources, the role of students and teachers. In your answer, rely on:

• your experience and examples from your teaching practice;
• variety of contexts;
• your knowledge of theory and practice.

3. Cram the terminology

It is most convenient to use Quizlet and add terms there. You can also use ready-made sets of terms. But I still recommend creating them yourself. This will help to better understand the concepts and remember them. And later — to reproduce in the exam.

Where can you find definitions and examples? I recommend two books:

• New A to Z of ELT by Scott Thornbury & Adrian Underhill is one of the newest and most up-to-date publications.
• Longman Dictionary of Language Teaching & Applied Linguistics — this edition contains some outdated terms, but is generally suitable for exam preparation.

4. Analyse

Analyse texts. Take any authentic texts and learn to analyse them top to bottom. Advertisements, articles, magazine covers, candy wrappers, whatever. What are the main features of these genres? To make your life easier, use CLOGS:

Provide examples from the text.

Analyse tests. Take sample tasks of any tests and analyse them in relation to a specific student or group of students.

Analyse the tasks from the coursebooks. Identify all the aims of certain activities at a certain stage of the lesson and the author’s assumptions about learning. 

Analyse students’ written works.  Look for strengths and weaknesses, things to work on. Try to explain your choices and structure your answer in a way that the examiner can understand.

Analyse the writing and speaking tasks. You need to learn to quickly determine the features a student will need to complete this or that task (vocabulary, grammar, etc. + examples).

5. Do the tasks of previous years

This is not just advice, but the coolest life hack. However, it is necessary not only to do the tasks, but also to carefully read the examiner’s comments that justify the correct answers.

If you don’t do this, you won’t know what to write in the exam answer and what not. It will also give you an idea of what the examiner expects to see in the answer of a candidate who wants to get different marks for the exam: Pass or Pass with Distinction.

Learn even more and prepare to take the DELTA Module 1 exam with confidence with our online course.

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