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All exams are sent to two graders. If the graders agree on the outcome, the exam goes no further. If they disagree, the two graded exams are sent back to each of the graders in a collaborative grading process. If they still disagree, all graded exams are sent to a third grader for a final decision.
The exams are graded according to a point system. The grader identifies errors by category, according to the long-established Framework for Standardized Error Marking. The grader assigns 1, 2, 4, 8, or 16 points for each error. The scale reflects experienced graders' judgments about the relationship among different types of errors and about what sorts of errors might be allowed in a translation that meets ATA standards.
The maximum reportable score for errors in a passage is 55 points. A grader may stop marking errors when the score reaches 55 points.
For those of you who have previously taken an ATA examination:
Old system:
New system:
A grader may award quality points for specific instances of exceptional translation (Quality points are not awarded for overall "artistic impression"). Each exceptional rendition may be awarded one quality point, with up to a total of three quality points per passage.
Examples of renditions earning quality points include
Any quality points are subtracted from the total number of points due to errors to yield a final score. A passage with a score of 18 points or more receives a grade of Fail.
Although the use of points may impart a certain impression of objectivity, it is in truth still subjective. In no way is the score on each passage meant to be a percentage. A score of 20 points due to error, for example, does not mean that 80% of the passage is correct. The error score is simply a number that, along with the error scale that generates it, embodies the graders' understanding of translation quality and accreditation standards.
Examples of Decisions about Points for Errors
No points due to errors assigned: Some renditions that are technically incorrect (according to certain style manuals) might not be counted as errors at all if they have become accepted in everyday use.
Example: Use of which for that when not set off by commas.
Shoes which are too small may cause blisters.
One point: Target-language errors that do not result in misunderstanding.
Examples:
Run-on sentence: The house has been on the market for eight months and my wife thinks we should move the goats into the back pasture.
Comma splice: I moved the goats into the back pasture, it took all day.
Lack of agreement: The number of runs batted in, not the number of hits, decide the ball game.
Error of capitalization: the german language or die Deutsche Sprache.
Punctuation (absence of one parenthetical comma): Shoes, if worn on the wrong feet may cause blisters and likewise Shoes if worn on the wrong feet, may cause blisters.
Two points: More serious target-language errors, though the reader can readily determine the correct meaning from the context.
Spelling: A boot with a sturdy soul will support your feet.
Syntax: She skis, plays tennis, and rock climbing.
Usage: They were suspected to break the rules.
Four points: Egregious violation of target-language usage. As one grader put it, "One-point errors make me sigh; two-point errors make me wince; four-point errors make me cringe."
Experience shows that such an error very rarely occurs in isolation.
Foregroundly it is a question of whether, a citizen with afghanic origin and muslim in faith does or not certify for being teacher, when after that she insist to also bear the headscarf in the lesson.
Errors that involve questions of meaning: Here, the grader's mantra is context, context, context.
Example:
German source text: hartnäckig. Intended meaning: persistent.
Candidate's rendition: stubborn > 1 error point
stiff-necked > 2 error points
pig-headed > 4 error points
hardscrabble > 8 error points.
Four points: A rendition that introduces ambiguity.
Example:
To reduce risks to the human embryo, in-depth studies on suitable laboratory animals are needed. (clear)
In-depth studies on suitable laboratory animals are required to reduce risks to the human embryo. (ambiguous)
Eight points: The meaning of a sentence is seriously impaired.
Example, English into German:
This situation is the result of tidal forces translated as Diese Situation bewirkt die Gezeiten
(This situation causes the tides).
Sixteen points: The consequences of a mistranslation are catastrophic.
Examples:
Turn the lever to the right (instead of to the left).
Decrease the dose by 5 mg (instead of to 5 mg).
Or, confusion of two source terms leads to a translation that simply doesn't make sense in the target language.
Example, Arabic into English:
Confusion of ish`aa`aat [radiation] and ishaa'aat [rumors] resulting in rumors emanating from an antenna...
