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An overview of the Delta scheme

overview

This is intended only as a reference guide and bird's eye view.  More detail on each section is in the individual guides.


1

Module One

Module One is assessed in a two-part examination.  Each paper is 90 minutes long.

You do not have to take a course at a recognised centre or anywhere else to enter the Delta Module One examination.  You can take the examination at any Cambridge Open Centre.
To find an open centre near you, click here to go to the Cambridge site and enter the details.
Please note:
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, ALL Delta centres may now offer fully online courses for all three modules of the Delta scheme.  If you go to the link above, and search for a Distance Delta centre (via the United Kingdom) you will only be offered the three established online centres.
This is, of course, nonsense now because many other centres, previously offering only face-to-face courses, are now offering a range of online-only options.
Serious consideration is being given to making the temporary arrangements for online-only delivery of Delta courses a permanent fixture as is the case, incidentally, for CELTA courses.

The Module covers:

The examination targets different areas:

It looks like this:

M1
Marking

Each paper is worth 100 marks.  The marks you need to get out of 200 are, approximately:
Pass: 100 | Pass with Merit: 130 | Pass with Distinction: 150

Click here to learn more about Delta systems and terminology
Click for:
the guide to Paper 1
the guide to Paper 2
examination advice
a Module One preparation course
a Module One revision course
Delta mock examination papers
Paper 1 revision exercises
Paper 2 revision exercises


2

Module Two

Module Two is assessed via 2 Language Systems Assignments, 2 Language Skills Assignments and a two-part Professional Development Assignment.
One of the Language Assignments is externally assessed by a Cambridge-appointed assessor.

Temporarily, because of the Covid-19 pandemic, Cambridge have altered the rules so that you can now undertake the external and internal assessments of your teaching in three ways:

  1. Traditionally, with the observer sitting in on a live lesson with all learners present.  Previously, this was the only way assessments of teaching were done.
  2. With you and the learners in the same room but the assessor or tutor watching a live stream of the lesson.  Note that the lesson must be viewed live.  You cannot submit a recording.
  3. With you teaching fully online with no face-to-face contact with the learners.  The assessor or tutor will simply be a participant (although silent) but will need access to break-out rooms and so on.

This means that ALL Delta centres may now offer fully online courses for Module Two of the Delta.  If you go to the link above, and search for a Distance Delta centre (via the United Kingdom) you will only be offered the three established online centres.
This is, of course, nonsense now because many other centres, previously offering only face-to-face courses, are now offering a range of online-only options.
Note that these are, allegedly, temporary arrangements but serious consideration is being given to making this a permanent change as is the case, incidentally, for CELTA courses.

The Module covers:

It looks like this:

M2

Word limits
If your document is close to the minimum limit, check what you have left out.
These limits are absolute and there is no leeway.

For the Background Essay for all Language Systems and Skills Assignments 2000 – 2500 words
For the Commentary on the Lesson Plan 500 – 750 words
For the post-lesson Reflection and Evaluation 300 – 500 words
For Part A Stage 2 of the Professional Development Assignment 800 – 1000 words
For Part A Stage 3 of the Professional Development Assignment 600 – 750 words
For Part A Stage 4 of the Professional Development Assignment 600 – 750 words
For Part B of the Professional Development Assignment (Experimental Practice) 1500 – 2000 words

Marking
Module Two is assessed both internally and externally (i.e., one of the LSAs is assessed by an external assessor).  In addition, one complete internally assessed LSA is sent to Cambridge for moderation.
NB: If the externally assessed lesson is skills based, the assignment sent to Cambridge must be systems based and vice versa.  In effect, this means you have to pass both parts of one systems-based assignment and both parts of one skills-based assignment to be considered for a pass in Module Two.

You need to achieve the following:

For a Pass:
a Pass grade in both parts of the submitted internally assessed assignment (i.e., the one sent to Cambridge)
a Pass grade in both parts of the external assessment
completion of both parts of the PDA (i.e., you don't need to pass it but you do need to do it)
In your internal coursework, you must have at least one Pass grade for a Background Essay and one Pass grade for teaching.
For a Pass with Merit:
a minimum of a Pass grade for the submitted internally assessed background essay
a Pass or Merit grade for the submitted internally assessed lesson
a minimum of a Pass grade for the externally assessed
a Pass in both parts of the Professional Development Assignment
In your internal coursework, you must have at least one Merit grade for teaching and three other Pass grades.
For a Pass with Distinction:
a minimum of a Pass grade for the submitted internally assessed background essay
a Merit or Distinction grade for the submitted internally assessed lesson
a minimum of a Pass grade for the externally assessed background essay
a Distinction grade for the externally assessed lesson
a Pass in both parts of the Professional Development Assignment
Click here to learn more about Delta systems and terminology
Click for guides to:
Preparing for Module Two
the criteria explained
choosing an assignment topic
writing background essays
writing your first Delta essay
10 things not to write
analysing systems in an essay
analysing skills in an essay
getting a distinction for a Delta essay
writing lesson plans
preparing to teach a Delta lesson
meeting the teaching criteria
what to avoid in the classroom
writing a reflection and evaluation
the Professional Development Assignment
the Professional Development Assignment Part A
observing teaching
the Professional Development Assignment Part B
writing the Experimental Practice: Part B of the PDA
the external assessment: FAQs


3

Module Three

There are two options for this module

Option 1: Extending practice and English language teaching specialism
This module focuses on needs analysis, syllabus design, course planning and assessment in the context of a selected specialism.
Option 2: English Language Teaching management
This module focuses on situation analysis and planning, and implementing change in the context of a selected management specialism.

Assessment for both options is through a written assignment of 4,000–4,500 words.

You do not have to take a course at a recognised centre or anywhere else to enter Delta Module Three.  You can submit an assignment through any Cambridge Open Centre.
To find an open centre near you, click here to go to the Cambridge site and enter the details.
Please see the comment above and note that many centres are now offering online only taught courses for Module Three.

It looks like this for Option 1 (Extending Practice and ELT specialism):

m3

and like this for Option 2 (English Language Teaching management):

m3

Marking
Module Three is marked externally out of a maximum possible mark of 140.  The marks you need to get are, approximately:
Pass: 80 | Pass with Merit: 100 | Pass with Distinction: 120

Click here to learn more about Delta systems and terminology
Module Three guides to ELT specialism: Module Three guides to ELT management:
a Module Three Self-study Course plan
choosing the Module Three topic choosing the Module Three topic
writing and structuring the essay
writing the Introduction writing the Introduction
writing the Needs Analysis section writing the Situation Analysis
writing the Course Proposal writing the Proposal and Justification
writing the Assessment sections planning Implementation
before you submit Module Three
Reading list for ELT Specialism Reading list for ELT Management


chances

Delta pass rates: your chances of passing

Pass rates are better than many will have you believe.
Here are the figures for Delta pass rates for each Module.

  Module One Module Two Module Three
Distinction 7.7% 4.0% 3.8%
Merit 14.0% 23.9% 26.3%
Pass 39.5% 51.9% 45.4%
Total pass 61.2% 79.8% 75.5%
Referred Not possible 18.3% 20.6%
Fail 38.8% 1.9% 4.0%
Source: https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/research-and-validation/quality-and-accountability/grade-statistics/2018


Before you start a Delta course, you may like to ask yourself What makes an expert teacher?  There is an article on this site intended to answer that question.


If you want to check your knowledge of the Delta scheme, try this short test.