Friday, September 20, 2013

What Should My DLAB Score Be?

By Michael D. Jennings


The Defense Language Aptitude Battery Test or typically known as the DLAB can be described as a standardized test that assists the armed forces in figuring out if a military member is capable of learning a language. Based on your DLAB score they are able to predict with a bit of accuracy if you are going to flourish in a language school like the Defense Language Institute (DLI).

Because this exam has substantial effects on your long term potential inside the armed forces, you might be thinking just what is a good score. The DLAB score's range is from 0 to 164 with 164 being equal to a top score. It is based off a logarithmic scale hence the more closely you get to 164, the tougher it is to obtain a greater score. The lowest score required to get into DLI is a 95 and the lowest score to take a CAT Four language is a 105. Although DLI doesn't distribute an official DLAB average, the Olmstead Program does.

The Olmstead Program is a armed service scholarship program that takes a young officer, enrolls them in a foreign language school and then sends them to a University in the corresponding nation in which they learned the language. As you can probably tell, this scholarship program is very competitive and just the highest officers get chosen. According to their web page, the common score of the officers that were selected was a 128.

Other programs such as the Foreign Area Officer community, again another highly competitive program, proposes at the very least a score of 122 for his or her selection board. This might not be the exact score you are looking for but it does give you an indication as to what the top students are required to get.

So in conclusion, while the bare minimum score is a 95, some of the more selective programs highly recommend a score between 122 and 129. While these are simply figures to target, it is recommended that you simply do your very best to get the top score possible. Your DLAB score doesn't just dictate your future in the military but will also have a very substantial affect on your future selection boards. So look into online sources like the DLAB Prep or purchase a copy of a DLAB study guide on Amazon. Even a tiny amount of study could go a long way and be the difference between a 90 and a 130.




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