Four candidates’ routes (Charlie: 1-3-2 while a full-time DoS; Zhiwen: 3-1-2 by distance from China, then intensive M2; Sarah: 1-2-3 part-time with Merits; Ha Truong: M3 Merit in 8–9 months). Common lessons: plan early, choose an M3 specialism you know, get extra feedback, don’t rush.
Advice that recurs
- Plan every assignment early, especially working full-time (Charlie crammed and regretted it).
- M2 final LSA: pick a skill where progress is visible in 60 minutes (speaking, writing), not reading (Charlie).
- M3 specialism: one you know well, not one you’re curious about (Zhiwen; Ha Truong).
- Read the official reading list early and relate it to your teaching (Zhiwen); intensive M2 leaves time only to skim.
- Order: 1→2→3 builds jargon and report writing (Sarah); theory first is also common (Charlie, 1-3-2).
- Post-LSA group feedback is where “real” learning happens; compare Merit vs Pass lessons (Sarah).
- Proofreader for assignments: if they can’t follow it, the assessor may not (Sarah).
- Principal Examiner’s Reports for M3 expectations; extra feedback from M3 graduates; submit appendices with drafts; halve teaching load in the final month (Ha Truong).
- “If you have the option to take things slowly with DELTA, take it.” (Ha Truong)
Sources
Charlie · Zhiwen · Sarah · Ha Truong, M3 Merit
Apply to my plan (Claude)
For a Tashkent teacher with a full timetable: distance M1 (exam in June or December), then M3 on Exam Classes (my strongest specialism), then M2 with a local or online centre.
Connections
DELTA Module 1 - a study plan and task-timing strategy · DELTA Module 3 - writing the needs analysis section · DELTA Module 2 - why LSAs fail and how to pass · DELTA grade statistics - Module 1 is the hardest to pass