Language backgrounds other than English (LBOTE)

Students from linguistically diverse backgrounds (including Indigenous Australians), may be eligible for additional time in examinations and timed assessments, provided the criterion is met. A timed assessment is a quiz, test, mid-semester assignment or examination that is designed to be completed within a specific period. The time allotted for a timed assessment can vary widely depending on the nature and complexity of the assessment, but it will be predetermined in course of each class summary.

Under the Policy, Student assessment (coursework) (clauses 29–33), students from linguistically diverse backgrounds (including Indigenous Australians), may be eligible for additional time in examinations and timed assessments.

If you are a new student to the ANU College of Science and Medicine, coming from a language background other than English, you may be able to apply special assessment arrangements for your examinations and timed assessments within your first year of study at an Australian tertiary institution. These arrangements are designed to help you transition to studying in English at the ANU and approval is course based. If approved, you will be eligible for up to 15% extra for a timed assessment. You can apply for a time adjustment if you:

• have been educated in a country where English is not the first language and you speak a language other than English at home; or
• were born outside Australia; arrived in Australia up to 10 years prior to the date of application; and you speak a language other than English at home; or
• were born in Australia but have lived permanently in a country where English is not the first language and you speak a language other than English at home;

As well as meeting one of the requirements above you must also:

• be in your first 12 months of enrolment at a Australian tertiary institution and in either full-time or part-time study mode; and
• demonstrate a mix of both linguistic and cultural factors, which disadvantage you in timed assessment tasks such as exams or tests conducted in English; and
• have evidence that you are undertaking formal English language training courses or are engaged in activities that can be expected would improve English language skills. You must by week 7, demonstrate that you satisfy the criteria of the policy and that you engaged in a minimum of ten hours per semester.

Applications will be assessed by the appropriate delegate on the basis of the teaching model, activities and assessment tasks involved in the course. Arrangements will be made on a case-by-case basis to assist you in completing your assessment. Please note that students who have studied more than 12 months (two semesters) at an Australian tertiary institution are not eligible to apply for special assessment arrangements.

Submit application

To apply LBOTE adjustments for a formal examination, you must submit an application by the end of week eight of the semester. All examinations are conducted during the university formal examination periods. Please note that you will need to apply for each semester you wish to have special examination arrangements.

To apply LBOTE adjustments for a timed assessment, you must submit a separate application for each individual timed assessment. If the class summary states, “no time adjustments shall be applied for this task” a time adjustment will not be applied for that task.

Students must submit the application to students.cos@anu.edu.au.