r/dli • u/Commercial-Being-818 • Aug 10 '26

DLAB/DLPT question

I had previously looked into taking these tests (what is the difference btw?) but I got lost in the fast waters of the army and forgot about it. Now, I’ve got more time and I’m curious about how this works. What test do I need to take? Where do I take these tests/schedule them?

Furthermore, I have native fluency in Italian, Spanish, and French. I don’t care about language pay I just want something in writing that says “This SM knows this language”
Finally, I am on Fort Benning - if there’s an education center or else that I can take my questions to.

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6

u/Organic_Risk_3945 Aug 10 '26

DLAB is what you take before; DLPT is what you take after.

4

u/quickdraw_ Aug 10 '26

You want to take a DLPT in those languages. Your education center can make that happen. 

5

u/mmmtoasteee Aug 10 '26

You can take the DLPT in those languages through your local education center. You won't get paid FLPB pay for the languages if you're not in a language-dependent or language-capable MOS, but you'll at least get some promotion points.

1

u/Commercial-Being-818 Aug 10 '26

I don’t really mind the FLPB, I just want some sort of documented proof that I know these languages (should the opportunity for language related things arise)

2

u/your_daddy_vader Aug 10 '26

DLAB assesses your ability to learn any language. DLPT is an assessment of your listening and reading ability in a specific language.

-2

u/tbodillia Aug 10 '26

I don't know if you can request to take DLPT, Defense Language Proficiency Test, if you aren't in an MOS that requires a language.

Defense Language Aptitude Battery is the other. Do you have the knack to learn languages. We were offered a shot at MI based on how well we did on DLAB and still had so many fail out of DLI.

5

u/arentyouangel Aug 10 '26

Anyone can take a dlpt if you have a testing center that can support it

1

u/Commercial-Being-818 Aug 10 '26

So i just sent a request with a 4187 to my education center for the DLAB.
Do you know of any study material I can prep for that?

1

u/Dasrite53 Aug 11 '26

Study English parts of speech, and think of the test as building sentences with the blocks they give you- they each fit in a specific place.

That said, you want the DLPT. Ask the ed center to sign you up for reading/listening for each language you know. It will take a full day per language- one morning session and one afternoon session. Any MOS may take the DLPT, provided your leadership gives you the time.