Build an MQM model for the task
Choose error categories and subcategories, severity levels, weights, the scoring method and the pass threshold for a given text type and service.
Put a number on translation quality
An online course for editors, QA specialists and translation managers. You build your own MQM-based error typology, annotate errors by category and severity, and calculate a quality score with a pass/fail threshold, working out RQS and CQS on training texts.
- Format
- online, with feedback
- Duration
- 4 weeks
- Language of instruction
- English
- Price
- on request
- Outcome
- your own MQM-based model
01.Who it is for
Who should take it
For anyone responsible for translation quality who needs to measure it and back up their findings.
A good fit for:
- editors who want a formal way to assess translations and a score to back up their corrections;
- heads of translation or QA departments setting up quality control;
- project managers who review vendor test translations;
- translators and freelancers who want to offer LQA as a separate service;
- specialists who run external quality audits of translation departments.
Not the right course if you want:
- to learn to translate rather than to assess translation;
- a single universal score that needs no configuring for the task;
- theory only, without annotation or hands-on work with texts.
Expect spreadsheets, error categories and calculations.
02.Outcomes
What you will be able to do
Annotate errors consistently
Classify errors using the MQM 2.0 Core typology and assign a severity: Neutral, Minor, Major or Critical.
Calculate RQS and CQS
Calculate the raw score (APT → PWPT → RQS) and the calibrated score, using a threshold and scaling so that results are not capped at 100.
Build LQA into your workflow
Use assessment for pre-delivery checks, vendor test translations, periodic translator evaluation and external quality audits.
03.Programme
Four modules
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01
What LQA is and where it is used
Linguistic quality assessment scores a translation by counting objective errors against a chosen model. Four scenarios: pre-delivery checks; test translations; periodic and ad hoc evaluation of translators; LQA as a separate service and external audit.
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02
Inside an LQA model
Error categories and subcategories, severity levels, weights, the scoring method and the pass/fail threshold, and how they combine into a working assessment scheme.
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03
MQM as a general-purpose metric
Multidimensional Quality Metrics (MQM) was created in 2014 by the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI), building on LISA QA. The module covers configuring MQM for different services, text types and subject areas; MQM 2.0 Core and Full, and why Core is the one used in practice; and severity levels and penalty points, calculated as category weight × severity multiplier.
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04
Scoring: RQS, CQS and holistic assessment
The uncalibrated Raw Quality Score (APT → PWPT → RQS) and the Calibrated Quality Score: RWC, maximum score, passing threshold, scaling factor. When to use non-linear formulas (samples above 5,000 words), and when to switch to holistic assessment on the Correspondence and Fluency scales.
Example: Terminology (weight 1) × Major (5) = 5 penalty points; then RQS = (1 − PWPT) × 100.
04.Format
How the course runs
Weekly online sessions
Theory and joint annotation. Participants keep access to the recordings.
Hands-on practice
Building an MQM model for a task, annotating errors, calculating RQS and CQS. Materials include an MQM master spreadsheet and sample LQA annotations.
Feedback
The teacher reviews your annotations and calculations, flags debatable classifications and helps you calibrate the model.
05.Teacher
Your teacher
Yuri Vodostoy, founder of INSIGHT, has taught Linguistic Quality Assessment and Translation Quality Metrics at Tomsk State University since 2024. This course is based on that university programme, which he has taught to two cohorts of master's students, adapted for translation teams and freelancers.
06.Options
Individual and team options
Individual — price on request
- 4 weeks, online
- access to materials and recordings
- MQM master spreadsheet and sample LQA annotations
- weekly online sessions
- review of your annotations and calculations
- an MQM model built for your task
Participants receive a certificate of completion as standard.
For teams — on request
- training for a translation or QA department
- an LQA model built around your company's processes
- implementation and quality audit
- flexible schedule and group make-up
07.FAQ
FAQ
.01Do I need a background in translation studies?
The course is for people who already work in translation: editors, managers, translators. You don't need a maths background either; we explain RQS and CQS calculations from the ground up, with examples.
.02How is LQA different from editing?
Editing corrects the text. LQA measures its quality: it records objective errors against a chosen model, assigns severity and produces a numerical score with a pass threshold. LQA can be a separate stage or a standalone service.
.03Why MQM?
MQM is a general-purpose base metric that you can configure for different services, text types and subject areas. Most current models in LQA tools are built on it.
.04What materials will I work with?
You build an MQM model, annotate errors and calculate scores on training translations, using an MQM master spreadsheet and sample LQA annotations.
.05When does the next group start?
We form groups as applications come in. Get in touch and we will send you the start date and the detailed programme.
08.Enrol
Enrol
Email edu@insgt.pro with the subject "LQA course", or message us on Telegram at @insgtmgr. We will confirm the dates of the next group and the participation format.