The RADAr, short of Radboud Academic Diagnostic Assessment is a diagnostic assessment for academic language aptitude. The RADAr has a Dutch version (RADAr-NED) and an English one (RADAr-ENG). All first-year students at Radboud University will complete the RADAr in the language of their bachelor’s programme. The assessment gives students insight into their academic language aptitude and makes students aware of the importance of language skills for the successful completion of a university curriculum. The RADAr is developed by Radboud in’to Languages.
Why the RADAr?
Radboud University feels that helping students attain academic language competencies is its duty. The Radboud International 2025 Language Policy dictates that all first-year will complete a RADAr assessment. Students who get a low score on the assessment will be offered a remedial programme to improve their academic language skills at the beginning of their studies. Students are also given access to an online toolbox, which allows them to work on their individual language skills by revising theory and doing exercises.
What are the features of the RADAr’s content?
RADAr-Dutch:
- Writing skills: Grammar, Spelling
- Listening skills: Listening comprehension
- Reading skills: Vocabulary, Logic, Argumentation, Logical fallacies.
RADAr-English:
- Writing aptitude: Grammar, Vocabulary, Spelling
- Listening aptitude: Intelligibility and Listening comprehension
- Reading aptitude: Vocabulary, Logic, Argumentation, Logical fallacies
Generic versus programme-specific
The tests consist of a generic portion (roughly 60%) and a custom-made portion for the individual faculties. We intend to ensure that language skills match the study programmes by linking the context of the assessments to the content of the study programmes. This will let students experience ‘language’ as a natural component of their programme, rather than repeating their secondary school Dutch or English courses.