LING20006 Syntax
University of Melbourne · Level 2 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 2.
- Final exam 50%
- About 3 class hours a week
Is LING20006 hard?
LING20006: Harder. #29 on the hardest list for Bachelor of Science. Makes it harder: Reviewers say it’s hard (10 reviews), Reviewers say it takes a lot of time.
What you learn
How sentences are built: constituents, word order and clauses, analysed across many languages.
After it you can
- Analyse sentence structure in many languages
- Use several theoretical models of syntax
- Engage with current debates in syntax
What you need first
None
What it leads to
How it’s assessed
Assignments 50%, Final exam 50%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 10 students on StudentVIP (2017–2026)
- Syntax is abstract problem solving: working out the grammar of other languages from data. Most reviewers call it hard and a lot of work, and advise against it as a breadth unless you enjoy puzzles.
- Best preparation: do the tutorial exercises and understand the worked solutions; taking LING20011 first helps. PASS sessions were praised but a 2026 reviewer said they no longer run.
- Several found the exam harder than practice papers, though a 2025 reviewer said lecture content alone covered it well.
A summary of public reviews, not scored here.
Taken this subject? Rate it anonymously (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Rate LING20006
Quick answers
- When is LING20006 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Semester 2.
- What do I need before taking LING20006?
- No prerequisites.
- Does LING20006 have a final exam?
- Yes, the final exam is 50% of the mark. Assessment: Assignments 50%, Final exam 50%.
- Is LING20006 hard?
- From 10 student reviews on StudentVIP: Syntax is abstract problem solving: working out the grammar of other languages from data. Most reviewers call it hard and a lot of work, and advise against it as a breadth unless you enjoy puzzles.
- What do students say about LING20006?
- Syntax is abstract problem solving: working out the grammar of other languages from data. Most reviewers call it hard and a lot of work, and advise against it as a breadth unless you enjoy puzzles. Best preparation: do the tutorial exercises and understand the worked solutions; taking LING20011 first helps. PASS sessions were praised but a 2026 reviewer said they no longer run. Several found the exam harder than practice papers, though a 2025 reviewer said lecture content alone covered it well.
- How many class hours a week does LING20006 have?
- 3 h a week in class
- Can I take LING20006 as breadth?
- Yes, for: Bachelor of Biomedicine, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art), Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Science.
- What can I take after LING20006?
- 1 subjects need it first, for example LING30014.
- Can I rate LING20006?
- Yes. If you've taken it, rate it anonymously on this page (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Averages show once 3 students have rated it; tips are checked before they appear.
Source: University of Melbourne Handbook 2026
Always confirm in the official Handbook.
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