English for Academic Purposes (IELTS)

Description of the IELTS course

Your success in the academic world, both internationally as well as in South Africa, is dependent upon your degree of proficiency in Academic English. The English for Academic Purposes course develops and improves all academic English language skills (reading, speaking, listening and writing). Proficiency in these skills is essential for success at any tertiary education level i.e. undergraduate or post-graduate.

This course in English for Academic Purposes is designed to ensure that you are able to perform optimally within an academic context and be assured of achieving success in the Cambridge IELTS (academic) examination.

The IELTS (International English Language Testing System) examination is presented in four separate skill modules: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. It is possible to enrol for the entire course or just the module/s required.

You are required to have an advanced knowledge of English.

All applicants are required to sit a pre-assessment test. Should your English language skills be found insufficient for entry to this course, you will be provided with recommendations regarding full time or part time courses that you could attend to improve your English sufficiently to enable you to enter this course.

Thie IELTS course is aimed at those whose first language is not English and who wish to apply for placement at an institute of tertiary education in South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, North America, the United Kingdom or Canada. The course helps students develop their English language competence to the level of academic English required, to successfully pass the IELTS examination, or simply to improve their academic English skills.

The IELTS course is ideal for students who believe that their English is not sufficiently advanced to ensure a high level of competence in tertiary study.

Students are required to attend 90% of the classes in order to qualify for the final tests at the end of the course. Students are not assessed only on the basis of the end-of-course tests, but also on continuous assessment of progress in all skills during the course. Assessment is based on written work, oral ability, communicative ability and participation in class.