Cambridge C1 Advanced: Preparation Workshop

This workshop comprising six sessions offers you intensive and accelerated preparation for the Cambridge C1 Advanced exam. Previous exam papers are used to familiarise you with the structure of the exam, to alert you to how the exam is assessed, and to train exam techniques for each of the papers.

  • Session 1: Overview of the overall exam; what to keep in mind when writing persuasive essays and enthusiastic reviews.

  • Session 2: Understanding the four parts of the Speaking test and what examiners assess, training each part, and using detailed suggestions to improve your oral competence.

  • Session 3: Overview of the Use of English paper, understanding which aspects of grammar and vocabulary are tested, and how this happens.

  • Session 4: How to successfully compose letters, reports, and proposals for the Writing paper.

  • Session 5: Developing effective techniques to understand texts in the Reading comprehension paper.

  • Session 6: Understanding what is tested in the four parts of the Listening comprehension paper, spotting the traps, and training your advanced listening skills.

Feedback from your peers and the instructor throughout the workshop support your progress.

External exam:
For dates and other details on the external examinations, please consult the Cambridge Assessment English website as well as the website of the examinations office where you wish to take the exam. In the case of Basel, this is Cambridge Assessment English Basel.

Course information

Places available
Course level
C1
Date
18.03.2025 - 29.04.2025
Tuesday, 12:00 - 14:00
16 Lessons
Lecturer
Carol Daubney, MA
Credit points
1 ECTS
Registration deadline
Monday 10.03.2025
Course fee
Students and PhD candidates: CHF 219.00
Members of staff: CHF 387.00
Alumni: CHF 387.00
Alumni FHNW: CHF 387.00
Registration

There will be no class on 22 April.

Target group

Participants in this course should at the very least be on the threshold to C1 in all skills tested – writing, grammar and vocabulary, reading, listening, and speaking. Should you still need to attain this level, you are advised to join English C1.1 and/or English: Speaking and Writing I.

Course materials

C1 Advanced 4, Authentic Practice Tests; Cambridge University Press 2021; ISBN: 978-1-108-78499-3

Further details will be found in the course confirmation. Please do not acquire the course materials before then.

Attendance

Number of absences allowed: 1

Coursework

Participants are expected to:
  • participate actively in class;
  • complete learning assessments;
  • spend 1-2 hours per course session on preparing and reviewing the lesson and on autonomous learning.

Credit points

To earn the credit points, students must fulfill the attendance requirement, complete the coursework, and pass the required number of assessments. The course is graded on a pass-fail basis.

Important

The courses and services offered by the Language Center are open to the groups of people listed under Eligibility for Admission. Students must also be matriculated:
a) students at the University of Basel should enter their matriculation number on the registration form;
b) students from other Swiss universities or EUCOR universities should email a valid confirmation of their matriculation to info-sprachenzentrum@unibas.ch before registering for a course.
Registrations without proof of student status will not be considered.

Placement test

To register for this course, you are required to demonstrate that you are on the corresponding language level in one of the following ways:

a) on the registration form, note the title and semester of a successfully completed course at the University of Basel Language Center from the last two semesters; or
b) submit an officially recognized language certificate from the last two years to info-sprachenzentrum@unibas.ch; or
c) take a placement test and send a PDF of the results to info-sprachenzentrum@unibas.ch.

Replacement date

If the instructor has to cancel one or more course sessions, a make-up session will be held on: Tuesday, 06 May 2025, starting at 12:00.

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