Preparation: IELTS

The globally recognised IELTS (International English Language Testing System) examination was specifically designed to target the skills that students need in international educational programmes. The course will focus on helping you to develop essential academic skills in areas of reading, writing, listening and speaking, as well as exam techniques to provide you with all the tools you need to optimise your IELTS grade. This course is also useful for those who would like to improve their academic skills in English.

The lecturer, Carol Daubney, has many years' involvement with the IELTS exam in Switzerland.

Prospective participants are advised to contact the Language Center for consultation about suitable intensive courses during the semester break that will prepare them for this course. It is recommended that participants also attend "English: Speaking and Writing I" or "English: Speaking and Writing II" and/or "English: Advanced Grammar and Vocabulary."

In general it is realistic to expect that the 42 hours of work planned for this course (12 lessons of 90 minutes each plus 12 times homework of 120 minutes) may allow candidates to improve their level on the IELTS band score by half a band score. For example a candidate starting with B1+ (IELTS band score 5) may reach a lower B2 (IELTS band score 5.5); a candidate with B2+ (IELTS band score 6.5) may reach a lower C1 (IELTS band score 7).

Internal exam: The internal exam (Reading and Listening) will be held in the final course session.

Course information

Anmeldung nach Einstufung möglich. Registration after placement still possible.
Course level
B2⁺
Date
26.02.2019–28.05.2019
24 Lessons
Lecturer
Carol Daubney, MA
Credit points
2 ECTS
Registration deadline
Tuesday 19.02.2019
Course fee
Students and PhD candidates: CHF 291.00
Members of staff: CHF 579.00
Alumni: CHF 579.00
Registration

There will be no classes on 12 March (Fasnacht) and 7 May 2019 (internal event).

Course materials

You can choose to order the course book either with or without audio download of the listening tests:

  • Cambridge IELTS 13 Academic, Student's Book with Answers (with CD); Cambridge University Press 2018; ISBN: 978-1-108-55309-4
  • Cambridge IELTS 13 Academic, Student's Book with Answers (without CD); Cambridge University Press 2018; ISBN: 978-1-108-45049-2
  • Script

If you do not buy the audio download of the listening tests you can use the Language Center copy on site at the Language Center, Totentanz 17.

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

Requirements

Requirements for acquisition of credit points

In order to receive credit points, candidates will:

  • not be absent more than twice,
  • submit six satisfactory written assignments with a minimum of 6.5 on the IELTS band scale (if an assignment is unsatisfactory, it may be resubmitted once; these writing assignments will count 25% of the final exam grade but cannot be used to compensate other test parts),
  • reach at least band 6.5 (in accordance with the IELTS band scheme) in the internal exam set by the Language Center for the end of the course.

You can get a total of 2 credit points.

Students are assessed by means of a portfolio (pass/fail).

Homework

± 120 minutes / week

Certificate of attendance

In order to receive a certificate of attendance (available on request) for this course, you are not allowed to be absent more than maximum two times.

Placement test

This course requires either an obligatory computer placement test or completion of a preceding course. If you have not attended a preceding course, a computer placement test has to be taken prior to registration.

Replacement date

The supplementary replacement date for lessons that might not take place is: 18.05.2019 from 10:00 - 16:00.

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