IELTS Preparation

These courses are designed to prepare you for the IELTS academic English exams, with focused training in exam strategies and techniques to allow you to maximise your potential and achieve the grade you need.  As a university language centre, we are committed to supporting our students in reaching the level they need to successfully apply to university.

These courses run all year round and the exam can be taken at regular intervals at a local test centre. Courses can be combined with afternoon electives in an Intensive or Semi-intensive course, and many of out more academically focused students take IELTS preparation in combination with our English for academic purposes course.  The course can be quite challenging, so be prepared!

IELTS Standard

On the standard IELTS preparation course you will study 20 lessons a week from 9.00 to 13.00. The course will focus on training exam strategies in the skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing.

IELTS Intensive and Semi-Intensive

The morning IELTS course can be combined with English for Academic Purposes or Business English in the afternoon in an Intensive or Semi Intensive courses.

About IELTS Academic

The IELTS Academic exam is designed for university admission at undergraduate or postgraduate levels, and also for certain professional registrations.  It assesses whether you are ready to begin studying or training in an environment where English language is the language of instruction, and tests the features of language used in academic study.

There are four sections: Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking.  The first three sections take place on the same day, and the Speaking section is usually scheduled for the following day.  You should try to book your exam date at least a month in advance. An IELTS certificate is recognised as evidence of proficiency in English by more than 10,000 education and training providers worldwide.

Applying to UCT

As the premier university on the continent, UCT is home to over 4000 international students from Africa and around the world.  Many students take the our IELTS preparation course with the aim of getting admission to UCT when their English language proficiency reaches the level required to be considered for admission.

Admission to UCT is highly competitive and to be successful as an international undergraduate applicant you need to have excellent high school grades.  As a research-intensive university, UCT particularly welcomes applications from international students for its postgraduate programmes.