Bachelor Degree (final Year) (London – Oxford)

Cambridge Preparation Courses

Cambridge preparation courses give you the opportunity to study for an internationally-recognised qualification. At BSC we offer two levels: First Certificate and Advanced.

Courses last for 10 or 12 weeks and are offered at our centres three times a year. The start dates for 2003 are as follows:

The cost for the course is: £1315 - 10 weeks, £1450 - 12 weeks.

The above cost does not include an examination fee of approx. £80 which should be paid in the first 2 weeks of the course.

Pre-test

If you decide to take a First Certificate or an Advanced course we will send you an entry test to decide if you have the appropriate level to realistically pass the exam. This needs to be returned to us 2 weeks before the course . Acceptance on the course is subject to the result of this and an oral exam, which will be given on the first day. The test is also a needs analysis, which enables the teacher to compile material to work on the special needs of the students in the class. Every month tutorials are held to assess progress and also to help Certificate (FCE) you and teacher decide which areas must be worked on.

First Certificate

The Cambridge First Certificate is an exam which tests English at an Upper Intermediate level. The exam covers writing, reading, grammar, listening and speaking. The course at British Study Centres will prepare you for all these different parts of the exam. In addition you will do a lot of work on areas of general English, so you certainly will not spend all your time doing practice exams! At the end of the course we want you to pass the exam but also to have learned a lot of English and to have enjoyed your stay.

The course runs in the mornings, for 20 lessons a week with the classes (from 09.15 - 13.15) every day Monday to Friday. Maximum class size is 12 students. Courses run three times a year (see dates above).

Advanced (CAE)

The Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English is an exam that tests English at an Advanced level. It is a practical course relating to the world of work rather than academic purposes.

To gain entry to the course you should have achieved a level of English equivalent to Grade C or above at First Certificate level (TOEFL level at least 500 points).

All students who apply to do the course will be given a test to decide if their starting level is appropriate. The test also serves as a needs analysis, which enables the teacher to compile material to work on specific needs of the students in the class. Every month tutorials are held to assess progress and also to decide which areas need to be worked on.

The exam covers writing, reading, grammar, listening and speaking, and the course at BSC will prepare you for all these different parts of the exam. The course works across the skills base and concentrates on English in use. We look at past papers and work from a number of recommended books. The aim of the course is to give the student the necessary grounding to enable them to pass the exam, and also to have learned a lot of English. As in any exam the final outcome depends on students motivation throughout the course.

The course runs in the mornings, for 20 lessons a week with the classes (from 09.15 - 13.15) every day Monday to Friday. Maximum class size is 12 students. Courses run twice a year (see dates above).

How to enrol?

You can now apply on line your courses. We will then send you the test. If you are at the right level we will let you know.

TOEIC, TOEFL Exams and Preparation Courses

The TOEIC exam (Test Of English for International Communication) is an English language proficiency test for people whose native language is not English. It measures the everyday English skills of people working in an international environment. The test measures how well people can communicate in English with others in the global workplace. The test does not require specialised knowledge or vocabulary beyond that of a person who uses English in everyday work activities.

The multiple-choice test may be taken as many times as you wish and the 200 questions take about two hours. It consists of two papers: a reading paper designed to test vocabulary and grammar, and a listening comprehension.

The TOEFL exam (Test Of English as a Foreign Language) is requested by American universities for students wishing to attend full-time courses. It concentrates on English in an academic context, such as an American university campus. Candidates require a score of between 475 to 600+ before being admitted.

The computer-based test may be taken as many times as you wish and lasts for three hours. It consists of four papers: a listening comprehension, a structure and written expression paper, a vocabulary and reading comprehension paper and a test of written English. It is valid for two years.

Both exams may be taken at British Study Centres in Brighton and Oxford.

Preparation classes for these two exams are offered year-round and take place on two afternoons per week, Wednesday and Thursday (total 5 lessons per week).

If you wish to supplement these classes with General English, you may take any of the British Study centre's morning classes (15 or 20 lessons per week).

The IELTS Exam

The IELTS (International English Language Testing Service) is generally chosen by students who plan to study at university in the UK, either for a first degree or a Master's. Each university will have a required IELTS score for individual courses so it's important to find out what grade you will need.

The test consists of four modules:

 Listining (30 mins with a recorded cassette)
 Reading (60 mins, 3 parts
 Writing (60 mins, 2 tasks)
 Speaking (10-15 minute interview)

The test can be taken every three months in Oxford's King's School. Students can either arrange this themselves or we can arrange it for them. The costs are currently £78 and £88 respectively.

It is not a PASS/FAIL test but rather a graded test where each student gets a a score i.e. 5.0 or 5.5 etc.

The school runs IELTS classes in both the mornings and the afternoon time-slots.