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IELTS Test Preparation or English for Academic Purposes

Which ACU English course is right for you? We explain the benefits of of each English program and how they differ.

Thinking about studying at an Australian university? If you come from a non-English speaking country, you’ll need to provide proof of your English language proficiency as part of your application. At ACU, our English programs can get you ready for undergraduate study. Read on to find out which option is right for you.

IELTS Test Preparation

If you’re planning to sit an IELTS test or another ACU-approved English language proficiency assessment, this program will equip you with English language skills and specific test-taking strategies. You’ll work on academic reading, writing, listening and speaking, and you’ll also study course content that’s commonly found in the IELTS test, like technology, society and the environment. Practise tests are also an important part of this course – they can help you get comfortable with IELTS-style questions and the testing environment itself.

While you could complete an IELTS preparation program in your own country, the ACU program comes with a significant key benefit: you’ll be living in an English-speaking country while you study, which means you’ll be immersed in the language both inside and outside the classroom. And, if you enrol for 10 or more weeks, you’ll also get a free IELTS test at the end of your course.

Increase your IELTS score

The ACU IELTS Test Preparation program is offered in five-week blocks, and you can study for as many blocks as you need to until you feel ready to take the test. When you enrol for 10 weeks or more, you’ll receive a free IELTS test at the end of your studies.

English for Academic Purposes (EAP)

If you want to improve your language proficiency more broadly than just preparing for an exam, then a dedicated program like ACU’s English for Academic Purposes (EAP) could be just what you need.

The EAP program is all about preparing you for university study. It runs anywhere from 5-30 weeks, depending on your level of English when you start and the results you need to achieve. When you successfully complete the program, you can use your EAP results to meet the English language requirements of many ACU degrees – without having to take an external exam.

EAP is about more than speaking English

Like its name suggests, the EAP is focused on academic English, and it also includes some general conversational English and professional English as well. But it’s about more than just language acquisition: you’ll also gain really useful skills that will prepare you to succeed at university – how to structure an oral presentation, how to get the most from university lectures and participate in tutorials, and how to use English in a range of university settings, such as emailing a lecturer, writing an essay, and taking summary notes.

Feel at home at ACU

One of the biggest benefits of the EAP courses is that they’re all taught on ACU campuses (currently North Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane). From the moment you start your program, you’ll have access to ACU services and facilities, and you’ll also build a community and make friends with other students who might go on to study at ACU with you.

So, if you need to improve your English, it’s an easy choice to make. Improve your language skills, start your Australian adventure, and say hello to your new life here at ACU.

These are just two of the English language programs on offer at ACU. Looking for something else? Find about more about our Foundation Studies program, our IELTS Online programs, our OET Test Preparation program, and our General English and English for the Workplace courses. Interested in a health degree? Our Tertiary Preparation Program (Health Sciences) might be just what you need.

Watch Lina talking about her experience studying EAP at ACU