It is now common practice at most Italian universities to be asked to undergo an official upper intermediate/ advanced English exam prior to being admitted to a Master’s Degree Program.
The same is true for international students who are aiming at pursuing their studies abroad. You might also want to pursue the goal of obtaining such a certification out of personal interest or because you would like to climb the career ladder.
No matter your reason, preparing for these certifications can seem daunting at first, as it is a complex undertaking indeed.
It all starts with deciding which test to opt for, seen that there are huge differences. You will also have to consider questions like whether you need the certification for private, professional or academic purposes, how much time you have at your disposal to get ready and whether or not you already have a sufficient English level.
The latter is vital, as the length of your overall preparation course will depend on these. On top of that, you will have to be willing to invest a considerable amount of self-study time.
Learning a language does not happen overnight but you will be able to master it if you keep at it adamantly.
We are here to guide you
through this maze and help you with this seemingly unscalable task. So what are the single steps?
We’ll set up a preliminary (video) call in which we’ll try to determine which test to opt for based on your needs.
LEVEL ASSESSMENT
second step
You’ll then be required to take a level assessment on the basis of which we’ll decide how many language lessons will be needed prior to getting down to the actual test preparation phase. The initial proposal might deviate from the actual number of needed lessons. This depends on how fast you catch on.
TEST PREP
warming up
Once you have reached the required level, we can start with the actual test preparation. We’ll tackle all language skill areas one by one, break them down into question types and how to face them. In other words, we’ll provide you with a vast range of test-taking techniques, including how to memorise vocabulary more efficiently, how to read faster and how not to focus on the words you don’t understand in the listening part.
DIDACTIC SUPPORT
equipment
You’ll have access to a myriad of free extra material.
*The Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) organises language proficiency in six levels, from A1 to C2, which can be regrouped into three broad levels: Basic User, Independent User and Proficient User. The descriptors specify progressive mastery of each skill, which is graded on a six-level scale (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2).
*The Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) organises language proficiency in six levels, from A1 to C2, which can be regrouped into three broad levels: Basic User, Independent User and Proficient User. The descriptors specify progressive mastery of each skill, which is graded on a six-level scale (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2).
The exams in depth
IELTS
for people who - want to study, migrate or work where English is used as the language of communication
often required by - European, Canadian and Australian organisations and universities
specific characteristics - two modules: General Training and Academic
pros - widely accepted; not a pass or fail test; band scores can be easily referred to CEFR*
for people who - need to prove they have the language skills to live and work independently in an English-speaking country, or study on courses taught in English.
often required by - Economy faculties (mostly European universities)
specific characteristics - B2 level required;
pros - accepted by many businesses and educational institutions worldwide; does not expire; grades can be easily referred to CEFR*
