The courses to prepare for the IELTS and TOEFL exams consist of one lesson per week of two hours for a total of 11 lessons (each course lasts for 22.5 hours or 30 “academic” hours).
IELTS | TOEFL | Requirements to access the courses | When and where are the courses held?
IELTS
What is it?
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is an international certificate organised by the British Council and the University of Cambridge which assesses the ability of students to use English in an academic context and evaluates their level in the four skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking).
How does the exam work?
IELTS is not an exam that is passed or failed, instead students are given a score.
The results are available about 15 days after taking the exam.
The certificate is valid for two years and the academic version, for which the course at CLA prepares students irrespective of the level required, is recognised by many universities, enabling students to take part in mobility programmes with other universities abroad. It is also recognised for assigning language credits.
Each university decides which score to require from prospective students (there is no clear equivalence between IELTS and the levels of the Common European Framework of Reference).
How much does the exam cost and where is it held?
Starting from May 2023 it is possible to take the IELTS Academic certification exams, in the "Computer based" mode at the UniTrento Test Center (via G.Verdi, 8 - 1st floor - Test Room 1).
For information on the dedicated fee for UniTrento students, registration methods and exam dates available at the Test Center, see the page:
Preparation course for IELTS
The aim of the course is to show students what the exam consists of and to help them improve their technique in answering the questions. The course is not intended to improve students’ general English.
In addition, because the course is solely to prepare for the exam, unlike for the general language courses at CLA there is no end-of-course test and no certificate is awarded.
The course mainly concentrates on the writing part of the exam since this is the most difficult part for students. During the first four lessons (of the eleven in total) a good deal of information is given regarding the exam and exam technique, therefore students are advised to try not to miss any of these lessons in order to get the best from the course as a whole.
TOEFL
What is it?
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is an international certificate recognized by more than 9,000 universities and agencies in more than 130 countries including Australia, Canada, Great Britain and the States; it assesses a student’s level of English in the four skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) and is taken online.
The exam assesses a student’s ability to use and understand English in the academic context and is based on a language corpus which is used in the university context.
How does the exam work?
TOEFL is not an exam that is passed or failed, instead students are given a score.
Once students have taken the exam, they can download a pdf file with the results after about two weeks.
The certificate is valid for two years and the exam, for which the course at CLA prepares students irrespective of the level required, is recognised by many universities, enabling students to take part in mobility programmes with other universities abroad, in particular in the States. It is also recognised for assigning language credits. Each university decides which score to require from prospective students (there is no clear equivalence between TOEFL and the levels of the Common European Framework of Reference).
How much does the exam cost and where is it held?
The exam costs about €225 and exam centres exist all over Italy.
Preparation course for TOEFL
The aim of the course is to show students what the exam consists of and to help them improve their technique in answering the questions by seeking to develop helpful strategies for the oral and written parts. The course is not intended to improve students’ level of general English.
In addition, because the course is solely to prepare for the exam, unlike for the general language courses at CLA there is no end-of-course test and no certificate is awarded.
The course requires students to do regular written homework because of the four skills the written part is the most difficult. Students are required to do written homework outside the lesson and to respect all deadlines set by the teacher. The homework is then corrected and feedback given to students. The work done in class simulates the exercises contained in the exam.
During the first four lessons (of the eleven in total) a good deal of information is given regarding the exam, exam technique and strategies for self-study. Students are therefore advised to try not to miss any of these lessons in order to get the best from the course as a whole.
Requirements to access the courses
In order to enrol for the course, students need to:
- take the online placement test and obtain a C1a level at least (the test is valid for 6 months) or
- have passed a B2b level course at the CLA in the last 12 months, or
- have a B2 international certificate (see recognized certificates here: Recognized certificates), or
- have passed the B2 level Department exam organized by CLA
Places on the course are limited.
When and where are the courses held?
1st cycle from 2 October to 13 December 2023
(excluding 1st November and 8th December 2023)
Duration: 11 weeks
Lessons: 1 two-hour lesson per week (the last lesson is 2 hours 30 minutes).
Timetables: available at Calendar and course timetables from 15 September 2023
Location:
IELTS course: at CLA
TOEFL course: not organized
2nd cycle from 17 January to 8 February 2024
Duration: 3 weeks
Lessons: 3 two-hours-and-a-quarter lesson per week.
Timetables: available at Calendar and course timetables from 22 December 2023.
Location:
IELTS course: al CLA
TOEFL course: not organized
3rd cycle from 4 March to 23 May 2024
(from 28th March to 3rd April inclusive, 25th and 26th April, 1st May 2024)
Duration: 11 weeks
Lessons: 1 two-hour lesson per week (the last lesson is 2 hours 30 minutes).
Timetables: available at Calendar and course timetables from 16 February 2024.
Location:
IELTS course: at CLA
TOEFL course: not organized