The purpose of these English Language Intensive Courses (ELICOS) courses is to prepare international students or visitors to adjust to the English-speaking culture in Australia.
ELICOS provides a wide range of English programs for specific purposes: English for business, general English, courses for teachers, etc.
To cater to the needs of international students planning to study in Australia, we will emphasize on English courses for academic purposes in this article, specifically IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE preparation courses, as their test scores are widely accepted English language requirements for Australian university intakes.
Please keep in mind that a demonstration of your English proficiency is not only needed to apply for a university program, but also an Australian visa.
There are many ELICOS programs available across Australia. Most institutions will have affiliations with English language schools, and they will ‘package’ English courses along with vocational and higher education courses. Even so, please note that it is not a requirement to take preparation courses before taking IELTS, TOEFL, or PTE tests unless certain circumstances. Furthermore, you can take the tests in your local country first to meet the minimum requirement.
What are the Different Types of English Language Requirements?
1. The International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
IELSTS (The International English Language Testing System) is one of the most reputable high-stakes English language tests, as it is one of the top choices for educational institutions, professional organizations and employers across Australia. As a result, all Australian colleges and universities accept IELTS as a minimum English language requirement.
There are two types of IELTS test versions available: IELTS Academic or IELTS General Training. For international students enrolling into universities, the obvious choice would be taking IELTS Academic, as the test contents cater towards academic purposes and scholarly rigour.
Taking IELTS is extremely convenient due to its accessibility:
- 50 testing locations across Australia. There is one test centre in every state capital and most regional cities.
- 48 times per year, on Thursdays and Saturdays up to four times per month. Plus, the test dates are available up to a year in advance.
- A computer-delivered version of IELTS provides exam candidates the convenience of taking the test with their computers. Established in 2016, this computer-delivered version of IELTS is available in 20 countries. Exam candidates can choose the format and time to take the test, then take their Reading, Writing, Listening sections using a computer. The Speaking section will remain a face-to-face assessment.
2. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
Similar to IELTS, TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is a high quality English-language proficiency test widely accepted in the world. As a speculation, it is accepted by more than 10,000 universities worldwide, including all Australian universities.
TOEFL utilizes 4 methods to assess their exam candidates’ English proficiency as well: Reading, Writing, Listening , and Speaking. And it is widely accessible as well, it is available in 165 countries and holds around 50 test dates per year in institutions all over the world. You can retake the test as many times as you want, but you cannot take it more than once in 12 days.
There are two types of TOEFL tests – the TOEFL PBT and the TOEFL IBT. TOEFL PBT is the paper based test, while TOEFL IBT is administered via the internet, both versions definitely have their differences.
3. Pearson Test of English (PTE)
PTE (Pearson Test of English) is a computer-based English proficiency test targeted for non-native speakers. They pride themselves for their modern A.I. testing system. In that respect, it means your test isn’t graded by a human, but rather a clear-cut algorithm that mimics how a human would score. It is unbiased, as it assesses your score based on what you say, rather than other factors such as your accent.
As with other English proficiency tests, they test their candidates in four disciples: Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking. Also, it is available in various streams: academic, general and young learners.
Furthermore, PTE offers immense flexibility, test results are typically delivered in just 5 business days, and they offer global testing in more than 250 test centres in over 50 countries. You will be situated within a secured-facility in front of a computer, and all 4 sections will be tested in the duration of 3 hours.
PTE is a worldly-renowned English-proficiency accepted for study applications by thousands of academic programs around the world. It is also approved for Australian student visas.
What are the Differences between IELTS, TOEFL and PTE?
Average Fees | IELTS – AUD$375 TOEFL – AUD$240 PTE – AUD$375 |
Exam Times | IELTS – 48 times per year, on Thursdays and Saturdays up to four times per month TOEFL – 50 test dates per year in institutions all over the world. You can retake the test as many times as you want, but you cannot take it more than once in 12 days PTE – Conducted over 360 days per year |
Availability | IELTS – More than 80 countries TOEFL – Available in 165 countries PTE – 250 test centres in over 50 countries |
Exam Duration | IELTS – Under 3 hours TOEFL – 4 hours PTE – Around 3 hours |
Acceptability | IELTS – Australia, UK, US and more than 10, 000 institutions across 140 countries. TOEFL – Australia, UK, US and more than 8, 500 institutions across 130 countries. PTE – Australia, UK, US and thousands of academic programs around the world |
Test Contents | Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking |
How to apply | IELTS – Register online, details at: https://malaysia.ielts.britishcouncil.org/iorpsea/html/content/how-to-register.jsp TOEFL – Register online, details at: https://www.ets.org/toefl/contact/region6 PTE – Register online, details at: https://pearsonpte.com/malaysia/ |
Method | IELTS – Paper-based and in person for Speaking test TOEFL & PTE – 100% computer-based |
Scoring System | IELTS – 1- 9 TOEFL – 0-120 PTE – 10-90 |
You will find the general minimum English requirement for the Australian student visa and most Australian universities stated below:
- IELTS — overall score of 6.0 to 6.5 (no band less than 5.5 to 6.0)
- TOEFL — overall score of 60 to 90
- PTE — overall score of 50 to 64
*Please note that this is just general minimum requirements for Bachelor degrees, minimum English requirement varies differently among institutions and courses. Contact us now to enquire about the institution and course of your choice.
What are the Recommended Institutions for English Courses?
Navitas English Institution
Navitas English Institution have branches all over Australia, stretching across populous locations like Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane. They provide different English courses for different purposes. In the case of university entry, we recommend students to take their Academic English class.
Firstly, Navitas English has more than 60 direct entry higher education partners, opening pathways towards master’s, bachelor’s, diploma, and certificate programs.
Secondly, if you’ve successfully completed their Academic English class, you do not need to sit for the IELTS test to prove your English proficiency to their direct partners.
Thirdly, this course teaches valuable, yet versatile skills in academic proficiency and literacy in English.
Furthermore, Navitas prides itself for its excellent online learning portal – myStudy. It includes learning resources like fixed tutorials and extra learning materials.
Program Name | Duration | Fees (per week) |
Academic English | 10 weeks | AUD$300 |
Sacred Heart International College, Melbourne Victoria
Sacred Heart International College offers a General English class. They offer 4 levels of carefully constructed General English to sharpen all areas of macro-skills, which are: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Students may find the experience fast and enjoyable, as the courses are made to be as high quality as possible.
The course will be delivered over the duration of 50 weeks, with 44 weeks of classroom delivery, and a maximum of 6 weeks for holidays, subjecting students to a 20-hour class time per week.
Furthermore, they provide resources and materials to aid students throughout the course: student books, practical activities, MyEnglishLab online tutorials, bilingual support, computer labs with technical support, etc.
Students will have to prove themselves through various assessments. Assessment methods will include: portfolio, reading activities, writing activities, questions, role plays, learning plans, interviews, research, computer tasks, and presentation.
Program Name | Duration | Fees (per week) |
General English | 50 weeks | AUD$300 |
Edith Cowan College, Joondalup Western Australia
Edith Cowan College campus provides 20-22 hours of English study per week in a classroom setting. They combine modern resources and materials to enhance students’ learning experience, while providing different assessment methods to track students’ learning progress. Due to their dedicated efforts, ECC’s English program is accredited by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency.
Their English program is designed for students who plan to study in Australian universities. Their English program upholds students’ future by teaching them cornerstone skills such as essay writing and reading skills, academic English language, and academic discussions and presentations skills.
Program Name | Duration | Fees (per week) |
Academic English | 10 weeks | AUD$250 |
Griffith English Language Institute, Brisband or Gold Coast, Queensland
Griffith English Institution (GELI) prioritizes every student’s needs. They are able to provide a more personalised learning experience due to their smaller and focused classrooms.
With more than 27 years of teaching experience, they provide high quality learning opportunities, high quality resources, and an excellent support system to shape students’ English proficiency in the best way possible.
Their English Test Preparation class includes: 25 hours of study per week, 20 hours of face-to-face learning in class, and an additional 5 hours of independent learning each week using GELI’s independent learning plans. Additionally, students can gain direct entry into Griffith University programs upon completing their English program.
This program has four sections of learning: Reading (understanding information from academic and general texts), Writing (writing essays under exam conditions), Listening (understanding information presented in academic and general settings), and Speaking (participating in academic/general discussions and presenting information).
Sunshine Coast International College, Sydney NSW
“The mission of Sacred Heart International College is to educate and develop you as a professional.”
The English for Academic Purpose with IELTS Exam Skills (EAP with IELTS) course main objective is to improve the capacity of the learner to use the English language in higher education specific contexts as well as preparing students for the IELTS exam.
The classes are held from 9.00 am – 2.45 pm every Monday to Thursday. Four skills are covered each week (Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking). For the materials, students will be given copies of the Cambridge Academic English series to use in the Academic Skills class.
Their assessment includes tasks such as an essay, debate, oral presentation, and research assignment. For every five weeks, students will receive a progress report with assessment scores and teacher’s feedback.
Course Name | Duration | Fees (per week) |
English for Academic Purposes (EAP) | 10 weeks | AUD$350 |
Contact us to find out more!
Student enquiries:
Call/Whatsapp: +60182414802
Email: [email protected]
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Heather
I seek peace and knowledge in discovering myself.