The Importance of Exam Preparation Courses

International Education has undergone a transformation- from the preserve of the wealthy to a staple ingredient of a well rounded CV. With a world of options young people no longer feel bound to their local institutions from foundation degrees through to post graduate study. Whatever the discipline, the pros of overseas study are increasingly outweighing the cons.

And despite the number of very worthy contenders, English speaking destinations continue their dominance of this industry- with the UK and USA showing absolutely no signs of budging from their positions as the superpowers of global education.  Last year over 4.5 million students were studying outside of their home countries, and over a third of these were either in the UK or the USA.

Yet international education remains a privilege and not a right. Unlike at home, having the right high school qualifications is only half the battle. Institutions of higher education are free to set the bar as high as they like when it comes to their entry requirements- language skills are essential whatever the field, and it’s down to the student to prove their competence, generally with an internationally recognised language qualification.

And this is where the IELTS exam comes in.

Many British universities also recognise the Cambridge CAE (Certificate in Advanced English, CEFR level C1) and the CPE (Cambridge English: Proficiency, CEFR level C2) exams. Unlike IELTS, these exams only test general English, not academic English, and may therefore be preferable to some learners. Again unlike IELTS certificates, Cambridge qualifications do not come with an expiry date.

While students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland do have an advantage when applying to study at British institutions, the majority of international students are also faced with the somewhat daunting prospect of applying for a student visa. Here countries are free to set the bar as high as they like when it comes to their entry requirements too- and language skills are a prerequisite.

So, once again, this is where the IELTS exam comes in.

The majority of applicants do not have years to spend preparing for these tests. And since international education really is no longer the preserve of the wealthy, many of them don’t have budgets to support extended language study either. An intensive exam preparation course is without a doubt the fastest way to acquire the necessary qualifications in time for both the university and visa application deadlines.

Taking one of these programmes on the often overlooked (but never forgotten) island of Malta is perhaps the most economical option out there. With the cost of living still a fraction of that in the UK, but quality standards either matching or exceeding those of their British counterparts, schools in Malta are often an untapped resource in the quest for a globally recognised language qualification.

And this is why Malta is a stepping stone to international education.  Whether the right fit is IELTS, CAE or CPE depends very much on individual circumstances, but a gaining a globally recognised qualification in Malta is the perfect first step on an educational journey, as well as a glistening mark of achievement on an international CV.

Inlingua Malta is one of the Island’s leading language schools. With 36 years experience as an education provider and 16 years as a Cambridge test centre, our students enjoy a 97% pass rate on their Cambridge and IELTS qualifications. Get in touch for advice regarding any of our programmes and qualifications.