Adult Programs: University Pathways

IELTS Test Preparation Course + support and direct transfer to our partner institutions.

The program length depends on the level of the student. The minimum length is 3 months and the maximum is 1 year depending on the skill level and the effort put forth.

Upon completion of our IELTS Test Preparation Course students are able to directly transfer to our partner institutions.

In the University Pathways program, our focus is on getting you ready for the University or college of your choice. In order to do this we will help you improve on the following areas to ensure that you can do the best job possible in your educational career:

1. Time Management – the IELTS and all University Exams will require you to produce things like answers and essays quickly and with few mistakes. Our program will get you formulating, writing, reviewing and finishing essays and test questions faster and with efficiency.

2. Research – finding background information and being able to back up your statements with fact is an important skill for post-secondary education. We will guide you through the process of locating, processing and developing information that will be the backbone of your essays and reports.

3. Essay writing – writing a solid essay that is put together well is an important skill, and many programs at the University and college levels are highly dependent upon them. Your instructor will help you to learn how to outline, bring your ideas into your essay, and how to blend the thoughts together to make an effective argument. Practice is the best way to become efficient!

4. Delivering Oral Presentations – Fluency and confidence are the keys to delivering an oral presentation with style. You will learn how to maintain the audience’s attention, move fluently through your presentation, how to be calm in nerve-wracking situations, and how to be confident in what you know. You will also become very good at talking about a subject with very little time to prepare, and do well at it!

5. Testing Confidence – Practice makes a student more confident...and we will help you practice! We will do tests often enough, mark them and adjust our mistakes so that testing becomes a relaxed and ‘second nature’ activity.

You won’t need to be stressed when you go into a test ever again!

Contact Banff Education Centre for an updated list of current University and College partners.

Notes:
• Students must receive at least a score of IELTS 6.5 before they can be transferred to another College or University Program. Other requirements and documents may be required by the University/College.
• The program includes the same schedule as the IELTS Test Preparation Course.

 

 

Adult Programs: BEC FAQs for the Pathways Program

 

1. How long is the program?

This program is a 12 week program with monthly start dates.You can extend your program length if you feel that you need more time to prepare for the IELTS exam or for university by practising your essay and researching skills.

2. How many hours a week is the IELTS/Pathways Program?

The IELTS program is a 30 hour/week program, divided up into English Communication classes, IELTS test preparation classes (Teacher based) and Computer Based IELTS test preparation classes.

3. Is the University Pathways Program actually free?

The connection to our partner Universities is free for students that study for at least 24 weeks in the IELTS TEST PREPARATION PROGRAM. This does not include the University costs which must be paid to the University or College that you attend.

4. If my level is not high enough or I fail the test what do I do then?

The teachers at Banff Education Centre are professions that are dedicated to helping you to meet your required level. In the rare case that a student is not able to achieve the required level, the students may need to extend their time in the preparation program.

5. Can I get conditional acceptance before I leave my country?

Conditional acceptance is possible if you have all of the prerequisites for the program that you want to take. The University will then give you a letter of conditional acceptance if it is within their policy to do that. This being said, some universities require you to finish your course with us, and to get your band score from your IELTS exam before they will issue an acceptance.

6. What Universities do you have partnerships with?

We are adding new partnerships to our list right now. We currently have partnerships with Brock University, Athabasca University, and The University of Lethbridge to name a few. Please contact the Banff Education Centre for an updated list of current University and College partners and possible University Programs.

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Adult Programs: IELTS Test Preparation Course

The IELTS test was introduced in 1989 to assess "whether candidates are ready to train in the medium of English". It is now recognized by Canadian universities, government agencies and employers around the globe. The exam is taken by over 1,000,000 people every year.

At Banff Education Centre we focus on the Academic IELTS Test. The Academic IELTS test is necessary for students who plan to study at university (undergraduate or postgraduate courses) and will test the student’s ability both to understand and use complex academic language in the 4 skill areas.

This program is a 12 week program with monthly start dates. The practice component is offered in Canmore along with weekly practice tests so students are able to see their progress through the course. The official testing is offered in Calgary at the end of each 3 month session. (Canmore is approximately 1 hour from Calgary)

The Test Format

There are four sub-tests, or modules, to the IELTS test:
Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking.
The course includes lessons that are specific to the IELTS test, the four components, key exam strategies, plus our English Communication portion, based on the Canadian Language Benchmarks, that also covers Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing skills.

All areas complementing each other to improve your scores and English ability.

*Students must study for a minimum of 12 weeks

 

We guarantee a higher test score or you will receive your tuition back!

 

Overview

Currently the Banff Education Centre’s curriculum is based on the Canadian language Benchmarks. We are correlating the skills essential in the benchmarks performance indicators to the IELTS band scores in each of the four skill areas. The major focus will be on preparing the learners for an IELTS band score of 6 to 7.

Overall Goals

Provide comprehensive English language training to prepare the language learner with the essential test taking and language skills and confidence to achieve an academic score of 6.5 to 7 in the IELTS.

Objectives

• To provide ample strategic opportunities to listen to and speak on the themes listed in the IELTS syllabus
• To acquire a broad range of English vocabulary based on real life
• To study relevant themes
• To develop a sound knowledge of English grammar
• To develop effective writing and reading skills
• To maximize the English language learning experience in an English speaking community
• To acquire necessary academic study skills that will further the learners ability to succeed in IELTS
• To prepare for the IELTS examination by practicing taking tests and preparing learners for all 4 IELTS skill areas in the academic stream.
• To help the learner gain the confidence to use English for academic purposes

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