Exam Preparation

We are a Cambridge and Trinity exam centre and we offer preparation courses in Cambridge, Trinity, IELTS and TOEIC exams.

The courses allow students to improve their reading, writing, listening and speaking skills and to develop their vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation.

Exam techniques and mock exams are also covered to help students achieve the best possible marks.

Exam Classroom
We offer 4 courses to prepare for different exams:
  1. Cambridge

    Cambridge Exam Preparation

    20 x 45 minute Exam Preparation lessons per week
    The course focuses entirely on preparation for the Cambridge
    Exams. Students will practise exam techniques and complete
    mock exams.

    Course Aims
    • Improve language skills in the four key areas of reading, writing, speaking and listening
    • Develop vocabulary
    • Improve pronunciation and fluency
    • Consolidate and extend key grammar area
    • Improve English for everyday situations
    • Become familiar with the different types of exam questions and how to answer them
    • Perfect exam techniques and practise under exam conditions

    Course Content

    Cambridge Exam Preparation Courses include a variety of activities to encourage students to progress as much as possible.

    Course Content
    Writing: Improving writing
    skills for various situations
    and answering typical
    exam questions.    		 Reading: Developing reading
    skills, expanding vocabulary
    and reading skills for
    Cambridge exams.
    Listening: Understanding
    spoken English in a variety of
    contexts and listening skills for
    Cambridge exams.    		 Speaking: Conversations,
    class discussions and exam
    speaking practice.
    Pronunciation: Students will be
    encouraged to improve their
    pronunciation throughout
    the course.    		 Grammar: reviewing and
    practising key points of
    grammar and usage.
    Exams: Specialised exam
    preparation.

    Cambridge Exam

    We prepare students for the following exams:

    • KET (Key English Test)
    • PET (Preliminary English Test)
    • FCE (First Certificate in English)
    • CAE (Certificate in Advanced English)
    • CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English)

    Cambridge Exam Center

    We are also a Cambridge examination centre, allowing students the opportunity to prepare for and take their exam in the  same location. This has been a popular option with students in the past, and we envisage a high demand for this in the future.

    Course Details
    Lessons per week 15 hours per week
    Available All year round
    Duration Minimum 1 week – No maximum
    Levels All levels from beginners to advanced. Depending on Exam
    Times of classes 9:30-12:30 or 2:00-5:00
    Non-Teaching Dates The NorthWest Academy is open for the majority of public holidays.
    We will always endeavour to accommodate groups,
    whatever the time of year, and any loss of teaching hours will be compensated
    Minimum Enrolment Age 10+
    Maximum Class Size 12
  2. IELTS Preparation

    Course Overview

    Our IELTS courses are designed to help students improve their English while developing the skills and techniques needed to obtain a high score in the IELTS exam. We provide our students with all the support, practice, information and encouragement required when preparing for the exam. The courses allow students to improve their reading, writing, listening and speaking skills and to develop their vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. Exam techniques and practice are also covered to help students achieve the best possible mark.

    Intensive Exam Preparation

    20 x 60 minute IELTS Preparation lessons per week
    An intensive course that focusesentirely on preparation for the IELTS Exam. Students will practise exam techniques and complete mock exams.

    Course Aims

    • Improve language skills in the four key areas of reading, writing, speaking and listening
    • Develop vocabulary
    • Improve pronunciation and fluency
    • Consolidate and extend keygrammar areas
    • Become familiar with the different types of exam questions and how to answer them
    • Perfect exam techniques and practise under exam conditions

    Course Content

    The IELTS preparation courses include a variety of activities to encourage students to progress as much as possible

    Course Content
    Writing: Improving writing
    skills focusing on structure
    and answering typical
    exam questions.    		 Reading: Developing reading
    skills, expanding vocabulary and
    reading skills for IELTS.
    Listening: Understanding spoken
    English in a variety of contexts
    and listening skills for IELTS.
    Speaking conversations, class
    discussions and speaking skills
    for IELTS
    .    		 Pronunciation:  Students will be
    encouraged to improve their
    pronunciation throughout
    the course.
    Grammar: Reviewing and
    practising key points of grammar
    and usage.    		 Exams: Specialised exam
    preparation.
    Course Details
    Lessons per week 20 hours per week
    Available All year round
    Duration Minimum 1 week – No maximum
    Levels Intermediate+
    Times of classes 9:30-1:30
    Non-Teaching Dates The NorthWest Academy is open for the majority of public holidays.
    We will always endeavour to accommodate groups,
    whatever the time of year, and any loss of teaching hours will be compensated
    Minimum Enrolment Age 16+
    Maximum Class Size 12
  3. Trinity
      • Trinity GESE

    Course Overview

    Trinity’s Graded Examinations in Spoken English are suitable for candidates who have learnt English as a foreign, second or additional language. They are one-to- one oral exams that test candidates’ ability in listening and speaking. There are 12 GESE grades grouped into four stages. There are three grades at each stage:

    • Initial (Grades 1-3)
    • Elementary (Grades 4-6)
    • Intermediate (Grades 7-9)
    • Advanced (Grades 10-12)

     

    The grades are mapped to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). The number of tasks in an exam depends on the stage. New tasks and increasing demands on the candidate skills are introduced at  each stage.

     

    Course Aims

    • Improve language skills in communicative proficiency
    • Develop vocabulary related to the exam
    • Improve pronunciation and fluency
    • Consolidate and extend key grammar areas
    • Become familiar with the different types of exam questions and how to answer them
    • Perfect exam techniques and practise under exam conditions

    Trinity GESE Course Content

    Trinity GESE Preparation Courses include a variety of activities to encourage students to attain the desired grade.

    • Speaking: conversations, class discussions and exam speaking practice.
    • Pronunciation: students will be encouraged to improve their pronunciation throughout the course.
    • Grammar: reviewing and practising key points of grammar and usage.
    • Exams: specialised exam preparation.
      • Trinity ISE

    Course Overview

    Trinity’s Integrated Skills in English (ISE) is a contemporary four skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening) qualification recognised by governments and institutions worldwide. This qualification provides reliable evidence of English language proficiency. Preparing for ISE helps develop authentic communicative and transferable skills that are absolutely vital for academic study and employability, such as synthesising information, participating in interactive discussions and presenting topics of personal interest. ISE exams consist of two exam modules – Reading & Writing and Speaking & Listening, which can be taken together, or separately when you are ready.

    ISE exams are available at 5 levels:

    • ISE Foundation equivalent to A2 CEFR level
    • ISE I equivalent to B1 CEFR level
    • ISE II equivalent to B2 CEFR level
    • ISE III equivalent to C1 CEFR level
    • ISE IV equivalent to C2 CEFR level

     

    Course Aims

    • Assist in gaining the desired level of English
    • Prepare students to pass the exam
    • Help students develop academic skills for writing and oral presentations
    • Provide the English Language certificate needed to gain entry to university

    Who are ISE exams for?

    ISE exams are for students who:

    • use English as part of their studies or at work and want to develop their English language skills and improve their knowledge in a range ofsubject areas.
    • plan to go to university in the UK
    • are preparing for furtheror higher education andneed to prove their English language proficiency
    • want to improve their English language skills to have access to more job opportunities
    • already have a Trinity GESE and want to complete the second module to get an ISE qualification?

    Reliable evidence of skills:

    Trinity ISE II and III exams specifically, satisfy the language requirements of most universities in the UK and Ireland, and are accepted as proof of language proficiency by employers in the UK. Trinity’s ISE qualifications provide individuals and institutions with reliable evidence of the use of integrated English language skills at different levels from beginner to advanced. ISE exams are regulated by Ofqual in the UK. They are listed on the UK’s Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) and are aligned with the European Qualifications Framework (EQF). Trinity’s ISE A2-C2 exams have been awarded the ALTE Q-mark by the Association of Language Testers in Europe demonstrating that they meet the strictest of quality criteria.

    SELT Preparation Centre

    SELT Preparation Centre The North West Academy is proud to offer preparation courses for the Secure English Language Tests for UK Visa purposes. We are the only SELT centre in the north west of Ireland. Trinity College London is one of only two providers of these tests, and the Trinity exams offered for SELT purposes are:
    Graded Examinations in Spoken English (GESE) – A1 and B1 tests
    Integrated Skills in English (ISE) – B1, B2 and C1 tests

  4. TrinitySELT

Need to take a SELT (Secure English Language Test) for your UK Visa application?

Go to Trinity SELT

Enquire now