UK University 2012?

Are you planning to go to a UK university in 2012?  The start date may over a year away, but the time to begin working on your application is now!  If you haven’t done so already, you need to start thinking about which course you want to study and at which university. 

Have a look at this application timetable, which was published earlier this year on the Guardian website:

• 15 October – Deadline for submitting an application to Oxford and Cambridge, and for dentistry, medicine, veterinary medicine and veterinary science courses.

• December 2011/January 2012 – Interviews for Oxford and Cambridge and some courses at other universities.

• 15 January 2012- Deadline for all other courses, except some art and design courses (see below). If you do apply after the 15 January deadline, the individual institution can decide whether it wants to accept your application.

• 22 February to 4 July – If you have not received any offers or have declined all offers, you can apply for other courses, only one at any single time, through UCAS Extra.

• 24 March – Deadline for some art and design courses.

• 31 March – universities and colleges aim to send out final decisions for applications received by 15 January.

• 16 August – A-level and AS-level results. Firm offers accepted. Clearing opens.

• September/October 2012 - University terms start

Notice that the deadline for Oxford and Cambridge is 15 October 2011, so if you are thinking of applying for any course at either of these leading universities, or if you would like to study dentistry, medicine, veterinary medicine, or veterinary science at any UK university, start preparing your UCAS application now and good luck!

IELTS - What is it and how can you take it?

Recently Super Fast Guides published a post on wikiHow called How to Take the IELTS, which has now been read by over 7,300 people!  In case you haven’t seen it, here is a shortened version of the article:

What is IELTS?

   

The IELTS test is an English language test that is taken by over 1.4 million people around the world every year. IELTS means 'International English Language Testing System'. It is an English language test that checks a person's language ability in speaking, listening, reading and writing.

How can I take the test?

1.      Decide which test to take. There are two forms of the test: the Academic module and the General Training module. The Academic module is generally taken by people who want to study at an English-speaking college or university. The General Training module is generally taken by people who wish to migrate abroad, for example to the UK or Australia. However, some training courses require the General Training module, not the Academic one. Check before you take the test.

2.      Find your nearest IELTS test centre. There are over 800 centres around the world, so there should be one near you. In the USA there are 49 centers across the States and there are 47 test centres in both the UK and Australia. In addition, there are test centres in over 130 other countries. You can find a full list of test centres with contact details for each one at www.ielts.org.

3.      Register for the test with your nearest test center. IELTS is offered all year round and some test centres offer the test as often as twice a month, so you might be able to choose several possible dates. Just be sure to register early so you get the date you want as dates often fill up quickly.

4.      Ensure that you have the right documents to register. You will need to give the test centre a completed application form, two recent passport photographs, which are in colour and identical, and a photocopy of your passport or national identity document, which should still be valid when you take the test.

5.      Pay for the test. The fee varies, but it is currently around USD185 in the USA, GBP115 in the UK and AUD317 in Australia.

6.      Bring the right materials on the day of the test. Bring your passport or national identity document. You will also need to bring pencils and pens to write with.

7.      Wait for your results. These will be available 13 days after the test.

For the full article, see wikiHow, How to Take the IELTS
For important information about the test and for essential advice on how to get the score you need, get the Super Fast Guide, IELTS, How to succeed in the exam, available from Amazon