International Students

The Sixth Form

At Oxford Tutorial College we welcome applications from overseas students and encourage the stimulus that cultural diversity brings to our sixth form. About 20% of our ‘A’ level students arrive from overseas and discover here an educational culture that is commonly very different from their previous experience of large, teacher-focused classes. Teaching takes place in small seminar groups which allow the teacher to respond to the differing needs of each individual student. This helps ensure that our overseas students are well-prepared for the specific demands of their ‘A’ level syllabuses, particular stress being placed on the development of sound techniques in the essential skills required for each particular subject: for example, essay-writing or data manipulation. Students develop a close relationship with their tutors and are consequently able to develop the skills of independent thought and academic self-discipline that are so highly rewarded by ‘A’ level examiners.

English Language

We are particularly proud of the achievements of our English Language department in bringing students up to the level they need to feel confident in their use of English and to make friends, as well as in helping each student to acquire the skills needed to realise their full potential in ‘A’ level examinations.

For students who are academically able, but whose English still needs further development before they are fully ready to begin an ‘A’ level course, our Full-time English Language course is recommended. This works on each of the essential language skills but particular stress is placed on developing the students’ reading and writing abilities. In this way, rapid progress can be made and students are ready for the demands of an ‘A’ level course far sooner than they would be had they followed a more general English curriculum.

Once the student has begun an ‘A’ level course, IELTS classes are provided in addition to the purely academic studies. Within the supportive environment of a small teaching group, students are taught the skills they will require to pass the IELTS examination and exam practice takes place throughout the course. Students also receive individual tutorials which both concentrate on areas of specific difficulty and allow tutors to relate work done in language classes directly to the current needs of the student’s ‘A’ level studies.

All of our students taking the IELTS exam for 2005 university entry were successful in meeting their university’s IELTS entrance requirements.

University Applications

We are keenly aware that students coming from overseas often have little of the background knowledge that students from Britain take for granted and we are careful to ensure that all of our students are sufficiently well-informed to make the right decisions when it comes to course choices and university applications. Each student at OTC has a personal tutor who meets them regularly throughout term time to assess their progress and to guide them in the complex process of applying to university. It is this attention to detail, and our genuine care for each individual student, that has helped achieve our excellent record of successful university placements over many years.