New Zealand Certificate in English Language (Academic) (Level 4)

This qualification is intended for learners of English who wish to apply their English language proficiency with increasing independence and fluency in an academic context. 

You will learn the skills to:

• understand main ideas and supporting details of moderately complex oral and written academic texts.
• participate effectively in sustained spoken academic discourse.
• write detailed, developed, moderately complex academic texts.

Education pathways

This certificate can lead to the New Zealand Certificate in English Language (Academic) (Level 5) or into certain certificate or diploma courses at New Zealand Qualifications Framework Level 5 and above.

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be 16 years of age or older on the 1st of January in the year that the student enrols, unless approved otherwise by the Academic Lead; AND
• Can reasonably expect to achieve the standards required for successful completion of the programme or course;

AND one of the following:

• Have successfully completed New Zealand Certificate in English Language (Applied) (Level 3); OR
• Provide an IELTS Academic score of at least 5.5 with no band score lower than 5.0; OR an accepted international equivalence.
• Provide evidence of CEFR B2 level in the VITAL placement test; OR

Applicants using VITAL CEFR B2 evidence to enter the programme will be required to undertake the internal NorthTec placement test to confirm their current level of English proficiency. This will include writing and speaking components.