Structure of the English Preparatory Program

English Preparatory Program

The English Preparatory Program consists of four modules:

Module 1: 7–8 weeks – Fall Semester 
Module 2: 7–8 weeks – Fall Semester 
Module 3: 7–8 weeks – Spring Semester 
Module 4: 7–8 weeks – Spring Semester 

Students whose weighted average score on the examinations administered in a module is 65 or above are considered to have successfully completed that module and are eligible to continue their studies at the next level above the level at which they most recently studied.

The English Preparatory Program is offered at A1 (Beginner), A2 (Elementary), B1 (Intermediate), and B2 (Upper-Intermediate) levels.

In each module, which consists of 8 weeks, students study at a single level (A1, A2, B1, or B2) throughout the module.

Students who complete the B2 level with a module-end achievement average of 80 or above, as well as students who successfully pass the Beykoz-PROF Examination administered during the academic year, are considered to have successfully completed (been exempted from) the English Preparatory Program. Such students may begin taking courses in their respective departments in the following module/semester.

A1 LEVEL (Basic User)

The A1 level is the beginner level. It is intended for students who have little or no prior knowledge of English. At this level, students develop basic academic and language skills and learn to understand simple, everyday questions and instructions. The aim of this level is to teach students basic grammatical structures and fundamental vocabulary while preparing them for more advanced structures and progressively developing English language knowledge and skills at the next level.

Students who successfully complete this level; 

LISTENING They may have difficulty understanding speech delivered at a slow pace and may require support to communicate in simple ways. They can understand and respond to important phrases and expressions used in the classroom and structures commonly used in everyday conversations.
READING   They can understand familiar names, words, and very simple sentences in written texts such as catalogues, notices, and posters. They can read and understand sentences, short dialogues, and paragraphs containing basic grammatical structures and vocabulary. They can read and understand, to a limited extent, texts written in simple structures and dealing with familiar topics.

WRITING  

They can provide basic personal information in writing using the linguistic structures they have learned. Their writing may be disorganized, and they may make spelling and structural errors. Their vocabulary is limited when describing places they live in and people they know, and they generally use simple sentences.

SPEAKING 

Their command of grammar is limited; however, using simple structures, words, and phrases, they can ask and answer questions about familiar topics and immediate needs, such as their name, nationality, hometown, telephone number, age, family, and immediate surroundings. They may need repetition, paraphrasing, and correction to maintain communication.

 

A2 LEVEL (Basic User)

The A2 level is the elementary level. Students entering this level have previously been exposed to English but have not yet reached the level of an independent user. They may have forgotten previously learned material and/or have gaps in their knowledge. Starting with basic grammar and vocabulary, students continue the program by learning more complex grammatical structures and vocabulary related to a variety of social and academic topics. Once they begin attending classes, previously forgotten material can be quickly recalled. By the end of this level, students are expected to have developed the academic language skills necessary to progress to the B1 (Intermediate) level. At this level, emphasis is placed on practical communication and academic skills that enable students to succeed in their studies.

Students who successfully complete this level can:

LISTENING 

They can understand commonly used expressions and frequently used vocabulary related to areas of immediate relevance, such as personal and family information, shopping, the local environment, and employment. They can readily grasp the main idea of short, clear, and simple messages and announcements. They can understand commonly used words, simple phrases, and sentences containing familiar vocabulary. With repetition, they can understand less frequently used words and grammatical structures that are slightly above their current level.

READING    They can easily read and understand simple texts on familiar topics, as well as simple compound sentences and short texts presented in single or connected paragraphs using frequently encountered vocabulary.
WRITING    They may make systematic errors when using simple structures correctly. Despite having limited grammatical knowledge, they can produce simple and compound sentences using basic forms such as the present simple, present continuous, and past simple. By combining these sentences, they can write short and simple paragraphs on familiar topics.
SPEAKING   Although they may not be able to sustain a conversation for a long period, they can participate in conversations and ask and answer questions on personal topics. Using simple language, they can describe their families, other people, living conditions, work, education, and life experiences, and produce texts on these topics. They can make comparisons on familiar topics and discuss their positive and/or negative aspects. They can communicate in simple and routine situations that require a direct exchange of information about familiar topics and activities.

 

 B1 LEVEL (Independent User)

The B1 level is the intermediate level. Students who begin their studies at this level are assumed to have previous experience of learning English. The program at this level places particular emphasis on developing students' academic language skills, including reading, writing, speaking, and listening, as well as their vocabulary and grammatical knowledge. Students are expected to move beyond the use of simple and compound sentences and increasingly use more complex sentence structures. Students who successfully complete this level are considered to be approaching the ability to become independent learners—that is, learners who have significantly developed their knowledge and skills in language learning, are aware of the knowledge and skills they need, and know how to access and develop them.

Students who successfully complete this level can:

LISTENING  They can understand what they hear about familiar topics and/or everyday social events. They have developed the ability to answer written questions while listening. However, their note-taking skills still need further development.
READING   They can understand texts containing vocabulary commonly used in professional and everyday contexts. They can identify and comprehend the main topics in a text. However, they may have difficulty understanding implied meaning and complex linguistic structures. Although they can grasp the main idea of a text, they need to further develop their knowledge of academic vocabulary and less frequently used non-academic vocabulary.
WRITING  They can write short academic or non-academic paragraphs on familiar topics or topics of personal interest. They are willing to experiment with new structures and can produce sentences containing only a limited number of mechanical errors. They demonstrate a range of sentence structures and vocabulary; however, they still need support in writing academic paragraphs and compositions, producing grammatically more accurate sentences, and using more complex structures.
SPEAKING  They can understand and participate in conversations on a variety of everyday topics, although they may sometimes require repetition. They can cope with many situations they may encounter while travelling in places where English is spoken. They can describe their experiences and talk about their thoughts and plans. They have sufficient linguistic resources to express themselves on personal and familiar topics with little hesitation.

 

B2 LEVEL (Independent User)

The B2 level is the upper-intermediate level. Students at this level are considered to be approaching the exit level of the program. Those who successfully complete the level with a high level of achievement are considered independent users who possess the language knowledge and skills necessary to follow the courses in their respective departments. Students who complete the level with an average level of achievement are expected to take the proficiency examination through which they can demonstrate their language proficiency.

Students who successfully complete this level can:

LISTENING  They have developed their listening comprehension and note-taking skills. At this level, students can generally understand the main ideas presented in academic lectures and take notes accordingly. However, they may occasionally have difficulty understanding details and need to further develop their note-taking skills in academic contexts.
READING  They can generally understand, explain, and analyse both academic and non-academic texts. However, they may need support in interpreting implied meaning in a text. Although they can readily identify the main idea of a text, they need to further develop their academic vocabulary.
WRITING  They can understand and use a wide range of grammatical structures. They can comment on topics they have read, listened to, or watched, express their feelings and ideas coherently in writing, and write essays using relatively simple structures. However, they may still need practice and support in writing academic paragraphs and compositions and in applying complex grammatical structures relevant to the topic.
SPEAKING  They can provide detailed information about topics of interest and understand texts containing information about concrete and abstract issues. They can ask and answer questions about problems and their causes. They can communicate with sufficient accuracy, fluency, and spontaneity and give presentations on familiar topics. Students at this level can generally express their opinions on a given topic coherently and respond appropriately to the questions and views of others.

This content was updated on 25/08/2026.