Description and Goals
The General English Program is for male and female students admitted to KAU graduate programs. It aims to develop basic English listening, speaking, reading and writing skills, by offering two basic language levels, namely the beginner level (A1) and the pre-intermediate level (A2) according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
The course is offered over eighty-four (84) teaching hours (6 hours per week), divided into 2 three-hour sessions per week. There are also twenty-eight (28) interactive hours using the Blackboard learning management system (two hours per week) to do interactive activities and assignments.
| Level CEFR |
Teaching weeks |
Contact Hours |
Blackboard Hours |
Total Number of Hours |
| A1 |
14 |
84 |
28 |
112 |
| A2 |
14 |
84 |
28 |
112 |
Placement and Exemption Policy
The Cambridge Electronic Placement Test (CEPT) is used to determine the right level for each student. CEPT results are aligned with the (CEFR) framework and measures the listening and reading skills and general knowledge of English.
Enrollment levels are determined based on the results of the placement test according to the following table.
| Cambridge English Placement Test (CEPT) Score |
Starting Level |
| 0-20 |
Level 1 (A1) |
| 21-34 |
Level 2 (A2) |
General Rules
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An absence policy is applied at a rate of a maximum of 25% of the total classroom contact hours. If a student exceeds this percentage, the student is denied entry to the final exam and must repeat the course unless s/he provides a documented acceptable excuse for their absence.
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A make-up exam is provided to students who do not sit for one of the exams if they provide a documented and acceptable excuse.
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The course must be retaken with new fees if a student do not pass.
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Students are not entitled to withdraw after the start of the program, even in the case of obtaining the required score in the (STEP) test or the (IELTS) test.
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If a student completely withdraws from the graduate studies program, the following tuition fee refund policy will be applied:
| Withdrawal Period |
Refund Liability |
| Withdrawal before the start of program |
Full fee refund |
| Withdrawal in the first week |
Half fee refund |
| Withdrawal in the second week |
No fee refund |