You will be qualified to begin with the Pre-Intermediate 4A course if you meet either of the following two conditions:
1- Successfully completing the OBA School Elementary 3B level
2- Passing OBA School’s English Proficiency Test 1 and 2. You can take our free test by clicking here.

Once you have finished successfully studying the Pre-Intermediate 4A course, you can proceed to the Pre-Intermediate Level 4B English language course.

In the beginning of each month we have a new student intake but to ensure we have an exceptional service that can meet every ambition; we have made all our courses available for enrolment at any time of the year, but the formal start-off of any of the courses begins usually in the first of the following month of that you have enrolled in. That means you will have immediate access to the course materials where you can read the study guide, starter files and also can have a go with the study materials like watching the tutorial videos and eBooks till you get contacted in the beginning of the next month directly by one of our dedicated tutor who will explain to you the whole process. 

The duration of the Pre-Intermediate Level 4A course is two months. However, it does not necessarily need that long. As a reference to estimate based on, to complete the course you would need around 100 hours of studying hence you can schedule the duration based on dividing 100 hours by how many hours you plan to study a week which results in the number of weeks required to finish the course.

Although the above method of estimation is only a guide but completing your course depends on several factors such as your employment situation like if you are a full-time employee or part-time or maybe not working. Another factor would be your time dedication to study. Setting a study schedule is not difficult but committing to it is what needs the determination and persistence. It would need to be remembered that it is your own responsibility to dedicate enough time to complete your study.

KET (OR A2-KEY) Test by Cambridge 

The Cambridge exam equivalent to the Pre-Intermediate level for the English language was KET till 2018. The new test name from Cambridge is A2-KEY.

In order for you to acquire a formal recognised qualification from Cambridge, you have to complete Studying the Pre-Intermediate level 4A and Pre-Intermediate level 4B successfully with OBA School which prepares your to sit for the Cambridge KEY English test in the British Council in your country of residence. The Key Test from Cambridge is known formerly as KET (or A2-KEY) Test

It is important to note that all OBA School internal exams are only to evaluate your performance during your course  but the formal exam that lead to a formal qualification from Cambridge is what carries all the marks.

The formal Cambridge test is optional, you may take it if you wish to gain an internationally accredited and recognised qualification. To take the test, you have to register at the British Council or any other approved exam center by Cambridge in your country of residence. After registration, you will be notified of the time and place of the test, which is usually at the British Council or at approved exam center.

The exams centers or the British Council responsibility is to facilitate your exam by registering you for the exam, providing you with the exam papers under a controlled exam environment in their facility, then send your exam answers to Cambridge in England to mark them and issue your qualification directly from Cambridge who will send it to the place where you will have taken your exams in order for you to collect your qualification certificate.

For more information about the KET (or A2-KEY) exam, please visit the related page on Cambridge website directly by click here.

• Full name of the test: Key English Test
• Abbreviated name of the test: KET
• The equivalent English course offered by OBA is the Pre-Intermediate level 4B
• The equivalent IELTS band is 4.0 in case a 92% or higher score is achieved
• The equivalent Common European Framework of References (CEFR) level: A2
• Formal exam venue: either in the British Council or a Cambridge approved examination center in your country of residence
• The test format: computer based or traditional paper-based, but with both there is an oral speaking and listening test
• Duration of the test: around 4 hours
• Marks range on Cambridge Scale for English language level: 112-145
• Tests availability: this test is available every month except in few cases
• When to register for the test: at least 3 months before the test date
• To check available test dates, please click here.
• To find out more about KET (or A2-KEY), please click here.
• For information about the material can help you with preparing for this exam, please click here+.

Most of OBA students register for the Pre-Intermediate 4A and 4B levels to prepare themselves to sit for the KET (or A2-KEY) test. Students pass the ET test gains the KET qualification which proves that the student possess the basic knowledge and skills of the English language foundation. Acquiring the KET (or A2-KEY) qualification gives student the following privileges:

1- Acquiring an internationally recognised and prestigious qualification by Cambridge
2- Proofs that the student is skilled in basic English and can communicate with basic English
3- It enhances employability prospective.
4- A certificate that is recognised and considered by the majority of the British universities and is equivalent to IELTS band 4.0 and as A2 at the CEFR for European countries

Based on Cambridge, the KET (or A2-KEY) test shows that you can:
1- Understand basic English and ask and answer simple questions about others as well as express simple opinions and needs
2- Interact with English speakers who are speaking slowly and clearly
3- Write short messages in English
4- Express in English your opinions about things you have heard of or read about

The Cambridge KET exam is divided into three parts, the first part is reading and writing, the second part is listening, and the third part is speaking. They are divided as follows:

1- Exam in reading and writing skills: duration of 1 hour and 10 minutes and counts for 50% of the exam score
2- Exam in listening skills: duration of 30 minutes and counts for 25% of the exam score
3- Exam in speaking skills: duration of 12 minutes and counts for 25% of the exam

The KET qualification is received by students who pass the exam. The student receives a certificate that is certified by the University of Cambridge and can be testified by the British Council at their country of residence.

Exams centers: to take the KET exam, you have to communicate with the British Council or one of Cambridge exam centers in your country of residence. There are over 2800 Cambridge approved exams centers in 130 countries.

When you call any of the exams centers you would need to explain to them that you would like to register for Cambridge English Exam and give them the name of the test (A2-Key, B1-preliminary, B2 First and C1-Advanced), also please make sure you ask them about the test fees and make sure you complete your application and payment for the test you want to take with them. Cambridge English tests are available almost in monthly basis across the year. For more information on the test centres certified by Cambridge click here.

Cambridge Assessment English organisation is part of the University of Cambridge that helps millions of people around the world to learn English and prove their skills on Cambridge scale of competency to distinguish their English language ability on a single standard which helps universities, government and employers to identify applicants proficiency in using English.

Cambridge created one of the most important English language qualifications worldwide, which have become an international standard and reference to judge a person’s linguistic skills in English. Cambridge English tests are well known and trusted by international private and international institutions all over the world.

Names of exams and qualifications by Cambridge English Assessment:

The University of Cambridge offers the largest collection of qualifications and exams for the English language for students. They include:

• IELTS, that in partnership with the British Council
• Cambridge English Qualifications, that is solely by Cambridge. That includes:

1- N KET (New name from Cambridge: A2 Key)
2- PET (New name from Cambridge: B1 Preliminary)
3- FCE (New name from Cambridge: B2 First)
4- CAE (New name from Cambridge: C1 Advanced)
5- CPE (New name from Cambridge: C2 Proficiency)

Facts and figures from the board of examination of Cambridge English Assessment:

• More than 5 million people around the world take Cambridge’s English tests each year.
• Cambridge has over 2800 approved examination centers across 130 countries around the world.
• The exams offered by Cambridge English Assessment institution is the longest experience and most known international standard in designing and awarding English quantifications. The examination board began its activities in 1913, giving it more than 100 years of experience.

For more information on the Cambridge qualifications please click here.

Our courses are just as real as the full-time courses at a traditional school premises. There will be no paper pack to send to you by OBA to learn from that is because we at OBA do not believe studying from books in your own can be an effective way to learn for a distance learning student, rather we provide you with one of the best ways to learn from home through our online eLearning platform where you will find all your materials that include tutorial videos covers all of the curriculum lesson by lesson so you can watch your lessons and hear the explanation directly from the tutors compared to the old fashion of distance learning via silent books.

As a student with OBA School, you will benefit from the following services and advantages: 

1- You will have all of the study materials 24/7 on our eLearning platform.
2- Every lesson from the curriculum is made available to you on a tutorial video format, you’ll have a full control, rewind and replay as many times as you like.
3- Ongoing internal exams and assignments similar to exams questions format. The goal of this is to continuously assess your progress and knowledge so you can identify your strong and week areas in the related course subject thus would allow you to work on improving your weak areas so by the time you sit for your exam you will be well prepared.
4- OBA will provide you with an adjustable study schedule in order for you to work at your own pace. Speeding up or slowing down by modifying your study schedule the way that suits you to meet up with your formal exam date accurately.
5- You will have access to the student forum: it is a place in your course page online where you can address any question related to the course and discuss it with your students colleagues and tutors for discussion. Such forum is proven to be very helpful and beneficial tools for the students.
6- The content of the site will adapt to students’ requests and additional tutorials and examples will be added regularly based on students’ feedback and arising needs.
7- Top quality tuition guaranteed. All tutorials are designed and provided to you by qualified teachers.
8- We are so confident of our learning materials and we believe that the learning and supporting we offer to our students is equivalent to the traditional full-time school services if not more!
9- You will be able to work without having to sacrifice your job to attend classes, since all the lessons are available to you at all times for you to be able to set your own study time. You don’t have to worry about leaving work early to head to class or coming home late from class. Your study time is now your own to decide and can be from the comfort of your own home!

We are very confident of our teaching materials that we offer to our students and we know that in many cases the quality and support we provide equate and exceed in sometimes what is presented in traditional full-time educational institutions.

You will need a good internet connection, computer, study desk, chair, stationary and the notebooks and most importantly you would need to create enough time to study your courses with approximately 6 to 10 hours a week.

Because at OBA School we want each and every one of our students to succeed in their studies, we make you this promise: if for any reason you should fail your formal external examination with Cambridge English Assessment after you have completed your course and successfully done all your internal exams and after you have attended at least 80% of the course’s virtual live classes with us, we will provide you with an extension to your course and support at no extra charge until the next available examination comes up.

1-Two months of enrolment with access to OBA School’s online eLearning platform where you find your course materials and resources.
2-Weekly scheduled live virtual classes to practice speaking English and exercises
3-Support and guidance throughout the course
4-An adjustable study schedule program
5-Follow-ups on your progress with your internal exams including marking and feedback
6-Access to the student forum of each respective course you are enrolled in
7-And more

That's it! Thank you and we wish you all the best of luck with your studies!