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- Location
- Marlborough College
- Dates
- 11–17 Jul · 18–24 Jul · 25–31 Jul · 1–7 Aug 2027
- Ages
- 12–18
- Course fees
- From £1,795
- Duration
- 1 week - 4 weeks
A summer that changes everything
Prepare for IELTS with expert guidance
IELTS Preparation builds the skills to succeed in the world's most recognised English qualification, and in the years of higher education that follow. Small class sizes ensure every student receives regular, detailed feedback from experienced teachers, while twice-weekly excursions immerse students in British history and culture, turning everyday interactions into an authentic edge in the exam room.
The IELTS curriculum
Structured for results
Every day blends three focused IELTS lessons, one elective, and a lively evening social programme. Fun team-building activities complement in-class exam prep, building confidence and communication skills at every stage.
The Course
Prepare with Purpose. Perform with Confidence.
Three core lessons a day cover all four IELTS components through lively, engaging topics. Timed assessments, exam technique, and speaking practice combine to teach students exactly what examiners are looking for.
Students work together to investigate, debate, and problem-solve in English, strengthening analytical thinking alongside the core skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
The IELTS programme combines intensive IELTS preparation with unforgettable excursions that bring English to life. Students explore historic Oxford, experience the magic of the Harry Potter Studio Tour, see London’s landmarks on an open-top bus tour and visit the Science Museum. They will also step back in time at Warwick Castle and enjoy a photo-challenge treasure trail at Cotswold Wildlife Park.
Optional
Electives
Deepen critical thinking through Mixed Media Journalism, Young Changemakers, Presentations & Debates, and Build, Test, Improve.
Channel your interests with hands-on experience in film-making, cooking, design and textiles, content creation, photography, sketching, and performing arts.
Strengthen mind and body while playing football, tennis, netball, swimming/water polo, badminton, cricket, basketball, dance, yoga, and more!
Learning Through Doing
Develop Fluency
Twice a week, full-day excursions mean classroom skills are applied to real-world scenarios: ordering lunch in Oxford, asking for directions in London, striking up conversation with new friends at Warwick Castle. Every one of those moments combines authentic speaking practice with full cultural immersion, building the kind of natural fluency that examiners will listen for.
- English vocabulary is absorbed and applied through authentic interactions
- Repeated real-world use builds natural fluency, mirroring the way that children pick up their first language
- On their travels, students are exposed to regional accents and dialects
How you’ll learn
What They Will Walk Away With
By the end of the course, students won't just be prepared to ace an internationally recognised qualification: they'll have developed their English every day, in both real-life and assessed contexts, building the skills central to academic and professional success. Working with our dedicated teachers to achieve a strong band score, they’ll develop the confidence to walk into results day ready for whatever comes next.
01
Project-Based Practice
Learning made fun, with lively discussions and hands-on presentations developing core listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills.
02
Cultural Immersion
Our educational excursions can't be rehearsed: classroom skills get tested in real contexts, so children learn to think on their feet in English, not recite a prepared line.
03
Small Classes, Close Attention
Classes of 15 and a 1:6 staff-to-student ratio means that every child speaks often, receiving personalised feedback and constant encouragement.
04
Learning Through Movement and Making
Try various learning styles with Get Active and Creative Discovery, turning vocab into sport, games, and creative projects that build fluency without feeling like a chore.
05
Picking it up from Your Peers
With friends from over 175 nationalities, English becomes the shared language between the students themselves It is a reason to communicate, not just a subject to study.
06
A Safe Space to Get It Wrong
Constant pastoral support from our residential team means children feel secure enough to take risks with a new language, so mistakes become part of the process instead of something to fear.
A campus fit for Royalty
Live and Learn in Marlborough College
A full programme of activities, sports and cultural experiences fills every day with fun, friendship and discovery.
Historic Settings
Founded in 1843, Marlborough College is an elite boarding school offering a safe and inspiring environment with historic architecture and outstanding modern facilities.Explore, Play, Thrive
Set within 286 acres, the campus offers extensive sports pitches and an on-site swimming pool, giving students plenty of space to stay active, explore and unwind.Outstanding Boarding Facilities
Students live in high-quality boarding houses and receive constant support from our experienced residential team.An Inspiring Legacy
Live and learn where Nobel and Poet Laureates—and two princesses—once studied.
Exciting Excursions
Explore Britain’s Most Historic Sites
Carefully planned excursions bring learning to life while introducing students to British culture. Taking place twice each week, these trips offer opportunities to apply new skills, solve entertaining team challenges and create lasting memories, along with finding a few souvenirs to take home. Destinations include:
Oxford
Discover the dreaming spires that inspired Harry Potter.London
Explore England’s iconic capital, taking in Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, with views of the London Eye and Tower of London.Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick Castle
Discover Shakespearean language in the Bard’s birthplace, then let imaginations run wild at one of England’s finest medieval castles.Stonehenge and Bath
Discover mysterious Stonehenge and explore Bath’s Roman heritage and Regency architecture, two of Britain’s most iconic historic destinations.
A typical day on our IELTS programme
Your Path to IELTS Confidence
A focused IELTS programme, carefully structured to strengthen every exam skill, build confidence and help students perform at their best on test day.
Breakfast: wake up and enjoy a hearty meal.
IELTS Lesson 1: Master academic texts using reading strategies such as skimming, scanning and inference.
IELTS Lesson 2: Listening practice - understanding different English accents and improving your own pronunciation.
Lunchtime
IELTS Lesson 3: Speaking skills - Conduct a mock interview, engage in lively discussions, and benefit from individual coaching.
Elective: Chose an Academic, Creative, or Sports elective
Dinner: enjoy a well-earned meal in Marlborough’s impressive dining hall.
Evening Activities: Join the Big Quiz, TableTop Games Championship, or the Talent Show and make friends from around the world.
Lights out: get some well deserved rest, ready for another day of exploration!
Student voices
Hear from our Academy Royale International Students
Hear From Our Students
I have never been to Oxford before, and now I love it. The buildings and the history are incredible. My favourite part has been the people. I have met so many people from all over the world, and I have made some lifelong friends.
Laura
Business, Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Hear from Our Parents
The classes were very different from school. We had the hands-on experiences that are really important for learning the subject and it’s helped me decide what I want to do in the future.
Maria
Engineering
I chose to come to Academy Royale International because I wanted an adventure! I also wanted to explore university life, and learn more about the subject. I love the lessons here because the teachers make the lessons fun while teaching, lots of practical work.
Femi
Explore Engineering
In school, we mostly learn simpler topics, but these classes were different. The lessons went much more in depth, and I found them fascinating. If this is what university-level learning is like, I definitely want to go to university. I’ve really enjoyed the experience, and I hope university will be just like this.
Nicolas
Experimental Psychology
Dates and Costs
IELTS Fees
Fully residential fees include tuition, accommodation, meals, activities, supervision, and excursions.
IELTS | Ages 14-18
B1 English Level
£1,795
£3,495
£5,195
£6,295
OPTIONAL
Academy
£250 per week
£395 (1-week fixed course)
£450 (1-week fixed course)
£450 (1-week fixed course)
English Discovery FAQs
Everything families need to know
Detailed answers for parents and students comparing EFL summer schools.
IELTS Preparation is designed for ambitious 14 to 18 year-olds working toward university study or international applications.
Not a formal qualification, but IELTS Preparation does require a minimum level of B1, since lessons move at an intensive, exam-focused pace from day one.
Very. Lessons are structured around all four IELTS components, with regular assessments, timed practice, and detailed feedback mapped to a target band score.
Very. Mock exams and timed assessments focus on application rather than regurgitation. Twice-weekly excursions and a daily elective mean students are speaking, listening, and thinking in English constantly, applying classroom skills to real-life situations.
Most days feature three IELTS lessons and one elective. Twice a week, a full-day excursion replaces the standard timetable, combining cultural learning with applied listening, speaking, and reading practice.
At Marlborough College, within easy reach of Heathrow Airport (65 miles / 1hr 15m) and Central London (78 miles / 2hrs). We provide full travel guidance and transfer options ahead of every course.
Classes are capped at 15 students, with a 1:6 staff-to-student ratio and close pastoral support throughout.
Yes. Since launching our first summer school in 2004, Academy Royale International has welcomed students from more than 175 nationalities every summer. IELTS Preparation is the perfect programme for international students to hone their language skills and prepare for higher study at English-speaking universities.
Find your purpose
Begin your journey into IELTS Preparation.
Places for Summer 2027 are limited and offered on a rolling basis across each available location.
A summer that changes everything