Global Assessment Certificate Program (GAC)

An internationally recognized university preparation program for students who do not have English as their first language.

Global Acceptance

The GAC is a university preparation program that provides students with the academic knowledge, skills, and confidence to thrive in an English-language bachelor's degree program.

Global Recognition

In addition to the GAC, all students have the opportunity to prepare for and take the ACT® test, an admissions exam used by ALL US universities, and nearly 300 univerisities outside of the United States to evaluate undergraduate applicants.  

Credit & Scholarships

Many of the Partner Universities in the United States and around the world offer GAC graduates up to one year of credit. This allows students to complete their university studies faster, saving a significant amount in tuition fees and living expenses.

Global Assessment Certificate Newsletter

University preparation for students who do not have English as their first language.

Sign up to receive the GAC quarterly newsletter, where you will learn about topics, such as:

  • How to Decide on a University or College 
  • GAC Student Successes
  • Partner University News 
  • GAC Center News 
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Where Can Students Study the GAC?

Approved Teaching Centers (ATCs) are carefully selected by ACT for their quality of teaching and their dedication to their students’ needs. GAC centers are located on university campuses, within private international and local high schools, and in private language or business colleges.

ATCs can be found in countries and regions throughout the world, including:

Brazil Mexico China
Myanmar
Thailand
Korea
Phillippines
Vietnam
 

Students from Dongguan Hanlin Experimental School in Dongguan, Guangdong Province, China, take part in the Global Assessment Certificate program.

GAC Video Testimonials

 

Where Can Students Go to University?

The Global Assessment Certificate™ (GAC) program is an internationally recognized university preparation program for students who want to study at a university that uses English as its language of instruction. GAC Partner Universities are located in Australia, Canada, Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam. However, with the GAC you can apply to any university. Many GAC graduates have been accepted into non-Partner Universities.

Some of the universities in the United States that recognize the GAC offer credit points for an undergraduate degree, and a number of them offer scholarships which can significantly reduce tuition and living expenses.

When students successfully complete the GAC, they are able to apply to any one of the GAC Partner Universities, subject to meeting their individual requirements. Each university has different entry levels for GAC graduates, including English language and academic minimum requirements.

For further information about Partner Universities including their entry requirements and how to choose a suitable Partner University, go to Find a Partner University.

What is in the Global Assessment Certificate™ Program?

The GAC consists of Levels I―III, with a fast track option available for those who meet the specified entry requirements. GAC modules include Academic English, Mathematics, Computing, Study Skills, Business, Science and Social Science supported by a systematic study of learning skills for success at university. 

Elective units allow students to choose between the International English Language Testing System™ (IELTS) and the Test of English as a Foreign Language® (TOEFL) preparation, and they also have the option of taking an additional mathematics module during Level III.

Global Assessment Certificate logo

How is the GAC Delivered?

A key feature of the Global Assessment Certificate™ program is that it can be delivered in different models.
 

Level I 12 weeks, plus one-week break
Level II 12 weeks, plus one-week break
Level III 12 weeks

The GAC can be delivered full-time, or part-time as a concurrent co-curriculum with the high school curriculum.

The circumstances of each school are unique, so it may be possible for students to complete the GAC differently from the sample model shown in the table. The advantage of the part-time model is that students are able to study components of the GAC at the same time as they study their high school curriculum. This means that when they receive their high school diploma, they also graduate from the GAC and have an ACT score.

GAC academic staff work with each center to design an individualized program of delivery, taking each school’s circumstances into consideration. Due to the flexibility of delivery models, the GAC can be adapted to suit the school’s needs.

 

How is the GAC Taught and Assessed?

The Global Assessment Certificate™ program includes lectures, seminars, tutorials, group work, class discussion, and presentations. As the language of instruction is English, students are expected to speak in English at all times in the classroom. Regular assessments, assignments, teacher feedback, and examinations enable students to demonstrate their knowledge and skills.

The assessments, especially in Level III, are designed to prepare students for the challenges of university study, and include the same kind of assessments found at university in the first year:

  • role-plays and oral presentations
  • written summaries
  • critical analysis of written texts
  • journals and other documents showing planning, reflection and drafting
  • group projects and presentations
  • researched essays and reports
  • examinations
  • skills tests and course participation grades
 

Classroom Materials

A comprehensive package with all teaching, learning and assessment materials is provided and includes:

  • Student Manual for each module
  • Facilitator Guide for each module and audio file for coursework
  • Academic Writing Manual, with detailed how-to guides and examples of university-level academic research essays and research reports across a variety of subject areas
  • Assessment Package, including Assessment Folders and audio files with detailed instructions, marking guides, and all necessary assessment for each module―oral, aural and written