GCET’s General Foundation programme (GFP) is designed to prepare students to undertake and successfully complete Higher Education programmes. The programme aims to build students’ English proficiency to facilitate study of subjects at undergraduate level and also aims to provide a high standard of learning opportunities that are driven by local vision and governed by strict international standards. Further, It aims at developing critical thinking and autonomous learning by improving study skills. The GFP is regarded as the cornerstone for all the College’s undergraduate programmes. The programme assures that it provides the strongest guarantee that entrants to the GCET undergraduate programmes are adequately prepared and more likely to achieve success in their chosen subjects.
Awarding Body
Mode of Study
Duration
Fees
Aim of the Programme
Programme Structure
Stage 1
|
|
Module Code |
Module Title |
Delivery |
|
1 |
ENG 011 |
English Reading I (Core) |
4 x 1.5 Hr= 6 Hr/W |
|
2 |
ENG 012 |
English Writing I (Core) |
4 x 1.5 Hr= 6 Hr/W |
|
3 |
ENG 013 |
English Listening I (Core) |
2 x 1.5 Hr= 3 Hr/W |
|
4 |
ENG 014 |
English Speaking I (Core) |
2 x 1.5 Hr= 3 Hr/W |
|
5 |
MATH 011 |
Math I (Core) |
2 x 1 Hr= 2 Hr/W |
|
6 |
ICT 011 |
ICT I (Core) |
2 x 1.5 Hr= 3 Hr/W |
|
Total Scheduled Contact Time/Week |
23 Hr/Week |
||
Stage 2
|
|
Module Code |
Module Title |
Delivery |
|
1 |
ENG 021 |
English Reading II (Core) |
4 x 1.5 Hr= 6 Hr/W |
|
2 |
ENG 022 |
English Writing II (Core) |
4 x 1.5 Hr= 6 Hr/W |
|
3 |
ENG 023 |
English Listening II (Core) |
2 x 1.5 Hr= 3 Hr/W |
|
4 |
ENG 024 |
English Speaking II (Core) |
2 x 1.5 Hr= 3 Hr/W |
|
5 |
MATH 021 |
Math II (Core) |
2 x 1.5 Hr= 3 Hr/W |
|
6 |
ICT 021 |
ICT II (Core) |
2 x 1.0 Hr= 2 Hr/W |
|
Total Scheduled Contact Time/Week |
23 Hr/Week |
||
Stage 3 (For Students With Engineering Majors)
|
|
Module Code |
Module Title |
Delivery |
|
1 |
ENG 031 |
English Reading III (Core) |
4 x 1.5 Hr= 6 Hr/W |
|
2 |
ENG 032 |
English Writing III (Core) |
4 x 1.5 Hr= 6 Hr/W |
|
3 |
ENG 033 |
English Listening III (Core) |
2 x 1.0 Hr= 2 Hr/W |
|
4 |
ENG 034 |
English Speaking III (Core) |
2 x 1.5 Hr= 3 Hr/W |
|
5 |
MATH 031 |
Math III A (Core) |
2 x 1.5 Hr= 3 Hr/W |
|
6 |
PHYS 031 |
Physics |
2 x 1.0 Hr= 2 Hr/W |
|
Physics Lab |
1 x 1.0 Hr= 1 Hr/W |
||
|
Total Scheduled Contact Time/Week |
23 Hr/Week |
||
Stage 3 (For Students Without Engineering Majors)
|
|
Module Code |
Module Title |
Delivery |
|
1 |
ENG 031 |
English Reading III (Core) |
4 x 1.5 Hr= 6 Hr/W |
|
2 |
ENG 032 |
English Writing III (Core) |
4 x 1.5 Hr= 6 Hr/W |
|
3 |
ENG 033 |
English Listening III (Core) |
2 x 1.0 Hr= 2 Hr/W |
|
4 |
ENG 034 |
English Speaking III (Core) |
2 x 1.5 Hr= 3 Hr/W |
|
5 |
MATH 032 |
Math III B (Core) |
2 x 1.5 Hr= 3 Hr/W |
|
6 |
FICT 031 |
Further ICT |
2 x 1.0 Hr= 2 Hr/W |
|
Further ICT (Lab) |
1 x 1.0 Hr= 1 Hr/W |
||
|
Total Scheduled Contact Time/Week |
23 Hr/Week |
||
Support for ALL Stages
|
English Support Centre |
2 Hrs/Skill/Stage/Week |
|
English Language Activity |
1 Hr/Skill/Stage/Week |
|
Math Support Centre |
2 Hrs/Stage/Week |
Placement Test Exemptions
The following categories of students are exempted from taking the relevant part of the Placement Tests:
English:
Students with a minimum score of 600 on the TOEFL
Students with a minimum Band 6 score on the IELTS
Students who hold Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English
Mathematics:
Omani approved Foundation Mathematics Module with minimum of 60% marks
Foreign qualifications such as A level or International Baccalaureate
ICT:
Student with ICDL certificate in English medium
Student with IC3 certificate in English medium
Students with Cambridge IT Test
Also, students who demonstrated attainment of the Learning Outcomes of any module offered in the Foundation Studies Programme by providing certificated evidence of Prior Learning, will be exempted from studying that module (Accreditation of Prior ‘Certificated’) Learning, AP(C)L, will be applied).
Placement Test Syllabus
1 ENGLISH TEST
SYLLABUS AND FORMAT:
Listening: The module comprises four sections of increasing difficulty. Each section, which can be
either a monologue or dialogue, begins with a short introduction telling the candidates about the situation and the
speakers. Then they have some time to look through questions. The first three sections have a break in the middle
allowing candidates to look at the remaining questions. Each section is heard only once.
Reading:The reading test comprises three sections, with 3 texts normally followed by 13 or 14
questions for a total of 40 questions overall.
Writing: There are two tasks: in Task 1 candidates describe a diagram, graph, process or chart, and
in Task 2, they respond to an essay question.
Speaking: The speaking test contains three sections. The first section takes the form
of an interview during which candidates may be asked about their hobbies, interests, reasons for taking PT as well as
other general topics such as clothing, free time, computers and the internet or family. In the second section
candidates are given a topic card and then have one minute to prepare after which they must speak about the given
topic. The third section involves a discussion between the examiner and the candidate, generally on questions relating
to the theme which they have already spoken about in section 2. This last section is more abstract, and is usually
considered the most difficult.
2 MATHEMATICS TEST
Syllabus
Kinds of number and basic operations, Laws of Indices, Simplifying algebraic expressions.
Inequalities, Linear polynomial equations, Basic geometry of circles, triangles and straight lines.
Sketching graphs, Trigonometry and identities, Functions, Basic Statistics.
Determine the minimum or maximum values of a quadratic function in order to solve real world problems.
Use trigonometry for computations in arbitrary triangles.
Demonstrate the knowledge about basic concepts of statistics and probability, for example frequency
tables, mean values, statistical diagrams, simple events, tree diagrams.
FORMAT
Problem solving and Objective type
3 COMPUTING TEST
SYLLABUS
Topics covered are:
Windows
Ms-Word
Ms-Excel
Ms-Power point
Internet
FORMAT
Computing PT test is similar to Cambridge IT Skills.
4 PHYSICS TEST
Syllabus
Basic Mathematics and Physics
Quantities and Units, Equations, SI units
Scalar and Vector Quantities
Density
Moments of Forces
Equilibrium
Kinematics and Dynamics
Speed, Velocity and Acceleration
Relative Velocity and Relative Acceleration
Displacement & Motion
Force and Momentum
Projectiles
Gravitational Force
Elastic and Inelastic Collisions
Newton Laws of Motion
Forces between Materials in Contact
Energy and Power
Work and Energy
Power
Conservation of Energy
Kinetic Energy and Potential Energy
Electricity
Charge
Current and Circuits
Format
Question answers – Short and detailed
5 FURTHER ICT Test
SYLLABUS
Introduction to Data and Information.Transformation of data to information
Introduction to Basic Data types (Boolean, real, integer, string, date/time)
Report Writing Skills, Citation and referencing.
Computer Hardware, CPU(central processing unit), Input, Output and Storage Devices
Introduction of computer software.Difference between system and application software.Usage of computer
software.Software Installation.
Problem Solving Skills.Introduction to Flowchart, Pseudocode and Computer Algorithm
Introduction to Communication system, Basic components of communication system.Introduction to Computer
Network and Types of Network.Compare the characteristics of Local area and wide area network.
Networks, Services of internet, World Wide Web and data traffic.
FORMAT
Multiple choice.
Problem solving.
Open Questions – Short and detailed.
Entry Criteria
The entry points are listed explicitly in the table given below. Scores are according to the results of the Placement Test.
|
Admission Point |
English |
Maths (A or B) |
ICT |
|
Stage 1 |
Less Than 40% |
Less Than 40% |
Less Than 50% |
|
Stage 2 |
40-49% |
40-49% |
50-59% |
|
Stage 3 |
50-59% |
50-59% |
Placement Test Sample Question Papers
English
Placement Test Sample (English).pdf
Listening Track – Part 1.mp3
Listening Track – Part 2.mp3
Listening Track – Part 3.mp3
Listening Track – Part 4.mp3
Placement Test Sample (English).pdf
Listening Track – Part 1.mp3
Listening Track – Part 2.mp3
Listening Track – Part 3.mp3
Listening Track – Part 4.mp3
Information Technology
Fast Track
Students who are confident that they have the skills and knowledge to pass the exams and achieve the scores required for progression will be given the opportunity to do so through the fast track scheme subject to the following conditions:
Before registering for Fast Track Test, students should consult with their Academic Advisors and/or relevant Module Leaders (Section 3 of the Fast Track Registration Form).
To be eligible for Fast Track Test, students’ overall marks in the selected modules should not be below the pass/progression mark by more than 10%.
Final marks will be discussed and approved by the Department Committee.
If a student passes the Fast Track Test then his/her mark(s) will supersede all the previous marks he/she has scored before.
Further information regarding Fast Track test is available from the department office and the Admissions & Registration office.