Why Exam English Isn’t Enough: Academic Writing for University Success
Why Does Language Preparation End Too Soon?
Studying in English is the dream of many young people around the world. To make it happen, international students invest enormous effort in English preparation for university long before they ever set foot on campus. They spend months, often years, attending language courses, joining intensive preparatory classes, learning academic vocabulary, completing hundreds of practice tests, and sitting mock exams. The ultimate goal is to achieve the required IELTS, TOEFL, or other certification score that opens the door to their chosen university.
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Where Support Ends
At most universities, a clear pattern emerges: the moment a student arrives on campus, the institution assumes their English language preparation is complete. If they passed the test, it means they can manage their studies. In practice, this is rarely the case.
From the very first weeks, students face overwhelming demands: hundreds of pages of academic reading, complex lectures delivered at speed, active participation in discussions, and—most importantly—writing essays, reports, and longer assignments. At this point, many discover that exam English is not enough. Students who excelled in IELTS or TOEFL preparation suddenly realise that academic writing skills require a completely different skill set.
Academic English – The Missing Link
So what makes academic English different from the English taught in language courses? Above all, it’s about structure and ways of thinking. An essay is not just correct grammar and a wide vocabulary. It’s the ability to construct a thesis, support it with arguments, integrate evidence from sources, maintain coherence across paragraphs, and draw a logical conclusion.
These skills are rarely taught in exam preparation courses, whose goal is to test communicative competence rather than prepare students for real academic study abroad.
The result? Many students feel left to fend for themselves. They don’t know how to begin an essay, how to cite sources, or how to build an argument. Frustration grows, and confidence often falls—even though technically they “know English.”
Not Only International Students
Interestingly, the same problems affect native English-speaking students. Many of them have never been formally taught how to write academic essays. In secondary school they focused mainly on shorter writing tasks, and at university they encounter for the first time the demand to produce long, well-argued essays based on research literature.
This means international students are not necessarily at a disadvantage. On the contrary, those who invest in developing academic writing in English at the right moment may gain an edge over their peers. With extra practice in planning, building arguments, and revising drafts, they can write more effectively than many native speakers who are only just learning these skills.
Why This Matters
Strong academic writing skills are not just about passing one or two essays. They are the key to succeeding at university: exams, reports, dissertations, and theses all require clear, structured, and logical writing. Mastering these skills early gives students a strong advantage in their studies and, later, in their professional careers—where the ability to communicate effectively in English is highly valued.
By Justyna @ Kampuz English
