Questions answered
Frequently asked questions
Course levels, weekly schedules, registration steps and what you need before your first lesson with The Dress English Academy. If your question is not here, our London office answers email and phone five days a week.
Level check first
A short placement test sets your CEFR starting point before classes begin.
Morning, afternoon and evening
Most pathways run in at least two of the three weekly time bands.
Register at the desk
Name, email and phone number are all we ask for to open an application.
Before you start
Most people arrive with one of three worries: which level to join, whether the timetable fits around work, and what happens after they send their details. The answers below cover all three, plus what the registration desk needs from you.
Levels and how we place you
Every learner sits a short placement test before a course is confirmed. It covers reading, writing, listening and a brief spoken conversation, and it tells us whether you should start at beginner, elementary, intermediate or advanced. If you already hold an exam result or a certificate from a previous school, bring it along and we will factor it in. Placement is not a gate — it is there so nobody spends the first weeks revising material they already know.
What to bring
A notebook and a pen are enough for day one. Bring photo identification for enrolment, and a laptop only if your pathway uses written coursework. There are no textbooks to buy before you arrive — course material is issued on your first day.
How long courses run
Short courses run for four to eight weeks; longer academic and exam pathways run a full term or more. You can extend at the end of a course if your timetable allows, and most learners study two or three terms before moving on.
Course levels, schedules and registration
The questions below are grouped by what people ask most: choosing a level, fitting classes into a working week, and what happens once you register. Open any row to read the full answer.
Levels and placement
How do I know which English level to join?
You take a placement test before your course is confirmed. It takes about forty minutes and mixes multiple-choice reading and listening with a short written task and a spoken chat with a tutor. We use the result to place you in a group working at your level, and you will be told your starting point in writing before you pay anything. If the first week feels wrong, tell your tutor and we will move you to a different group.
Do I need a certificate or exam result to enrol?
No. If you have a certificate from another school, bring it and we will use it alongside the placement test. If you do not, the test alone is enough. Older results in particular may not reflect what you can do now, so we always confirm the starting level with a short assessment rather than relying on a document from years ago.
Are classes grouped by age or by experience?
Adult courses are grouped by level, not by age — you will be with other learners working at the same stage. We do keep an over-30s timetable for people who prefer a room closer to their own working life, and younger adult learners usually take the general timetable. Both use the same curriculum and the same level markers.
Schedules and study time
What times of day do courses run?
Most pathways run in morning, afternoon and evening bands, and you choose one band when you register. Evening classes suit people in full-time work; morning classes leave the rest of the day free for study or part-time jobs. A typical course is three sessions a week with homework between them, so plan for around two hours of self-study for every hour in the classroom.
Can I switch between morning and evening classes?
Often yes, if there is space in the group you want to join and your level matches. Tell the office as early as you can, ideally before the term starts, because groups fill up. A mid-term move is possible when a place is free, but you may need to catch up on sessions you missed in the new band.
How much homework should I expect?
Plan on roughly two hours of independent study for each hour in class. That includes written work, reading, listening practice and preparing for speaking tasks. Tutors set homework once or twice a week rather than nightly, so you can fit it around other commitments. If a week is unusually heavy, tell your tutor — the point is steady progress, not a backlog.
Registration and paperwork
What do I need to register for a course?
Your first name, last name, email address and a phone number. That is the whole list at the start — we use those details to send your placement test link and confirm your timetable. Photo identification is checked on your first day for enrolment records. If you are registering on behalf of someone else, use their details on the form and add a note about who to contact.
How soon will someone reply after I register?
Our office answers enquiries during opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and Saturday, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Most registrations get a reply the next working day, and the placement test booking usually follows within a week. If you have not heard back after two working days, phone the office rather than waiting.
Can I visit the school before I decide?
Yes. Our classrooms are at 48 Bedford Square in Bloomsbury, and you are welcome to come and see the rooms and meet a tutor during opening hours. Phone or email ahead so someone is free to show you around rather than leaving you waiting in reception. If you are outside the UK, we can arrange a short call instead.
Courses and study pathways
Which pathway should I choose — general, business or exam?
General English builds everyday fluency in speaking, listening, reading and writing. Business English adds meetings, email writing and presentations for people already using English at work. Exam pathways such as IELTS preparation focus on the test format and timed practice. If you are unsure, book the placement test first and tell the tutor what you need English for — they will recommend one of the three.
Can I take more than one pathway at the same time?
Sometimes, if the timetables do not overlap and your level supports both. Many learners pair a general course with an exam course once they reach an intermediate level. Combining two pathways adds study hours, so talk it through with a tutor first — they will tell you honestly whether the load is realistic for your week.
Where do I go for visa and study-in-the-UK questions?
Start with our Study in the UK page, which covers the practical questions international learners ask before they travel. If your situation is specific to your nationality or your dates, call the office and we will point you to the right part of the process. We do not give immigration advice, so anything beyond general guidance is best confirmed with the relevant authority.
Still deciding
Not sure which course fits your week?
Tell us how many hours you can study, which days suit you, and what you want to do with English — travel, work, or an exam. We will suggest one pathway and a level to start from. If two options would work equally well, we will say so and let you choose rather than pushing the longer course.
Our office is at 48 Bedford Square, Bloomsbury, London, WC1B 3DP. Calls and email are answered Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and Saturday, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
Where to go next
Most questions resolve into one of three next steps. Pick the one that matches where you are, and the page behind it will explain what to prepare before you get in touch.
Ready to register
Open the contact page, tell us your level aim and preferred time band, and we will book your placement test. Go to the contact page.
Still comparing courses
The courses page lists general, business and exam pathways with format and hours per week, so you can match one to your schedule. See the course options.
Planning to travel to the UK
Study in the UK covers what to sort out before you arrive, from documents to accommodation timing. Read the study in the UK guide.
Need a document or policy
Our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service explain how we handle your details and what applies to enrolments.
Academy address
48 Bedford Square, Bloomsbury, London, WC1B 3DP, United Kingdom
Visits are welcome during opening hours; call ahead so a tutor is free.