The course consists of 3 hours per week, divided into 2 sessions of 1 hour 30 minutes.

Classes are face-to-face and take place at Escola Santa Clara in Sabadell, as part of the Santa Clara Idiomes project.

We work with small groups, normally with a maximum of 8 students, allowing us to adapt the course to the group’s actual level, monitor progress closely and provide the detailed feedback required at such an advanced level.

The course continuously combines developing English towards C2 with preparation for Cambridge C2 Proficiency.

The four exam papers are introduced and developed progressively:

Reading and Use of English – understanding and analysing complex, extended and linguistically demanding texts, alongside advanced work on vocabulary, collocations, idiomatic expressions, word formation, transformations and grammatical structures.

Writing – producing sophisticated, well-structured texts appropriate to the purpose, reader and register, while developing a high degree of precision, flexibility, cohesion and stylistic control.

Listening – understanding a wide variety of speakers and contexts, including opinions, attitudes, intention, tone, nuance and implicit meaning.

Speaking – developing the ability to express ideas fluently, precisely and naturally, construct and qualify complex arguments, respond to other people’s ideas and adapt language flexibly during interaction.

As students approach the level required to sit the exam, timed tasks, full-paper practice and mock examinations are incorporated increasingly systematically.

Homework and independent study are an essential part of the course. Reaching C2 requires extensive and sustained exposure to English in addition to the work completed in class.

In A Cut Above, the aim is not simply to learn techniques for passing an exam, but to develop a genuine command of English at C2 level and, on that foundation, prepare students to demonstrate it successfully in Cambridge C2 Proficiency.

At this level, progress becomes less about learning entirely new structures and increasingly about developing precision, flexibility, naturalness, range and control over the linguistic resources students already possess.

Students work intensively on choosing the most appropriate word or expression, using collocations and idiomatic language naturally, distinguishing subtle differences in meaning, reformulating ideas, controlling register and style, and adapting their language to different communicative situations.

Particular attention is also paid to understanding implicit meaning, attitude, intention, tone, irony and nuance, as well as the ability to analyse and respond to linguistically and conceptually complex texts, arguments and ideas.

Preparation for Cambridge C2 Proficiency is progressively integrated into this development. Exam tasks are used both to develop specific strategies and to identify areas of English that still need to be refined.

As students progress, preparation becomes more systematic and work under exam conditions becomes more frequent. However, we avoid turning the course into a simple succession of practice tests: language development remains fundamental even in the final stages of preparation.

Feedback plays a particularly important role. Students are expected to develop a high degree of autonomy and language awareness, learning to analyse, review and improve their own use of English.

In A Cut Above, students develop and refine the language skills associated with C2 level while progressively preparing for the four papers of Cambridge C2 Proficiency.

In Reading and Use of English, students work with extended, dense and linguistically sophisticated texts, developing their ability to understand complex arguments, attitude, tone, intention, implicit references and subtle distinctions in meaning. Particular attention is paid to collocations, idiomatic expressions, phrasal verbs, lexical patterns, word formation, transformations, advanced structures and subtle differences between apparently similar words and expressions.

In Writing, students develop the ability to produce sophisticated, coherent and convincing texts, selecting and organising ideas effectively and adapting their language to purpose, reader and register. Particular attention is given to precision, cohesion, linguistic range, style, nuance and the development of complex arguments.

In Listening, students work with a wide variety of speakers and discourse, developing strategies for understanding not only explicit information but also attitudes, opinions, intention, tone, relationships between speakers and implicit meaning, even when the language is fast, dense or linguistically demanding.

In Speaking, students refine their ability to communicate with fluency, spontaneity, precision and flexibility, develop and qualify arguments, speculate, evaluate different perspectives, respond to complex ideas and sustain natural, sophisticated interaction.

Throughout the course, students continue to broaden and refine their vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, register and idiomatic use of English, with particular attention to the areas that distinguish a solid advanced level from genuine C2 mastery.

Specific preparation for Cambridge C2 Proficiency increases progressively as students approach the required level, incorporating exam strategies, timed tasks, full-paper practice and mock examinations.

The ultimate aim is for students not only to have the strategies needed to tackle the exam, but also a sufficiently broad, precise, flexible and sophisticated command of English to operate confidently at C2 level and sit Cambridge C2 Proficiency when they are genuinely ready.

Do I need previous knowledge of English or a level test?

Yes. A Cut Above is designed for students who already have approximately a strong C1 or C1+ level and are ready to continue developing their English towards C2 and begin or continue preparing for Cambridge C2 Proficiency.

For new students, we may recommend a level test to make sure this is the most appropriate course.

For students already studying with us, we can normally recommend the appropriate group based on their progress and work during the previous academic year.

What ages is A Cut Above designed for?

The course is primarily designed for older teenagers and young people with an advanced level of English who are ready to work towards C2.

At this level, English level is particularly important when forming the group, although we also take into account age, maturity, student profile and pace of learning.

Is A Cut Above a C2-level course or a C2 Proficiency preparation course?

It is both. The course combines developing English towards a genuine C2 level with progressive and systematic preparation for Cambridge C2 Proficiency.

The balance between the two will depend on the level and progress of the group. Initially, more time may need to be devoted to language development; as students approach the level required to sit the exam, preparation becomes more specific.

The aim is not simply to learn exam techniques, but to develop the language proficiency required to reach C2 and demonstrate it effectively in Cambridge C2 Proficiency.

How long does it take to prepare for C2 Proficiency?

There is no single timeframe that applies to every student. The step from C1 to a genuine C2 level is considerable and depends on starting level, exposure to English, independent study and each student’s pace of progress.

For some students, the journey towards being ready for C2 Proficiency may take one academic year; for others, it may require two years.

For this reason, A Cut Above is not structured as a “Year 1” or “Year 2” course. Each student continues progressing towards C2 until they have reached the level and degree of preparation required to sit the exam.

Is it compulsory to sit C2 Proficiency at the end of the course?

No. There is no compulsory exam date associated with the course.

Throughout the year, we monitor students’ progress and assess both their overall English level and their performance across the different parts of the exam.

We will recommend sitting Cambridge C2 Proficiency when we believe the student is genuinely ready, regardless of whether they have completed one or two years of preparation.

What happens if a student is not yet ready to sit the exam?

That is not a problem. At C2 level, reaching the required standard is more important than meeting a particular deadline.

Students can continue developing their English and working on the areas they need to strengthen until they have reached a sufficiently solid and consistent level to approach the exam with confidence.

Can Eureka manage the exam registration?

Yes. Eureka is an Official Cambridge English Preparation Centre, and we can manage exam registration for our students through our partner examination centre, Exams Catalunya.

Eureka charges a small administration fee for managing the registration. Exam dates, availability, registration deadlines and official examination fees are established by the examination centre and Cambridge and are therefore outside Eureka’s control.

Before registering a student, we will inform students and families of the available options and the corresponding cost.

Do students take mock exams?

Yes. As students progress in their preparation, we incorporate timed tasks, full-paper practice and mock examinations.

These activities help students develop exam strategies, improve time management and become familiar with the demands of C2 Proficiency. They also help us assess each student’s degree of readiness before recommending that they register for an official exam session.

How many students are there in each group?

We work with small groups, normally with a maximum of 8 students, allowing for close monitoring and the detailed feedback required at such an advanced level.

Are the teachers native speakers?

Our team consists of native English-speaking teachers or teachers with an equivalent level of English, with the experience and knowledge required to work with advanced students and prepare them for official examinations.

Are the classes entirely in English?

Yes. English is the main language of communication and instruction in the classroom.

At this level, students need extensive and sustained exposure to English and are expected to use it actively during lessons. Spanish or Catalan may occasionally be used when particularly useful for clarifying a complex linguistic point.

Will there be homework?

Yes. Work outside the classroom is particularly important when progressing towards C2.

In addition to activities related to Reading and Use of English, Writing, Listening and Speaking, students will need to continue extending their contact with English through reading, listening and other forms of exposure to authentic, advanced language.

At this level, students are expected to develop a high degree of autonomy, responsibility and ability to organise their own learning.

What happens if a student misses a class?

If a student is unable to attend a class, we will provide the necessary information and/or materials to help them catch up, whenever possible. As these are group classes, sessions missed due to student absence cannot be recovered individually or deducted from the course fee.

How are the monthly fees calculated?

The price is calculated based on the full academic year and teaching calendar, and the total amount is divided into 10 equal monthly payments. The monthly fee therefore does not correspond to the exact number of classes held in that particular month.

Due to public holidays, school holidays and the way the academic calendar is distributed, some months contain more classes than others, but these variations are already taken into account in the overall course price.

What happens if Eureka has to cancel a class?

If Eureka has to cancel a class and we are unable to provide a substitute teacher, we will offer a replacement session. If it is not possible to reschedule the class, the corresponding amount will be deducted from the following monthly or termly payment.

Are there any discounts available?

Yes. We offer a 5% Family Members (FM) discount on monthly fees when two or more members of the same family are enrolled.

In addition, students who are members of Club Natació Sabadell can benefit from a discount on enrolment or place reservation. Full conditions can be found in the Discounts section.

Family Members (FM)

Cuando dos o más miembros de la misma familia están matriculados en Eureka, cada uno recibe un 5% de descuento en su cuota mensual mientras coincidan sus matrículas durante el curso.

Por ejemplo, si hay dos hermanos matriculados, ambos reciben un 5% de descuento en su mensualidad.

Socios del Club Natació Sabadell (CNS)

Los alumnos que sean socios del Club Natació Sabadell pueden beneficiarse de un descuento de 10 € en la matrícula o reserva de plaza:

• Nuevos alumnos: matrícula de 35 € en lugar de 45 €.
• Alumnos actuales: reserva de plaza de 20 € en lugar de 30 €.

Condiciones de los descuentos

El descuento Family Members (FM) se aplica a las cuotas mensuales de cada miembro de la familia.

El descuento para alumnos socios del Club Natació Sabadell (CNS) se aplica únicamente a la matrícula o reserva de plaza, según corresponda.

Los descuentos y promociones no son acumulables entre sí, salvo que se indique expresamente lo contrario en las condiciones de una promoción concreta.