FAQ about Shanghai Pudong GAC Centre

WHAT IS THE GAC PROGRAM?

The Global Assessment Certificate (GAC) program is the world's most recognized university preparation program for students who do not have English as their first language. It is a product of ACT Education Solutions, Limited (a wholly owned subsidiary of ACT).


The GAC is a university preparation program that provides students with the academic knowledge, skills, and confidence to enter and successfully complete a bachelor's degree at one of many selected universities. If you want to study overseas, successful completion of the GAC is a pathway into a bachelor degree at one of many GAC Pathway Universities in the United States, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, and other countries world-wide. (Click here for Terms & Conditions.)


All students who complete the GAC are eligible to take the ACT® test, a multiple choice test that covers four areas of study: English, mathematics, reading, and science. An optional writing test is also available. This test is used extensively by universities in the USA to determine university entry. The GAC is the only international university preparation program that includes the ACT test as part of its curriculum. The GAC curriculum includes units that help students prepare for the ACT test.


The GAC consists of three levels of study, and a fast-track option is available for those who meet the specified entry requirements. The core program consists of English, Mathematics, Computing, Business, Science and Social Science supported by 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 unit during Level III.


WHAT CLASSES DO YOU OFFER AT SHANGHAI PUDONG GAC CENTER?

* Academic English I, II, III: Listening & Speaking Skills
* Academic English I, II, III: Reading & Writing Skills
* Study Skills for Independent Learning
* Mathematics I: Fundamentals
* Mathematics II: Probability, Statistics & Finance
* Mathematics III: Calculus & Advanced Applications
* Discrete Mathematics
* Computing I: Introduction to Word Processing for Academic Study
* Computing II: Data Management
* Computing III: Digital Communication
* Business, Science & Social Science I: Communication Skills
* Business II: Business Studies
* Business III: International Business Studies
* Science II: Scientific Principles
* Science III: General Science
* Social Science II: Identity and Interaction in Society
* Social Science III: Research Skills and Global Issues
* ACT Test Preparation Skills
* IELTS Preparation Skills
* TOEFL Preparation Skills


TELL ME ABOUT SHANGHAI PUDONG GAC CENTRE.


GAC Shanghai Pudong Centre division has recently started in 2007, but we are looking to expand. We are part of a larger school that includes elementary, middle school, high school, and a Korean high school department.

The campus includes amenities like basketball courts, tennis courts, track, soccer field, indoor gymnasium, indoor auditorium, nurses' office, cafeteria, library, etc. So in essence we
have the stability of a larger school and the friendliness and flexibility of a smaller school.

WHERE IS THE SCHOOL LOCATED?

It is located in Nan Hui, Hui Nan Zhen. It is a suburb in Pudong. It is closer to the Pudong International Airport than it is to downtown Shanghai. It takes about an hour by bus or 40 minutes by taxi to the last metro stop on Line 2 and then from there it is quick 25-30 min metro ride into the center of Shanghai. Amenities include beautiful blue skies, clean air, and peaceful surroundings.


Three bus lines come straight here including:
1) Zhang Nan Line from Zhang Jiang Metro Station (Line 2)
2) Long Bing Line from Long Yang Lu Metro Station (Line 2)
3) Nan Xing Line from Shanghai Railway Station
It is also accessible by taxi in groups for 20RMB from Zhang Jiang Metro Station (Line 2). Or individually for around 70-80 RMB.


The city itself is has easy access to a lot of amenities and shops. We
are within a 5 min walking distance to a beautiful developing outlet
center with (Nike, ESPIRIT, Adidas, Puma, KFC, Watsons (like CVS)
etc.etc.). A quick bus ride from Century Mart (McDonalds, shopping,
groceries) and a 10min ride from TESCO(shopping, groceries, Pizza Hut,
KFC, etc).


We are a part of the larger college town including " College City,
including the Shanghai University of Electric Power, Shanghai
Fisheries University, Shanghai Top technique college and Shanghai
Gongshang Waiyu School."


WHAT IS YOUR SCHEDULE LIKE? HOW MANY HOURS DO YOU TEACH EVERY WEEK?


Shanghai Pudong GAC Center operates between 7:30am-9pm Monday through Thursday, from 7:30-3:00pm on Friday. We have two hours lunch breaks from 11:30-1:30. Our students are residential, so they are not on campus during the weekend. A normal full time contract with us is 20 classes a week of 40 min classes. You are expected to have office hours and help with administrative tasks. You will not work any more than 7 hours a day, 4 days a week and on Fridays only about 5 hours. Your weekends are free to do as you like with.


DO THEY PROVIDE YOU WITH TEACHING MATERIALS?


Shanghai Pudong GAC is very well equipped. We have books, teacher’s guides, and a lesson objective book. We have a computer lab for the students. We have computers in some of the classrooms connected to TVs with internet access. We have a meeting room with a large projector and DVD player.


HOW BIG ARE THE CLASSES?


Shanghai Pudong GAC prides itself on small intimate classes so classes are usually less than 12 students.


HOW OLD ARE THE STUDENTS?


Students are inbetween ages of 17-20.


CAN I GET INTERNET ACCESS?


DSL is available in the computer lab, in the office, and some classrooms.

Our school website
http://www.spgac.com/index.html

About the GAC program
www.actinternationalservices.com/en/aesl/gac/index.html