Quick Facts

Medium Of Instructions	Mode Of Learning	Mode Of Delivery
English	Self Study	Video and Text Based

Course Overview

The English Language for Competitive Exams programme is a 30-hour course suitable for undergraduate or postgraduate students across all disciplines. This is an advanced-level elective curriculum, designed by IIT Madras, that prepares candidates for national and international competitive exams, which tests their English language skills. It also features the institute’s renowned Professor, Aysha Iqbal, who’ll be teaching this course.

The English Language for Competitive Exams training strives to help the students become confident with the English language, especially during competitive exams. The course primarily focuses on developing grammar, vocabulary, reading, and writing skills amongst learners. This is a complex curriculum, including higher-order English skills. Reading material is derived from the classics of English literature as well.

The English Language for Competitive Exams online course uses a contextual approach to teach grammar and vocabulary. Aspirants will also refer to global newspapers and magazines for better comprehension. After acquiring this certification, candidates will have a recognised skill across various academic institutions and industries.

The Highlights

Undergraduate and postgraduate level training
Only through online mode
Elective course
30 hours of studying across 12 weeks
Humanities and social sciences category
Practice exercises
Marked in-course assignments
Final proctored external test
By the Govt. of India
Designed by IIT Madras
E-certificate upon completion

Important dates

Certificate Exam Date

Start Date : 18 Apr, 2026

Programme Offerings

Registration without fees
In-course graded assessments
Practice Exercises
External proctored test
Course conducted online
elective course
Digital Certificate.

Courses and Certificate Fees

Fees Informations	Certificate Availability	Certificate Providing Authority
INR 1000	yes	IIT Madras (IITM)

Candidates may attend the English Language for Competitive Exams programme for free. The ones who want to answer the external exam and receive the certificate must pay Rs. 1,000/-.

English Language for Competitive Exams fee structure -

Course Title	Total fee
English Language for Competitive Exams (audit only)	Free
English Language for Competitive Exams (with e-certificate)	Rs. 1,000/-

Eligibility Criteria

Certificate Qualifying Details

The total score required for the certificate comprises 75% proctored exam score and 25% internal assessment scores (best eight assignments out of 12). To be eligible for the digital certificate, candidates require at least 30 marks out of 75 for the external exam and an average of at least 10 marks out of 25 for the internal assignments.

What you will learn

Language skills

After going through the entire English Language for Competitive Exams certification syllabus candidates will be able to:

Confidently use the English language at an advanced level
Understand the nuances of the English language
Construct correct sentences with advanced vocabulary
Read accurately and contextual, analytical thinking

Who it is for

The English Language for Competitive Exams certification course welcomes all undergraduate and postgraduate candidates studying under any discipline.

Admission Details

Step 1. You can join the English Language for Competitive Exams training by going to the Swayam website - https://swayam.gov.in/.

Step 2. Choose the ‘Sign-in/Register’ button to create your account. If you have a Swayam account, use it to log in. Or else, register to start one.

Step 3. Enter the required details and press ‘send verification code’.

Step 4. Fill in the verification code received at the email address and click on the ‘Verify Code’ tab.

Step 5. Complete your learning account registration by tapping the ‘Create’ option and opting for the course.

Application Details

Swayam does not mandate an application form-filling for the English Language for Competitive Exams online course. Candidates can either create an account or sign in if they already have one. To start the account, learners must register by providing a username, password, and email ID.

The Syllabus

Evaluation process

After the URL for the registration form is published, candidates must fill out the registration form and furnish the exam fee. Candidates can also refer to this form for further details about exam centres and the terms and conditions related to the English Language for Competitive Exams course.

This test will commence on 24 April 2021 in Swayam’s dedicated test centres, where students must secure 30/75 or more. Moreover, they must also score 10/25 or more in the training assignments. By meeting this specific criterion, students can earn the certification.