Entry Requirements
Two Clear Pathways to John Paul College.
Direct Entry for students who meet our academic and English benchmarks • A Preparation Pathway for students who need time to get there
How Enrolment Decisions Are Made
Each international application is assessed against three key components. The relevant Head of School reviews all three together — no single factor decides the outcome on its own.
1. English Language Proficiency
Evidenced through IELTS, Cambridge English for Schools, AEAS or CEFR self-assessment, matched against the year level being applied for.
2. Academic Reports
A record of results from the student’s previous school, showing a pass in core subjects over the last two years of education.
3. Head of School Interview
A conversation with the relevant Head of School to understand the student’s readiness, goals and fit with the JPC learning environment.
For full details on how applications are evaluated, please refer to our Admission Policy.
Direct Entry or Preparation First
Answer a few short questions and we will show you which pathway fits — and the exact row of the tables below that applies.
Direct Entry to John Paul College
Direct Entry means a student starts in John Paul College classes from day one, with no preparation course first. To qualify, an application needs two things: passing grades in core subjects from the last two years of school, and English at the level shown for the student’s year below.
Academic Requirements
| John Paul College – Course | Academic Requirement |
|---|---|
| Senior Secondary – Year 12CRICOS 004885C | Students are invited to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning to enter Year 12. Recognition of Prior Learning means we assess the study your child has already completed, to see whether they can enter Year 12 directly. |
| Senior Secondary – Year 11CRICOS 004885C | Applicants must demonstrate a pass in all core subjects over their previous two years of education. |
| Junior Secondary – Year 7 to 10CRICOS 082662E | Applicants must demonstrate a pass in all core subjects over their previous two years of education. |
| Primary School – Year 2 to 6CRICOS 010139J | Applicants must demonstrate a pass in all core subjects over their previous two years of education. |
| Primary School – Prep & Year 1CRICOS 010139J | There are no formal academic requirements. |
English Language Requirements
CEFR — the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, the international scale for language level, from A1 (beginner) up to C1 (advanced).
IELTS · Cambridge · AEAS · EIKEN — English tests your child may have already taken. You only need one of them.
Stanine — a 1–9 band shown on the AEAS report. We look for 5 or above in Reading and Writing.
| Year Level | CEFR | IELTS | Cambridge English for Schools | AEAS | EIKEN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Secondary – Year 11 & 12 | B2 | 6.0 | B2 First for Schools – Grade B | 75 (Stanine of 5 or above in Reading & Writing) | Pre-1 |
| Junior Secondary – Year 10 | B2 | 6.0 | B2 First for Schools – Grade C | 70 (Stanine of 5 or above in Reading & Writing) | Pre-1 |
| Junior Secondary – Year 9 | B2 | 6.0 | B2 First for Schools – Grade C | 70 (Stanine of 5 or above in Reading & Writing) | Pre-1 |
| Junior Secondary – Year 7 & 8 | B1+ | 5.5 | B1 Preliminary for Schools – Grade B | 65 (Stanine of 5 or above in Reading & Writing) | 2 |
| Primary School – Year 4, 5 & 6 | B1 | N/A | A2 Flyers – 5 Shields in each skill | 50 (Stanine of 5 or above in Reading & Writing) | 2 |
| Primary School – Year 3 | A2 | N/A | — | Student should evidence a CEFR A2 level | Pre-2 |
| Primary School – Prep to Year 2 | — | N/A | — | At the discretion of the Head of Primary School | N/A |
Figures are a guide only. AEAS figures shown are the General English score (0–100). Final assessment is made by the relevant Head of School with reference to the current Admission Policy.
Not sure which row is yours? The Pathway Calculator builds a full term-by-term timeline for your child.
Preparation Courses
Students who do not yet meet the direct entry requirements above can study English first with John Paul International College. The table below is a guide to language levels at JPIC — students do not need to hold a result from any of the external tests above to apply.
Academic Requirements
| John Paul International College – Course | Academic Requirement |
|---|---|
| High School Preparation Course (HSPC)CRICOS 0100089 | Applicants must demonstrate a pass in all core subjects over their previous two years of education. |
| Primary School Preparation (PSP)CRICOS 120138F | Applicants must demonstrate a pass in all core subjects over their previous two years of education. |
English Language Requirements
| JPIC Level | CEFR | Cambridge English for Schools | AEAS | EIKEN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HSPC Upper-IntermediateTransition – Year 9, 10 & 11 | B1+ | B1 Preliminary for Schools – Grade B | 61 | 2 |
| HSPC IntermediateTransition – Year 7 & 8 | B1 | B1 Preliminary for Schools – Grade C | 51 | 2 |
| HSPC Pre-Intermediate | A2 | A2 for Schools – Grade C | 40 | Pre-2 |
| HSPC Beginner | A1 | — | 26 | 3 |
| HSPC Starter | Below A1 | — | 10 | 4–5 |
| PSP Pre-Intermediate | A2 | A2 Flyers – 4 Shields in each skill | 36 | Pre-2 |
| PSP Beginner | A1 | A1 Movers – 4 Shields in each skill | 26 | 3 |
Figures are a guide only. AEAS figures shown are the General English score (0–100). Final assessment is made by the relevant Head of School with reference to the current Admission Policy.
Not sure which row is yours? The Pathway Calculator builds a full term-by-term timeline for your child.
Entry Requirements FAQs
What happens if my child doesn’t meet the English requirement?
They’re not turned away – they’re placed into the Preparation Pathway. Depending on age, this means the High School Preparation Course (HSPC, entering Years 7–11) or Primary School Preparation (PSP, entering Years 4–6), both designed to bring students up to direct-entry standard.
Do I need an IELTS or AEAS score to apply?
No. Those scores are a guide for Direct Entry only. Students applying through the Preparation Pathway do not need to hold a result from any external English test to apply.
Is the Head of School interview compulsory?
Yes, for all international applicants. The interview is a conversation with the relevant Head of School about the student’s readiness, goals and fit with the JPC learning environment.
Can a student be accepted even if requirements aren’t fully met?
The relevant Head of School has discretion to accept a student even where the academic or English language guides aren’t fully met, based on the interview and overall application.
How long does the Preparation Pathway usually take?
It depends on the student’s starting level. Most students progress through the structured HSPC or PSP stages within two to four terms before transitioning into mainstream classes.
Where can I read the full assessment criteria?
The complete criteria are set out in our Admission Policy. Our enrolments team is also on hand to talk through your child’s specific situation.
Start the Conversation Today
Our enrolments team will help you find the right entry point for your child – direct entry or the preparation pathway.