General Foundation Program

Why study our programs?

GFP offers you 

• A 3-semester system that gives you maximum opportunity to complete your foundation studies within a year.
• Comprehensive, well-designed courses in English, Mathematics and Computing, that will prepare you for your specialization studies.
• An international team of expert subject teachers to help you in both academic studies and all-round development.
• A strong academic support system, managed by GFP staff, to meet all your additional study needs.
• Modern infrastructure, with well-equipped computer labs, cafeterias, and recreational areas.
• Opportunities to participate in extra-curricular events like debates and competitions.

• GFP Program Profile 2021-2022

GFP Placement Test

The GFP Placement Test assesses the candidates in three components – English, Computing and Math.

English Placement Test (EPT):

The English Placement Test is administered in order to ascertain the current level of English language proficiency of each new registering student. The English Placement Test has 3 parts of equal weightage and is to be completed in 50 minutes.

Part 1: Listening (Online)

Part 2: Grammar (Online)

Part 3: Writing (Online)

Students interested in joining GFP program at SU can get a feel for the type of questions used in the placement test through the Practice Materials for Placement Test.

On completion of the test, candidates are scored and placed into one of the three following levels: Elementary, Pre-Intermediate or Intermediate or granted Direct Entry to the Faculty of their choice.

0-52     : Elementary

53-70   : Pre-Intermediate

71-88   : Intermediate

89+      : Direct Entry 

A candidate with IELTS band 5 or equivalent in each skill, or corresponding qualification from another institution of higher education in Oman can get Direct Entry to the faculties.

Candidates who attain ‘Direct Entry’ into Faculty, however, have to also pass the Computing and Math placement tests. If such a candidate passes both the Math and Computing exemption tests, they can register in the faculty as full-time students. On the other hand, if the candidate does not pass either of the Computing and Math placement tests, he/she can still register in the faculty but only for a half-load.  This student must then register for the Computing and Math course at GFP and complete these components along with their faculty study simultaneously.

The Computing Placement Test aims to give the students a chance to be exempted from studying this course in GFP. The Computing course consists of two modules – IC3M1 and IC3M2. All students will sit for the first module (IC3M1) test. This test evaluates his\her knowledge and skills in MS office. Students will be eligible to take the second module (IC3M2) test of Computer hardware and internet skills, if he\she passes the IC3M1 test with a minimum mark of 50 out of 100, in which case he\she will be exempted from studying IC3M1. In case a student does not clear the IC3M1 test, he\she needs to study both IC3M1 and IC3M2. If he\she passes IC3M2, he\she will be exempted from both the modules.

In addition, if a student shows evidence of equivalency to Sohar University GFP Computing course i.e. International Certificate in Computing (IC3, ICDL), or a course in an accredited MHE, he/she can be exempted from the Computing course. However, the student will have to provide a transcript and course description from the previous institution.

Download Computing Placement test material

Math Placement Test

A student who newly joins the General Foundation Program (GFP) at Sohar University needs to show the capability to achieve the learning outcomes of two Maths courses. Those two courses are determined according to the faculty they will join. All new students have the chance to take a Math Placement Test (MPT) that gauges their competency in Math and places them in the appropriate Math study level.

As each GFP student has to clear two Math courses, he/she can sit two Math test sessions: one for each course. Passing the first test is a prerequisite to sit the second one. The MPT is an online test that is conducted using computers and marked automatically. The duration of each test is one hour, and the pass mark is 50% for both tests. If a student passes the Math test, then he/she will be exempted from the study of the course related to that test.

Students who studied and successfully passed Math courses in recognized higher education institutes other than Sohar University can be exempted from Math study at GFP if the learning outcomes of courses they studied cover those for the GFP Math courses of Sohar University. In order to have this exemption, the students need to submit official transcripts that confirm they passed the equivalent courses in the other institute, as well as the course descriptions of these courses.

The table below shows the GFP Math courses that a new student needs to clear based on their speciality:

Download Math Preparation and Exercises

General Foundation is a three-course program - English, Mathematics and Computing - which is the gateway to higher studies at Sohar University. All three courses have been designed to prepare students with the best possible advantage as they go into their faculties of specialization. GFP also offers Mathematics and Computing in Arabic, in order to cater to students who study in faculties that are taught in Arabic.

In accordance with national requirements, all GFP courses and assessments are designed to cover all the learning outcomes as stated by GFP Oman Academic Accreditation Authority. For the three components of GFP study, 50% of the assessments are continuous assessments spread across the semester, and the end of semester examination accounts for the remaining 50%. A minimum score of 50% is required to pass any course in GFP as well as the GFP Exit Examination.

Placement Test and Induction take place a week before the start of the semester. If you wish to join GFP, you will need to sit the placement test for all the three components – English, Math and Computing. The placement test is conducted to identify a candidate’s proficiency in each program, and place them in the right level.