Academic Communication Evaluation

💻 What is the Academic Communication Evaluation (ACE)?

The Academic Communication Evaluation (ACE) is designed to ascertain how you can be supported with your Academic English during your time at Western Sydney University.

Regardless of background or level, we can all enhance our Academic English abilities to do our best at University.

The ACE is currently being trialled in the majority of high-load first-year subjects at Western Sydney University.

Find out more in the following video:

Is the ACE mandatory?

How the ACE is embedded into a subject is the Subject Coordinator's decision. We are working on a subject-per-subject basis. Library staff can follow up with students based on the Subject Coordinator’s request.

Why do students need a computer/laptop to complete the ACE?

Unfortunately, the ACE does not work with a mobile phone or iPad as it requires a keyboard. We suggest for students that don’t have a laptop, to complete this as an asynchronous activity, or computer labs can be booked for students to complete the ACE. Please let Library Staff know if you need help with this.

Where do students go if they encounter technical issues with the ACE?
What is the future of the ACE?

We have funding for the ACE for all of 2025 – Autumn and Spring Sessions. We refer to the ACE as a ‘trial’ because this is the first time we are using this tool and the first time our university is trialing a model of streaming students into academic literacy support on a large scale. For an example of a university using this same tool, you might like to check out UTS’ OPELA.

We are very interested in gathering insights from both staff and students on this experience.