Marsden IEC classes prepare you for government high school education in Sydney. In general, the length of study at the IEC is between one to three terms (900 hours in 30 weeks, special needs students may receive extra time) depending on your initial English competence and your rate of progress. At this centre you will study all language skills including: speaking, listening, reading, writing, pronunciation, grammar, spelling, text-type literacy and visual literacy. In addition you will be taught the language for specific high school subjects such as Maths, Science, Computer Studies, History, Geography, Art, Music, Personal Development / Health / Physical Education (PD/H/PE) and Sport.

The IEC program is based on the Intensive English Program Framework which is divided into four levels: Foundation level, Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3. You may be placed into the program at any level depending on the results of the Initial English Language Assessment tests. After successfully completing Level 3 you will receive a Certificate of Achievement. Furthermore, the IEC will provide you with orientation support to ensure a smooth transition from the IEC to the high school of your choice, usually the nearest school to your home.