International ESOLExaminations

English is the language of international communication for study, research, business and industry. It’s no wonder then that, every year, hundreds of thousands of people are turning to Trinity for an internationally recognised qualification to help achieve their personal, educational and career goals.

Trinity has been setting standards and testing English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) for more than 70 years. Trinity ESOL examinations are available at every level, from first steps in English to full proficiency, and cover a wide range of topics and tasks which are inclusive and relevant to every learner — regardless of nationality or culture.

The three suites of Trinity International English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) examinations:

Graded Examinations in Spoken English (GESE)

GESE examinations are available at 12 progressive levels and focus on the skills of speaking and listening. They are one-to-one oral assessments with a Trinity examiner.

Integrated Skills in English (ISE)

ISE examinations are available at five levels and assess the four skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing. Candidates prepare a portfolio of their written work, have an oral assessment with a Trinity examiner and sit a controlled written examination paper.

Spoken English for Work (SEW)

SEW is an examination for the world of work. It is available at four levels corresponding to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) — B1, B2.1, B2.2 and C1. This examination is assessed through an interview with a Trinity examiner.

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The world of communication is growing — be part of it.

Photo by Speak! Learning Centre, Shenzhen, China

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GESE examinations are an assessment of speaking and listening skills. They are one-to-one oral examinations with a native English-speaking Trinity examiner who travels from the UK.

There are 12 grades altogether which are linked to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). The exams encourage students to develop and progress by acknowledging each step forward; at every stage of the student’s development there is a chance to mark success.

GESE: Key features

• Inclusive: a grade for every individual learner — from beginner to proficient speaker, suitable for all cultures and nationalities

• Convenient: exams designed to support classroom work, not interfere with it, forming a natural part of any course of English language study

• Relevant: the exams are candidate-led and use material relevant to the individual student

• Motivational: the opportunity to progress up the ladder from one grade to the next, and exams that test what candidates can do — not what they can’t

• Practical: an exam that emphasises the practical ability to use the language, rather than a test of theoretical knowledge

• Supportive: a clearly defined syllabus and materials to guide teachers preparing their students for the exam

• Responsive: examiner feedback to teachers immediately after each exam session

Who are the examinations for?

These examinations are suitable for all students from the age of 7, whatever their level, from absolute beginner to full mastery. Learners may be school or college students or those looking to improve their English skills for their own personal development.

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Graded Examinations in Spoken English (GESE)

Assessment

The grades are organised in four development stages:

Initial (Grades 1–3)Elementary (Grades 4–6)Intermediate (Grades 7–9)Advanced (Grades 10–12)

At each stage the candidate carries out a number of realistic speaking and listening tasks that show their fluency and accuracy in spoken English:

Conversation: this involves a realistic exchange of information, ideas and opinions.

The topic: before the examination the candidate prepares a topic of their choice and in the examination this is used as a basis for discussion with the examiner.

The interactive task: An initial prompt from the examiner gives rise to an interaction initiated and maintained by the candidate.

The listening task: Three short passages prompt the use of the candidate’s skills of deduction, prediction and inferring.

Photo by Sylva Nay

Assessment summary

Initial Elementary Intermediate Advanced

Grades 1–3 Grades 4–6 Grades 7–9 Grades 10–12

5–7 minutes 10 minutes 15 minutes 25 minutes

Topic presentation

Topic discussion

Candidate-led discussion of topic

Interactive task

Topic discussion

Interactive task

Listening task

Conversation Conversation Conversation Conversation

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ISE examinations test all four language skills — speaking, writing, listening and reading. They are available at five key levels which are linked to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

The assessment is about how the four skills integrate with each other. In the real world of communication we generally use all these skills together, for example, taking notes as we talk on the phone or listen to a lecture, or giving a presentation where we write on the board at the same time as talking and responding to our audience.

ISE: Key features

• Contemporary: a learner-centered exam in tune with the learner-centered classroom and with global trends in the use of English

• Combining skills: candidates carry out research and are able to draw on a range of resources and media to prepare their portfolios, which can be word processed

• Communicative: encourages teaching to become communicative. Learners must become active participants in their learning to succeed in the exam

• Resourceful: teachers can use the portfolio as part of their normal teaching course

• Reliable: independent external assessments conducted and marked by fully standardised ESOL practitioners

• Recognised: ISE III and ISE IV accepted by over 100 universities worldwide as evidence of English language proficiency for entry to degree course programmes

Who are the examinations for?

These examinations are suitable for young and adult learners, from basic to advanced level. Typically, learners may be school or college students who need to prove their English language skills to enter university, or those who need to show evidence of English proficiency in all four language skills for work.

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Integrated Skills in English (ISE)

Assessment

Each ISE level has the same overall assessment structure. There are three components to the examination.

Portfolio: a collection of the student’s written work, the portfolio is an opportunity for candidates to present to Trinity examiners the best work they can produce rather than the best they can produce on a single occasion in the exam room. The portfolio is learner-led – students are able to draw on a number of resources, and are free to use facilities such as dictionaries, word processors and the internet.

Controlled Written examination: this is taken under formal examination conditions at a registered centre. The tasks are relevant to a range of learners — young and mature — and are appropriate in a variety of cultural contexts.

Interview: this is a face-to-face conversation with a Trinity examiner who comes from the UK. This component is very similar to the Trinity GESE examination. The interview includes discussion of a topic that the student has prepared and a conversation with the examiner about their portfolio. At the higher levels it also includes interactive and listening tasks.

Assessment summary

Level ISE 0 ISE I ISE II ISE III ISE IV

CEFR A2 B1 B2 C1 C2

Components

Portfolio 3 tasks 3 tasks 3 tasks 3 tasks 3 tasks

Controlled Written examination

2 tasks (45 mins)

2 tasks (1.5 hours)

2 tasks (2 hours)

3 tasks (2.5 hours)

3 tasks (3 hours)

Interview 2 tasks (8 mins)

2 tasks (8 mins)

3 tasks (12 mins)

5 tasks (20 mins)

5 tasks (25 mins)

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The Spoken English for Work examination is a unique assessment designed for the world of work. Available at four levels corresponding to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) they focus specifically on the English language speaking and listening skills that people use in the work environment. English-speaking skills are seen as increasingly critical to the long-term success of many international companies. Trinity’s SEW examinations give employers and employees a structure in which these skills can be developed and recognised.

SEW: Key features

• Unique: a work-based oral assessment that can be applied in a range of work environments and occupations — not an exam just for specific work sectors

• Topical: an exam that is centered on the candidate’s topic/ area of work, allowing an individual focus and certification highlighting the topic that was covered

• Accessible: an exam that can be taken at the work place or language centre, at a date and time convenient to them

• International: certification which is awarded by an international examinations board accredited by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA), and operating in over 60 countries worldwide

Who are the exams for?

The exams are designed for those currently in, or looking for, work where English language proficiency is either a requirement or an opportunity for increased career prospects and promotion. As the examinations are not aimed at specific sectors of the workforce, they apply equally well to professionals, office and service workers, and business people.

Spoken English for Work (SEW) (available from September 2008)

Assessment

The examinations are assessed by a Trinity examiner who travels from the UK. The format of the exam is very similar to that of GESE, except that all the tasks are contextualised to the world of work. There is also an additional telephone task — a simulated work related telephone call between the candidate and the examiner. The assessments take into account the wide range of employment tasks, allowing each learner to communicate about their individual work-related experiences.

Assessment summary

SEW B1 SEW B2.1 SEW B2.2 SEW C1

12 minutes 15 minutes 19 minutes 25 minutes

Topic presentation

Topic discussion Topic discussion Topic discussion

Topic discussion Interactive task Interactive task Interactive task

Telephone task

Telephone task

Telephone task

Telephone task

Conversation Conversation Conversation Conversation

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In the UK Trinity College London has corporate recognition from the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA), and its respective partners in Wales and Northern Ireland.

Trinity is also in contact with education authorities around the world to ensure that our candidates’ achievements are recognised globally. These arrangements vary from country to country, depending on the subject area and the type of qualifications concerned.

Italy: Trinity ESOL qualifications are recognised by the Italian Department for Education and the Conference of Italian Universities Rectors. The examinations have long had government support as they were used as part of the Progetto 2000 to improve language levels in state schools. Italian students use these qualifications to gain entrance to university, with 367 faculties in universities throughout Italy accepting Trinity for students to enter their courses.

Spain: Trinity is working with the Comunidad de Madrid on their bilingual primary schools programme in the state sector. Students in the programme sit a GESE examination each year.

Hungary: Trinity’s ESOL examinations are accredited by the Language Examinations Accreditation Centre for use both within and in addition to mainstream secondary language examining systems.

Greece: Trinity’s ISE examinations are recognised by the Greek government body ASEP.

China: Trinity’s ESOL examinations are recognised for the Hong Kong English in the Workplace Campaign, a government-led initiative to increase public awareness of the importance of English skills for the workplace. Trinity examinations are also used by the Chinese Athletes Education Foundation.

Recognition — government, institutional, professional

Trinity and the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR)

In 2006 Trinity completed a detailed research project confirming the alignment of the GESE and ISE examinations within the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. This report has been shared with the Council of Europe and was produced by an independent consultant from Lancaster University. The full report can be downloaded from www.trinitycollege.co.uk/cefr

The Trinity International ESOL suite

Common European Framework (CEFR)

Graded Examinations in Spoken English (GESE)

Integrated Skills in English (ISE)

Spoken English for Work (SEW)

Pre-A1 1

A1 2

A2 3, 4 ISE 0

B1 5, 6 ISE I SEW BI

B2 7, 8, 9 ISE II SEW B2.1, SEW B2.2

C1 10, 11 ISE III SEW C1

C2 12 ISE IV

UK University Recognition

In the UK Trinity’s ISE qualifications are recognised by universities and colleges as suitable evidence of English language proficiency for entry to degree programmes. The list of universities recognising ISE III and ISE IV is growing all the time. The latest list can be found at www.trinitycollege.co.uk/universityrecognition

Universities on the list include: University of Brighton, University of Cardiff, Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, Cranfield University, University of Edinburgh, University of Kent, University of Kingston, University of Leeds, London College of Fashion, Loughborough University, London Metropolitan University, Middlesex University, Queen’s University Belfast, University of Southampton.

Membership of Professional OrganisationsTrinity is a member of a number of professional language organisations worldwide including the European Association for Quality Language Services (EAQUALS), the European Association for Language Testing and Assessment (EALTA), and the International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language (IATEFL). Trinity is also an Institutional Affiliate of the Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE).

09 Photo by Tas Kyprianou

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Support — for administrators

Convenient examination sessions: Trinity’s ESOL examinations are available all year round and can be held at your school, college or work place. Centres are advised to contact their local office as soon as possible to arrange an examination date to suit them and their candidates.

Trinity Online: gives administrators direct access to their own candidate information held on Trinity’s central database. Features include results tracking, candidate statistics, examiner information, and access to timetables and materials.

Direct contact: As well as receiving a Registered Centre Handbook, centres have direct communication with an appointed Trinity representative, to help with any questions about administering the examinations.

How to become a registered centre

If you are a teacher or institution looking to offer Trinity ESOL qualifications you will need to become a registered examination centre. Registration is easy and free — all you need to do is complete and return to your local Trinity office a Centre Registration form. The form can be found on the Trinity website or you can contact us directly to request a copy.

Once your application has been approved, we will send you a Trinity Registered Centre pack which will include copies of the syllabuses, a centre handbook, examination posters, and you will also have access to your own Trinity Registered Centre logo for use on your centre materials.

To find out details of your local Trinity office, visit the Trinity website www.trinitycollege.co.uk/locator

Support

Support — for teachers

Trinity offers a wide range of valuable resources for teachers to help prepare learners for the assessments.

In print: Trinity syllabuses for each examination suite are available freely to teachers. The syllabus is an essential tool for teachers guiding them through each examination level and outlining the format, procedures and criteria for assessment. In addition, Trinity examination preparation books for teachers and students are available from a number of publishers.

Online: The Trinity website www.trinitycollege.co.uk/esol contains a wide range of valuable resources including past papers, practice tasks, practical tips and podcasts. We also provide registered centres with a DVD containing examples of the speaking and listening assessment at each of the levels.

Face-to-face: Trinity can often provide individual visits to help new examination centres get started with the examinations. We also provide teacher support workshops throughout the year. Your local Trinity office will have more details of events happening in your area.

Trinity College LondonCelebrating 70 years of English language assessment 1938–2008

Trinity qualifications are available in:

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)MusicDrama & SpeechDanceArts

Trinity College London89 Albert EmbankmentLondon SE1 7TP UK

T +44 (0)20 7820 6100F +44 (0)20 7820 6161E esol@trinitycollege.co.uk www.trinitycollege.co.uk

Cover photo by Tas Kyprianou