Trinity College London ESOL is an international English Language examinations board delivering assessments in English language learning and teaching and has been offering English language examinations since 1938. Trinity College London's exams are taken by over 850,000 candidates in over 60 countries each year.[1]
Language certificates offered include English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) for non-native speakers of English (learning) and Teaching English for Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) for teachers of non-native speakers of English (teaching). Trinity College London provides the following examinations:
To provide evidence of the candidates’ proficiency across four skills in English language: reading, writing, speaking and listening. Candidates may use an ISE qualification to provide evidence of their English language ability across Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) levels: A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2. ISE is suitable for any candidate (young person or adult) either in or entering into an educational context. ISE has been designed to reflect the type of tasks and texts students encounter within the educational domain.[2]
ISE Foundation to ISE III Reading & Writing is assessed using dichotomous scoring and rating scales. ISE Foundation to ISE III Speaking & Listening is assessed using rating scales. One Independent Listening task in ISE Foundation and ISE I is scored. The overall result for each unit is taken by converting the total score into one of the following results: Distinction - Merit - Pass - Fail. ISE IV Reading & Writing and Speaking & Listening is assessed by means of one overall criterion, Task fulfilment. This is assessed in each phase of the Interview using a four-point scale (A–D). The examiner assesses the candidate's performance in each phase of the exam by awarding a letter grade: A, B, C or D:
A — Distinction (reflects an excellent performance)
B — Merit (reflects a good performance)
C — Pass (reflects a satisfactory performance)
D — Fail (reflects an unsatisfactory performance).
These certificates are for ESOL learners in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, designed in accordance with the UK Adult ESOL Core Curriculum.
ESOL Skills for Life certificates
These assessments are offered in Speaking and Listening, Reading and Writing and are available from Entry 1 to Level 2 in the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF). Trinity is the only examinations board to also offer pre-RQF assessments (non-accredited) in Speaking and Listening – ESOL Step 1 and Step 2.
ESOL Skills for Life is externally assessed by a Trinity examiner.
Qualifications range from those starting out in a teaching career to senior teaching and management posts.
Trinity ESOL qualifications are accredited by the UK Qualifications and Curriculum Authority QCA, and its respective partners in Wales and Northern Ireland. They are listed in the UK's UCAS (University and Colleges Admissions Services) guide to qualifications acceptable as evidence of English language competency.
UCAS considers an English language competency equivalent to NQF Levels 1 or 2 as appropriate for entry to UK Higher Education. The UCAS guides list the following Trinity ESOL qualifications acceptable as evidence of proficiency in English.
Comparison table for Trinity ESOL[3] , Cambridge English Language Assessment and IELTS examinations
| QCA NQF | CEFR Level | Trinity GESE | Trinity ISE | Trinity ESOL Skills for Life | Trinity ESOL for Work | Cambridge English Language Assessment | IELTS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry 1 | A1 | Grades 2 | - | Entry 1 | - | - | - | |
| Entry 2 | A2 | Grades 3 & 4 | ISE Foundation | Entry 2 | - | KET | 3.0 | |
| Entry 3 | B1 | Grades 5 & 6 | ISE I | Entry 3 | Entry 3 | PET | 4.0 | |
| Level 1 | B2 | Grades 7, 8, & 9 | ISE II | Level 1 | Level 1 | FCE | 5.5 | |
| Level 2 | C1 | Grades 10 & 11 | ISE III | Level 2 | - | CAE | 6.5 | |
| Level 3 | C2 | Grade 12 | ISE IV | - | - | CPE | 7.5 |
Worldwide accreditation varies from country to country.
The Trinity suite of exams are linked to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages(CEFR). This framework sets standards in foreign language learning/teaching across Europe, by categorising learners into six levels of ability. The
Trinity ESOL exams fit into this framework as shown in the table
| CEFR | Trinity GESE | Trinity ISE | Trinity ESOL Skills for Life | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| n/a | Grade 1 | - | - | |
| A1 | Grade 2 | - | Entry 1 | |
| A2 | Grade 3 & 4 | ISE Foundation | Entry 2 | |
| B1 | Grade 5 & 6 | ISE I | Entry 3 | |
| B2 | Grade 7, 8 & 9 | ISE II | Level 1 | |
| C1 | Grade 10 & 11 | ISE III | Level 2 | |
| C2 | Grade 12 | ISE IV | - |