Trinity College London ESOL
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 500,000 candidates in over 60 countries each year.
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:
Graded Examinations in Spoken English (GESE)
The Graded Examinations in Spoken English (GESE) test candidates' ability in listening and speaking. , There are four Stages with three Grades at each Stage:
- Grades 1-3 (Initial stage)
- Grades 4-6 (Elementary stage)
- Grades 7-9 (Intermediate stage)
- Grades 10-12 (Advanced stage)
Integrated Skills in English (ISE)
Integrated Skills in English examinations (ISE) assess all four language skills - Speaking, Writing, Listening and Reading – interacting with each other as they do in the real world making them suitable assessments for many business and academic organisations. There are five ISE levels – ISE 0, ISE I, ISE II, ISE III, ISE IV.
ISE is accepted by academic institutions in the UK as evidence of English language proficiency for International students.
Learners can choose to take ISE exams on their own or combine them with the spoken grades (GESE) as they progress in their English language abilities.
Spoken English for Work (SEW)
The Spoken English for Work (SEW) examination is a work-related Speaking and Listening examination based on the candidate's chosen sector and available at four levels corresponding to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). The exams are designed for anyone aged 16 and above who is already working or is preparing to enter the world of work. This qualification is being withdrawn by Trinity. The last exams dates are in November 2017.
UK ESOL Examinations
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 National Qualifications Framework (NQF). Trinity is the only examinations board to also offer pre-NQF assessments (non-accredited) in Speaking and Listening – ESOL Step 1 and Step 2.
ESOL Skills for Life is externally assessed by a Trinity examiner.
ESOL for Work certificates
These assessments are offered in Speaking and Listening, Reading and Writing and are available at two levels of competence: Entry 3 and Level 1 on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). The Writing component of Unit 2 is assessed at a level below Speaking and Listening and Reading.
ESOL for Work is externally assessed by a Trinity examiner.
Teaching Qualifications (TESOL/TEFL)
Trinity College London also offers TESOL (Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages) qualifications - this is also known sometimes as TEFL or TESL qualifications. Trinity's TESOL qualifications are widely recognised by employers and authorities around the world.
Qualifications range from those starting out in a teaching career to senior teaching and management posts.
- Trinity CertTESOL - for those with little or no experience of teaching English.
- Trinity LTCL DipTESOL - for those with at least 2 years experience.
- Trinity Cert IBET - Certificate in International Business English Teaching
- Trinity FTCL - Fellowship Trinity College London (TESOL)
- Trinity CertTEYL - Certificate in Teaching English to Young Learners.
- Trinity Joint CertTESOL - Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.
Trinity also offers Further Education (FE) qualifications, accredited by Standards Verification UK (formerly FENTO):
- Trinity DTLLS - Diploma for Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector (English ESOL) - for the UK only
Inquirers should check that course providers listed as validated as of July 2006 are still validated by Trinity College London.
Academic Recognition
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, 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 0 | 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.
Link to Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR)
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 SEW | Trinity ESOL Skills for Life | Trinity ESOL for Work |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n/a | Grade 1 | - | - | - | - |
| A1 | Grade 2 | - | - | Entry 1 | - |
| A2 | Grade 3 & 4 | ISE 0 | - | Entry 2 | - |
| B1 | Grade 5 & 6 | ISE I | SEW 1 | Entry 3 | Entry 3 |
| B2 | Grade 7, 8 & 9 | ISE II | SEW 2 & 3 | Level 1 | Level 1 |
| C1 | Grade 10 & 11 | ISE III | SEW 4 | Level 2 | - |
| C2 | Grade 12 | ISE IV | - | - | - |