If you are looking to specialise in English Language Teaching, then it is important to become familiar with the international examinations which are available to students on different study pathways. Being an effective exam preparation teacher means knowing these exams inside out, and thinking about the ways that students can use them as part of their own study pathway.
It is also important to look at ESOL exams not just as a set of assessments to pass, but as a set of skills to develop in students. These important assessments are designed to mirror the range of knowledge and skills which may be necessary for students when they put them to use to gain entry into university, start work in an English-speaking environment, or move to an English-speaking country.
An effective exam preparation teacher also thinks about the above factors, and works to help students get the results that they want or need, but also takes them through the process of developing their skills and language in different areas.
As a first step, the sections below outline the main features of the most common international ESOL exam suites, Trinity GESE, ISE, IELTS and the Cambridge Suite, and what they can achieve for students. Useful links are included to look more deeply into the outcomes, scoring and features of the exams one by one.
There are two main examination authorities which deliver international ESOL exams: Trinity College London and Cambridge English. You can find a lot of resources from the websites of these providers, including exam specifications, study guides, notes for teachers and assessors, and example videos showing testing in progress. The Trinity and Cambridge exam suites are organised as follows:
Trinity College London
Graded Examination in Spoken English (GESE)
Purpose and recognition: The Trinity GESE is aimed at young learners and adults who would like confirmation of their level of spoken proficiency in English. It is taught and tested in many countries internationally, though its highest recognition is in Italy.
Structure and content: The GESE is a two-skills exam, focusing on speaking and listening skills assessment in an integrated approach. It takes a holistic approach to assessment of natural, authentic interaction based on picture or situation prompts, and tests for a range of interactive skills, rather than just accuracy of grammar or vocabulary. There is no specific way of preparing for assessments, and many of the test sections are initiated by the test-taker rather than the examiner. The exam lasts between 5 and 25 minutes, depending on the level of test being taken.
Scoring and levels: The GESE exam is scored on a scale from 1-12, and each level is mapped to the CEFR scale from A1 to C2, as follows:
Grades 1–3 - Initial stage: Pre-A1–A2.1
Grades 4–6 - Elementary stage: A2.2–B1.2
Grades 7–9 - Intermediate stage: B2.1–B2.3
Grades 10–12 - Advanced stage: C1.1–C2
Test-takers must enter at a specific grade, each of which has a different exam structure and content.
Trinity GESE pages: https://www.trinitycollege.com/qualifications/english-language/GESE
Integrated Skills in English (ISE)
Purpose and recognition: The Trinity ISE is a Secure English Language Test (SELT), which is used for visa applications for living, working and studying in the UK, and is recognised by over 4000 institutions in 35 countries as evidence of English language proficiency for overseas study.
Structure and content: The ISE is a four-skills exam, focusing on integrated speaking and listening (delivered in a similar way to GESE exams, as above), and integrated reading and writing tasks. The exam is split into two sections: Reading into Writing, which requires candidates to draw from multiple texts and create a summary or media-based text which incorporates key ideas, and Extended Writing, which requires candidates to write a longer essay style answer.
Scoring and levels: The ISE exam is divided into 6 levels, which correspond to the CEFR levels A1-C2. They are:
ISE A1 (CEFR A1)
ISE Foundation (CEFR A2)
ISE I (CEFR B1)
ISE II (CEFR B2)
ISE III (CEFR C1)
ISE IV (CEFR C2)
Institutions and visa authorities set the requirements for visas and employment purposes according to these levels, with ISE II being the most common requirement for entry onto international degree programmes.
Trinity ISE pages: https://www.trinitycollege.com/qualifications/english-language/ISE
Cambridge English
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
IELTS is the most popular international English exam in the world for the purposes of migration, university entrance, and proof of English level for a range of visa purposes. Each paper is taken on different dates at specific exam centres (SELT centres). There are two types of IELTS exam - General, for immigration and work purposes, and Academic, used specifically for university entry. Although used as proof of proficiency for university entrance all over the world, by far the biggest number of test-takers each year is in China.
Structure and content: It is a four-skills exam, with separate papers for reading, writing (data summary writing and argumentative writing), speaking and listening. There is only one version of the IELTS exam in each sitting, and scores are calculated from candidates’ performance on the same exam papers. Example papers can be found online, though take care to look at official Cambridge English exam versions, as there are many providers who create their own resources for exam preparation, which may not be an accurate representation of the test.
Scoring and levels: IELTS results are scored from Band 1 to Band 9, which are roughly mapped to the CEFR framework A1 - C2. Half bands are also awarded, and the most common level to gain entry to international English-language universities is 5.5-6.5 across all four skills. This may be lower for foundation-level university courses, and higher for post-graduate courses.
IELTS resources: https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams-and-tests/ielts/preparation/
Cambridge Young Learners Exams (YLE)
Purpose and recognition: Cambridge YL exams are intended for learners between 6 and 12 years old, and are designed as proof of language proficiency for schools and international institutions, as well as a way of making English study more motivating for young students.
They also act as a marker of progress, and help young learners to develop confidence in test situations through English. They are recognised worldwide and are delivered and tested very widely in YL settings globally.
Structure and content: The Cambridge YL exams are divided in to three categories: Starters, Movers and Flyers. These exams include sections focusing on real-world topics and communication at levels pre-A1 to A2.
The tests include sections on speaking, listening, and reading and writing, with simple questions requiring candidates to identify objects, introduce themselves, write short personal pieces, and answer comprehension questions. Most questions are based on picture or short text prompts.
Scoring and levels: There are 3 levels of Cambridge YL exam, which are mapped to the CEFR levels A1 and A2 as follows:
Starters: Pre-A1
Movers: Low A2
Flyers: A2+
There is no pass or fail in YLE exams, and every candidate receives a certificate marked with up to 5 shields to show their level of performance in each exam section (up to 15 shields total). This is designed to motivate students to work on specific areas of their English where they scored less highly.
Cambridge YLE pages: https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/qualifications-young-learners/
Cambridge Main Suite exams
Purpose and recognition: Cambridge main suite exams are predominantly popular in Europe, though are also studied and tested in other countries worldwide. They are generally used for confirmation of English level for professional or migration purposes, though not for academic study.
Structure and content: The Cambridge Main Suite exams each include five papers: Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening and Use of English. Test sections are very formulaic, though test a range of challenging aspects of language, especially in the Use of English section, which focuses on idiomatic and cultural uses of language, as well as comprehension, grammar and vocabulary.
Scoring and levels: The Cambridge Suite exams are split into several levels according to the level of students taking the exam:
Key English Test (KET): CEFR A2 to mid-B1
Preliminary English Test (PET): CEFR B1 to mid-B2
First Certificate in English (FCE): CEFR B2 to mid-C1
Certificate of Advanced English (CAE): CEFR C1 to mid-C2
Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE): CEFR C2
Scoring for the Cambridge Suite exams is part of the Cambridge English Scale, which runs from 100 - 250 on a scale mapped from CEFR A2 to C2, as above. Points are allocated on this scale to equal a recognised level according to the requirements of employers, visa authorities or schools.
Cambridge Suite exams by level: https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams-and-tests/qualifications/general/
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