Do you need to get certified of the 4 skills? Then ISE (Integrated Skills in English) is your certificate!
Whether you are a teacher or a student, young or adult, you should choose this certificate because…
– It is available at five levels
– It has no expiry date.
– It evidences language communication skills and it is worldwide recognized.
There are different levels of certification based on the Common European Framekork.
ISE Foundation certifies level A2.
ISE I corresponds to level B1.
ISE II certifies level B2.
ISE III is level C1.
And ISE IV certifies level C2.
To see the students Facsheet click here.
Trinity’s ISE qualification is accepted by universities and higher education institutions in the UK and internationally .
STRUCTURE OF THE EXAMS
There are two exam modules you need to pass at each level:
- Reading and writing.
- Speaking and listening.
Reading and writing:
ISE FOUNDATION, ISE I, ISE II, ISE III
Task 1 — Long reading
Reading for the main idea
Reading carefully for facts or information
Reading carefully for details, deducing /working out meaning of unknown words
Task 2 — Multi-text reading
Reading for the main ideas or the purpose
Reading carefully for facts or information
Reading carefully for details, deducing/working out meaning of unknown words, summarising what you have read
Task 3 — Reading into writing
Reading for writing
Task fulfilment
Organisation and structure
Language control
Task 4 — Extended writing
Task fulfilment
Organisation and structure
Language control
Speaking and listening:
ISE FOUNDATION
Topic and Conversation tasks
Communicative effectiveness
Interactive listening
Language control
Delivery
Task 1 — Independent listening
Listening for information
Task 2 — Independent listening
Listening to get as much information as possible.
ISE I
Topic and Conversation tasks
Communicative effectiveness
Interactive listening
Language control
Delivery
Task 1 — Independent listening
Intensive ‘bottom-up’ listening
Intensive listening — in detail to gather as much information as possible
Task 2 — Independent listening
Intensive listening — for detailed understanding
Extensive listening — for gist, for main ideas and for global understanding
ISE II AND ISE III
Topic, Collaborative, Conversation tasks
Communicative effectiveness
Interactive listening
Language control
Delivery
Independent listening task
Intensive listening — in detail to gather as much information as possible
Intensive listening — for detailed understanding
Inferring attitude, intentions, viewpoints and implications
Deducing meaning
Identifying the difference between main and subsidiary points, supporting examples or details Identifying the difference between facts and opinions
Extensive listening — for gist, for main ideas and for global understanding
ISE IV
The ISE IV exam assesses integrated language skills across three exam components.
The Portfolio: A portfolio of a candidate’s written work put together during class time or individual study. (3 tasks)
The Controlled Written exam: A reading and writing exam taken under controlled conditions. (3 tasks)
The Interview: An oral interview (including a discussion of the portfolio) between a candidate and an examiner. (5 tasks)
To see more information about ISE IV click here.
CERTIFICATES
For each skill you can be awarded with distinction, merit, pass or fail.
ISE FOUNDATION, I, II AND III.
The total score for Reading is 30. Candidates will pass the reading part if they score at least 15 at ISE Foundation, ISE I and ISE II, and at least 16 at ISE III. They will achieve a Merit if they score 23 and a Distinction if they achieve 28 or higher.
The total scaled score for Writing is 28. Candidates will pass the writing part if they score at least 14 at ISE Foundation, ISE I and ISE II, and at least 15 at ISE III. They will achieve a Merit if they score 20 and a Distinction if they achieve 25 or higher.
The total score for Speaking is 16. Candidates will pass the speaking part if they score at least 8. They will achieve a Merit if they score 12 and a Distinction if they achieve 15 or higher.
The total score for Listening at ISE Foundation and ISE I is 8. Candidates will pass the listening part at these levels if they score at least 4. They will achieve a Merit if they score 5 and a Distinction if they achieve 7 or higher. The total score for Listening at ISE II and ISE III is 4. Candidates will pass the listening part at these levels if they score 2. They will achieve a Merit if they score 3 and a Distinction if they achieve 4.
ISE IV:
The visiting examiner will assess the portfolios before the Interviews take place using a five-point scale (A–E). (20%)
Two assessment criteria are applied in the Controlled Written exam, Task fulfilment and Accuracy and Range. For each task candidates are awarded two letter grades using a five-point scale (A–E). (30%)
The candidate’s speaking and listening skills are assessed in the Interview. The candidate’s performance is measured by means of one overall criterion, Task fulfilment. This is assessed in each phase of the Interview using a four-point scale (A–D). (50%)
To be awarded an overall pass grade, candidates must achieve a pass grade in both: the Controlled Written exam and Portfolio & the Interview.
There are three levels of pass:
Pass with Distinction
Pass with Merit
Pass.
Getting Certified in a Foreign Language 