IELTS vs Trinity ISE

What is Trinity?

Trinity’s ISE is a multi-skills qualification that provides evidence of your English language communication skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening)

Why Trinity?

The Trinity ISA is recognised and accepted in the UK, Ireland and is an internationally recognised exam which provides reliable evidence of your English skills and proficiency

About the Exam

The exam is divided into two modules: reading & writing module and listening & speaking module. The test modules can be taken together or separately.
There are five levels of the ISE exam: ISE0, ISEI, ISEII, ISEIII, ISEIV. These levels refer to the A2, B1, B2, C1, C2 levels of the CEFR.

What is CEFR?

Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is an international standard for describing language ability, which the Trinity ISA a has been formally calibrated to.

Typical requirements for university degree programmes in the UK are:

• ISE II (CEFR B2) – RQF Level 1/ EQF Level 2
• ISE III (CEFR C1) – RQF Level 2/ EQF Level 3
• ISE IV (CEFR C2) – RQF Level 3/ EQF Level 4

It is used around the world to describe learners’ language skills. Trinity’s ISE and GESE qualifications have been formally calibrated to the CEFR.

What is the difference between ILETS and ISE?

The IELTS exam and the Trinity ISE serve the same purpose i.e. providing evidence of your English skill set to your chosen university.

They are structurally similar:

 What is the difference? Is one easier than the other?

Of course, this a difficult and subjective question and very much down to opinion, as both exams adhere to the European framework levels. However, one discernible difference is that the Trinity ISE strives to use real-life situations to test candidates’ skills which perhaps supports the argument that it makes the subject matter more familiar than possible IELTS subject matter. In addition, there are other elements that tend to be unique to the ISA:

1. The reading is connected to the writing. Candidates have to use the texts from Reading Task 2 to write a text in the following writing task.
2. Listening is evaluated during the speaking exam.
3. All the listening is done 1-to-1 with the examiner following the speaking exam. There’s no paper, no multiple-choice questions.
4. The first part i.e. the Topic Task speaking can be prepared ahead of time.
5. Trinity also explains what topics are possible in the different exams, so you can prepare for them.

If you require further information about Trinity Exams or IELTS Exams please contact us at [email protected]