Level system

Click on a level for more information. (View scope and sequence.)

Common European
Framework
TOEIC
(Listening and Reading)
TRINITY GESE TRINITY ISE
A1 Basic user 0 - 200 GESE 2
GESE 1

Pre-Elementary (A1)

This is the start of your journey. Learn basic English, including numbers, the alphabet and essential vocabulary. Very soon you will be able to:

  • find specific information on leaflets and timetables
  • understand and make simple sentences
  • introduce yourself and speak about yourself, your family and where you are from
  • speak about your day-to-day life, your plans for the future and things that you did in the past.

At the end of the course you will be able to ask for information, go shopping, go to a restaurant and write simple emails – all in English!

Common European
Framework
TOEIC
(Listening and Reading)
TRINITY GESE TRINITY ISE
A2 Basic user 200 - 400 GESE 4
GESE 3
ISE Foundations

Elementary (A2)

If you have studied English for a year or so, this could be the right course for you! After finishing this course you will be able to:

  • talk about where you live, and compare it to other places
  • describe your daily life, occupation or studies, and talk about your interests and hobbies
  • give opinions and speculate about the world around you
  • understand and give instructions to describe how something is done.

At the end of this course you will have everything under control when you plan your next trip to London or New York, or when an English-speaking friend comes to visit you!

Common European
Framework
Cambridge English
Qualifications
IELTS TOEFL
(paper)
TOEFL
(computer)
TOEIC
(Listening and Reading)
TRINITY GESE TRINITY ISE
B1 Independent user PET (BEC Preliminary) 4.0 - 4.5 500 - 530 0 - 30 440 - 500 GESE 5

Lower Intermediate (B1)

If you pass the Lower Intermediate course, it means you will:

  • be able to express yourself on familiar topics such as family, hobbies and jobs
  • have enough vocabulary to communicate in everyday familiar situations
  • be able to initiate and maintain a simple face-to-face conversation on the topics that interest you, such as hobbies or jobs
  • understand texts which contain everyday or job-related language and write simple texts on familiar topics
  • understand the main points of simple "standard" speech on familiar matters.

You're not quite ready to apply for your dream job in the United States, but you're getting there.

Common European
Framework
IELTS TOEFL
(paper)
TOEFL
(computer)
TOEIC
(Listening and Reading)
TRINITY GESE TRINITY ISE
B1+ Independent user 4.5 - 5.0 530 - 550 30 - 45 500 - 600 GESE 6 ISE I

Mid-Intermediate (B1+)

After you've finished your Mid-Intermediate course you will:

  • have sufficient knowledge of the language to describe common situations, and be able to present the main points of an idea and describe events in a simple manner
  • be able to understand general texts which express ideas in a straightforward way and write personal letters which describe events, desires and feelings
  • have the ability to formulate long pieces of continuous writing with details and factual information, or a description of simple events
  • be able to understand longer stretches of speech and more complex messages in a familiar context.

You are not fluent yet, but you will dare to talk to strangers in exotic places!

Common European
Framework
Cambridge English
Qualifications
IELTS TOEFL
(paper)
TOEFL
(computer)
TOEIC
(Listening and Reading)
TRINITY GESE TRINITY ISE
B2 Independent user FCE (BEC Vantage) 5.5 - 6.0 550 - 580 45 - 78 600 - 690 GESE 7

Upper Intermediate (B2)

If you successfully complete the Upper Intermediate course, you will:

  • have a sufficient knowledge of the language to describe people, places and processes, and express opinions and develop arguments using both basic structures and some complex forms
  • have a wide range of vocabulary for general topics and your job
  • be able to contribute to group discussions and maintain a conversation with native speakers
  • understand reports and articles about contemporary issues
  • be able to present an argument or information in writing following standard layout conventions
  • understand longer stretches of speech and the main points of discussions that are clearly expressed.

You are now at the point where you start amazing yourself with the amount of English you can understand – and express.

Common European
Framework
IELTS TOEFL
(paper)
TOEFL
(computer)
TOEIC
(Listening and Reading)
TRINITY GESE TRINITY ISE
B2+ Independent user 6.0 - 6.5 580 - 630 78 - 100 690 - 780 GESE 9
GESE 8
ISE II

Pre-Advanced (B2+)

At this level you are able to confidently express yourself in English. At the end of the course you will:

  • be able to understand virtually all conversations, as well as many television programmes and films
  • understand most complex factual and literary texts as well as texts on fields that you are not familiar with
  • be able to communicate effectively in different situations as well as use a wide range of vocabulary
  • be able to write clear and well-structured texts in an appropriate style.

You are well on your way to being able to consider working in an English-speaking country.

Common European
Framework
Cambridge English
Qualifications
IELTS TOEFL
(paper)
TOEFL
(computer)
TOEIC
(Listening and Reading)
TRINITY GESE TRINITY ISE
C1 Proficient user CAE (BEC Higher) 7.0 - 8.0 630 - 670 100 - 115 780 - 880 GESE 11
GESE 10
ISE III

Advanced (C1)

You are now starting to think and dream in English. Upon successfully finishing the Advanced course, you will have:

  • a wide range of language to select from in order to express yourself
  • a good command of idiomatic expressions and colloquialisms
  • the ability to use the language effectively for social purposes and adjust the register accordingly
  • the ability to express yourself orally in a clear, fluent and well-structured manner
  • an understanding of long and complex factual and literary texts
  • the ability to note differences in style
  • no problems writing about complex subjects in a clearly organised, coherent way, and understanding the majority of spoken language in virtually all contexts.

You are now extremely confident when speaking and writing. You don't really think about how to say things – you just say them.

Common European
Framework
Cambridge English
Qualifications
IELTS TOEFL
(paper)
TOEFL
(computer)
TOEIC
(Listening and Reading)
TRINITY GESE TRINITY ISE
C2 Proficient user CPE 8.5 - 9.0 670+ 115 - 120 880 - 990 GESE 12 ISE IV

Proficiency (C2)

At this level you are approaching mastery of the language in terms of the degree of precision, appropriateness and ease with the language typical of highly successful learners. After completing the Proficiency course you will be able to:

  • thoroughly understand virtually everything you read or hear, including abstract, complex texts such as manuals, specialised articles and literary works
  • summarise information from a variety of sources, and reconstruct arguments and accounts coherently and with ease
  • express yourself spontaneously with great speed and precision, differentiating finer shades of proficient meaning, even in complex situations
  • backtrack and restructure around difficulties so smoothly that other people are hardly aware of it
  • manage discussions smoothly and with ease, in a style that is appropriate to the context and with an effective and logical structure
  • interact with ease and skill, picking up and using non-verbal and intonational cues apparently effortlessly, and to contribute to joint discourse with fully natural turn taking, referencing and allusion making.

You have now attained a level of English whereby you speak and write effortlessly and with a high degree of control when expressing the finer shades of meaning and a considerable familiarity with idiomatic expressions and colloquialisms.