Our newly developed ESOL assessment papers are now available.
This year’s update incorporates a small number of changes following Ofqual’s 2022 review of ESOL Skills for Life qualifications and assessments.
These changes are:
- Amendments to multiple-choice questions in the Entry 1 listening assessment to include an additional distractor to reduce the guessability of questions.
- Changes to the layout of the mark schemes for both speaking and writing.
- Additional guidance in the mark schemes for Entry 1 writing to support their consistent application.
With effect from Monday 4th March 2024, the following papers will be retired and introduced. Please check the below information carefully:
Writing
ESOL – Writing – Entry 1
Retired: BA, BB, BC, BD, BE
New: CA, CB, CC, CD, CE
ESOL – Writing – Entry 2
Retired: BA, BB, BC, BD, BE
New: CA, CB, CC, CD, CE
ESOL – Writing – Entry 3
Retired: BA, BB, BC, BD, BE
New: CA, CB, CC, CD, CE
ESOL – Writing – Level 1
Retired: BA, BB, BC, BD
New: CA, CB, CC, CD
Reading
ESOL – Reading – Entry 1
Retired: BA, BB, BC, BD, BE
New: CA, CB, CC, CD, CE
ESOL – Reading – Entry 2
Retired: BA, BB, BC, BD, BE
New: CA, CB, CC, CD, CE
ESOL – Reading – Entry 3
Retired: BA, BB, BC, BD, BE
New: CA, CB, CC, CD, CE
ESOL – Reading – Level 1
Retired: BA, BB, BC, BD
New: CA, CB, CC, CD
Speaking and Listening
ESOL – Speaking and Listening – Entry 1
Retired: BA, BB, BC, BD, BE
New: CA, CB, CC, CD, CE
ESOL – Speaking and Listening – Entry 2
Retired: BA, BB, BC, BD, BE
New: CA, CB, CC, CD, CE
ESOL – Speaking and Listening – Entry 3
Retired: BA, BB, BC, BD, BE
New: CA, CB, CC, CD, CE
ESOL – Speaking and Listening – Level 1
Retired: BA, BB, BC, BD
New: CA, CB, CC, CD
ESOL – Speaking and Listening – Level 2
Retired: BA, BB, BC
New: CA, CB, CC
The last date candidates can sit retired papers is Friday 1st March 2024.
Individual award claims can be made at any point due to the on demand nature of the ESOL assessments. We appreciate that Centres need the flexibility to claim as fits with their own awarding process.
We advise Centres to plan for this change accordingly and suggest that all registrations for current assessment papers are completed by Friday 2nd February 2024.
Please be aware that it is your responsibility to ensure that this message is communicated to all members of staff who require this information. Should you have any queries regarding this information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Level 2 Reading and Writing papers are also being refreshed. As they are externally marked, they will be released at our discretion, based on demand.
*Originally published 10th January. Updated to clarify when Centres can claim certificates.