ESB International confirms qualification fees for 2026/27
At ESB International, we are committed to delivering high-quality, accessible English language qualifications that support learners, centres and communities across the UK and internationally.
As we look ahead to the 2026/27 academic year, we want to share an important update regarding our qualification fees.
A balanced approach in a challenging climate
We recognise that any fee increase can have an impact on our centres and learners. That’s why we have taken a measured and considered approach when setting our prices for the year ahead.
In 2025/26, ESOL qualifications experienced the highest average inflation rate of any vocational or technical subject area, at 8.1%.
Despite this, ESB International did not increase its fees, absorbing rising operational costs to support our centres.
For 2026/27, while some increases are necessary, we are pleased to confirm that:
- The overall average price increase across ESOL Skills for Life qualifications is 5%, significantly below the 8.1% sector average
- Some qualifications remain frozen
- Some fees have been reduced
This reflects our ongoing commitment to balancing sustainability with accessibility.
ESOL Skills for Life: maintaining value and quality
Across our ESOL Skills for Life portfolio, we have taken a targeted and proportionate approach to pricing, ensuring increases remain below sector trends while maintaining the high-quality service our centres rely on.
Academic Year 2026/27 Prices
| Qualification | Entry 1 | Entry 2 | Entry 3 | Level 1 | Level 2 | |||||
| Reading | £15 | £16 | £15 | £16 | £15 | £16 | £16 | £17 | £16 | £17 |
| %Change | 🔺7% | 🔺7% | 🔺7% | 🔺6% | 🔺6% | |||||
| Writing | £15 | £16 | £15 | £16 | £15 | £16 | £16 | £17 | £16 | £17 |
| %Change | 🔺7% | 🔺7% | 🔺6% | 🔺6% | 🔺6% | |||||
| Speaking & Listening | £42 | £45 | £44 | £45 | £45 | £45 | £49 | £52 | £54 | £52 |
| %Change | 🔺7% | 🔺2% | 🔸- | 🔺6% | 🔻4% | |||||
What’s included in the fee?
We understand that value is just as important as price. ESB International fees are designed to provide a comprehensive, end-to-end assessment service, supporting centres at every stage of delivery.
For Reading and Writing qualifications, fees include:
- External marking of all assessments
- Robust quality assurance and standardisation
- Consistent application of national standards
- Results processing and administrative support
For Speaking & Listening qualifications, fees also cover:
- Delivery of assessments by trained ESB assessors
- Assessor travel and logistics, coordinated nationally
- External assessment and timely results release
- Comprehensive quality assurance to ensure consistency and reliability
This full-service model reduces the administrative and delivery burden on centres, while ensuring learners receive a fair, consistent and high-quality assessment experience.
My centre is joining ESB International in the 2026/27 academic year, will we be affected by the price changes?
No – new centres joining ESB International in the 2026/27 academic year will remain on 2025/26 pricing, provided centre registration is completed before 1 September 2026.
Does ESB International offer set pricing for Online ESOL Skills for Life Speaking & Listening assessments?
Yes – we introduced a new pricing tier for online Speaking & Listening assessments to add even greater flexibility to our external ESOL offering. Entry 1, 2 & 3 qualifications are priced at £40.00, and Level 1 & 2 qualifications are priced at £48.00. If you would like to discuss delivering ESOL Skills for Life qualifications online, please contact us.
UK Speech Qualifications
For 2026/27, UK Speech (Oracy) qualification fees have been increased by around 3% on average, reflecting rising delivery and operational costs.
However, we are pleased to confirm that fees for international centres delivering UK Speech qualifications will remain frozen, ensuring continued accessibility for our global partners.
To see a full list of prices, please see our Qualification Prices and Centre Fees page.
Looking ahead
We recognise the pressures facing the sector and remain committed to supporting our centres through a period of ongoing cost challenges.
By taking a balanced and transparent approach to pricing, we aim to ensure that ESB qualifications continue to offer excellent value, trusted assessment and meaningful progression opportunities for learners.
We are grateful for your continued partnership and trust in ESB International.
If you have any questions about these changes or would like to discuss your delivery plans for the 2026/27 academic year, our team is here to help.
