{"id":1053,"date":"2025-09-19T09:34:02","date_gmt":"2025-09-19T08:34:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/18.134.14.60\/wordpress\/?page_id=1053"},"modified":"2026-05-27T15:16:04","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T14:16:04","slug":"external-esol-skills-for-life","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/esbuk.org\/index.php\/esol-skills-for-life\/external-esol-skills-for-life\/","title":{"rendered":"What are External ESOL Skills for Life assessments?"},"content":{"rendered":"

What are External ESOL Skills for Life assessments?<\/h1>\n\n\n

Unlike the majority of other Awarding Organisations who offer accredited ESOL Skills for Life assessments, English Speaking Board (International) Ltd. not only creates the qualifications and exam papers, but also assesses, marks and certificates learners <\/strong>\u2013 benefits that are all included in the price each learner\u2019s qualification. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why choose external assessments?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Our external assessments are designed to reduce many of the burdens centres experience during busy exam periods. External assessments offer many benefits over an internal model<\/strong>, as ESB International as the Awarding Organisation assumes many of the responsibilities that would otherwise be under the centre\u2019s remit<\/strong>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reading and Writing Responsibilities<\/th>If you use an Internal AO<\/th>If you use ESB<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Assessment papers are printed at your <\/strong>centre…<\/td>\u2705<\/td>\u2705<\/td><\/tr>
Assessments are marked by your<\/strong> staff…<\/td>\u2705<\/td>\u274c<\/td><\/tr>
You <\/strong>pay to train and moderate exam markers…<\/td>\u2705<\/td>\u274c<\/td><\/tr>
You <\/strong>pay for external verification…<\/td>\u2705<\/td>\u274c<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Speaking & Listening Responsibilities<\/th>If you use an Internal AO<\/th>If you use ESB<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
You <\/strong>provide and train staff to conduct the assessment…<\/td>\u2705<\/td>\u274c<\/td><\/tr>
You <\/strong>provide and train staff to mark the assessment…<\/td>\u2705<\/td>\u274c<\/td><\/tr>
You <\/strong>provide and train staff to moderate the assessment…<\/td>\u2705<\/td>\u274c<\/td><\/tr>
You <\/strong>host and pay for external verification…<\/td>\u2705<\/td>\u274c<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What is included in the price of an ESOL Skills for Life qualification?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Travel and
logistics<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Our assessors travel to your venue for Speaking & Listening assessments, no matter where it is in the UK.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Quality
Control<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

All Reading and Writing papers are marked to uniform criteria by markers who are continually standardised. All borderline papers are moderated.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Accredited
certificates<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

We create, print and dispatch a physical certificate to every learner following a successful pass for any mode of assessment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Aren’t external assessments more expensive than internal equivalents?<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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While internal qualifications may appear cheaper at first glance, the hidden costs<\/strong> quickly add up<\/strong>. External assessments eliminate the need for time-consuming internal marking and moderation, reducing lost hours for your teaching staff<\/strong>. Internal assessments often require significant investment in staff training and verification, which can make them less cost effective than external equivalents<\/strong>.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ESB International is transparent about its prices and centre fees, and we do not invoice until the next working day after the assessment<\/strong>, giving our centres the flexibility to manage their budgets more effectively. You can find a full list of our centre fees here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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What makes ESB International different from other providers?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You simply won\u2019t find a more personable, supportive or responsive provider of ESOL Skills for Life qualifications in the UK. Our centres benefit from:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rapid, responsive support<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

We focus on a close, supportive and proactive working relationship with our centres. We resolve 96.3% of all centre queries in just 48 hours.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Flexible, on-demand assessments<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Just 2 days\u2019 notice required<\/strong> for Reading and Writing assessments, and you can change learners\u2019 names up until 24 hours before the assessment.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Fast results and certificates<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Results are delivered within 5 days<\/strong> (10 days during peak season) and certificates within 10 days, 99% of the time.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Personalised
reports<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Personalised reports <\/strong>and feedback are provided for all learners <\/strong>who complete Speaking & Listening assessments. Learners who are unsuccessful in Reading and Writing are also advised which assessment criteria to work on.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Friendly, standardised assessors<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Our assessors are recruited from a community of ESOL practitioners and experts and are annually standardised and moderated.<\/strong> They are friendly, sympathetic to learners\u2019 backgrounds and skilled at bringing out their full potential.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Secure, trusted assessments<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Our markers and assessors are standardised annually and regularly moderated. Our pass rates reflect the excellence of our centres and learners, and the security of our assessment criteria.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Fast Track service<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

We understand that some ESOL Skills for Life learners may face unexpected relocation whilst they are working towards their ESOL Skills for Life qualifications. To support these learners, we offer a dedicated fast track service<\/strong> whereby Reading and Writing assessments can be scheduled more flexibly to help these learners gain the qualifications they need without delay. If you would like to hear more about our fast-track offering, please contact our Product Team<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why ESB International is the preferred choice for external ESOL Skills for Life provision<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cExceptional\u201d. \u201cEfficient\u201d. \u201cElevate\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“Our experience with ESB has been exceptional<\/strong>. They have successfully combined quality with efficiency<\/strong>, which has allowed us to elevate<\/strong> our ESOL programme. We\u2019re pleased with the positive feedback from learners and look forward to continuing our journey with ESB”.<\/p>\nMichael Killin<\/strong>,
ESOL Curriculum Manager
Dudley College of Technology<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Dudley College<\/strong>, one of the valued institutions in our ESOL community, has spoken in glowing terms of their recent transition to ESB International from another Awarding Organisation offering external ESOL Skills for Life assessments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Read full testimonial from Dudley College<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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How easy is it to switch to ESB International from another Awarding Organisation? <\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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All of our ESOL Skills for Life qualifications are aligned to the Adult ESOL Core Curriculum<\/strong>, so you won\u2019t need to change your schemes of work or the levels to which your learners are currently working towards. We recognise spiky profiles, so your learners can complete the Reading, Writing or Speaking & Listening Award that is right for them and get an overarching certificate<\/strong>. If your learners have already achieved an Award from another organisation, they can put it towards their All-Modes Certificate<\/strong> from English Speaking Board (International) Ltd. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Go External, Go ESB<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Deliver trusted, learner\u2011focused External Assessments<\/strong> with ESB\u2019s ESOL Skills for Life qualifications. We work in partnership with centres to support fair, communicative assessment that builds confidence and progression for adult learners across the UK. Become an ESB centre<\/strong> today, or connect with us to find out more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n