{"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":"2026-01-21T11:48:34","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T11:48:34","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
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
What is right for you?<\/th>
Internal<\/th>
External<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Reading and Writing<\/strong><\/td>
YOU print papers<\/li>
YOU provide and train staff to mark assessments<\/li>
YOU provide and train staff to moderate assessments<\/li>
YOU host and pay for external verification<\/li><\/ul><\/td>
YOU print papers\u200b<\/li>
WE mark assessments\u200b<\/li>
WE standardise markers annually\u200b<\/li>
WE guarantee that all borderline and unsuccessful papers will be moderated<\/li><\/ul><\/td><\/tr>
Speaking & Listening<\/strong><\/td>
YOU provide and train staff to conduct assessments<\/li>
YOU provide and train staff to mark assessments<\/li>
YOU provide and train an internal verifier to moderate assessments\u200b<\/li>
YOU host and pay for external verification<\/li><\/ul><\/td>
WE send an assessor to your venue<\/li>
WE train, standardise and moderate the assessor<\/li>
OUR assessor results your learners against a standardised criteria\u200b<\/li>
WE create, print and send your learners\u2019 certificates<\/li><\/ul><\/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
\n
\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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
\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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
\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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
\n
\n
But aren\u2019t external assessments more expensive than internal equivalents?<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
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<\/div>\n\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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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
\n
\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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
\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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
\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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
\n
\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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
\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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
\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/esbuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Location-Pin-Icon.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/esbuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Approval-icon-50px.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/esbuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Regulated-Qualification-icon-50px.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/esbuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Customer-Experience-Icon.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/esbuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Assessment-day-icon-50px.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/esbuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Stopwatch-icon-50px.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/esbuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Assessor-confirmed-icon-50px.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/esbuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Annual-training-icon-50px.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/esbuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Register-icon-50px.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/esbuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Dudley-CollegeDCT-Colour-Logo-22cm-x-13cm-1.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/esbuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Distribute-icon-50px.png\"){kind=icon}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/esbuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Equality-icon-50px.png\"){kind=icon}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/esbuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Policy-icon-50px.png\"){kind=icon}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/esbuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Planning-icon-50px.png\"){kind=icon}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/esbuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Results-icon-50px.png\"){kind=icon}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/esbuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Skills-for-Life-icons-5opx.png\"){kind=icon}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/esbuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/School-icon-50px.png\"){kind=icon}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/esbuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Gears-icon-2-50px.png\"){kind=icon}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/esbuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Question-mark-icon-50px.png\"){kind=icon}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n