ESOL International
Are you interested in offering our ESOL International qualifications at your organisation?
Our Chief Executive, Tina Renshaw, would be delighted to share with you how a globally recognised, online ESB ESOL International qualification from the ‘Awarding Organisation of the Year’, according to the Federation of Awarding Bodies, can positively impact your learners’ English language proficiency for education purposes and professional employment in the UK or elsewhere.
ESOL International with English Speaking Board (International) Ltd.
Why work with us?
ESB International operates a wide-ranging portfolio of internationally recognised, Ofqual regulated ESOL International qualifications from A1-C2 level, mapped to the Common European Framework.
ESB regularly ranks among the Top 50 UK-based Awarding Organisations offering vocational qualifications. We are a major exporter of qualifications, and according to Ofqual, ESB ranked 15th out of all the Awarding Organisations that awarded certificates internationally in 2022/23.
Globally recognised ESOL International qualifications since 2013
We certificate more than 40,000 learners annually
UK’s Federation of Awarding Bodies ‘Awarding Organisation of the the Year’ 2023
Innovative and accessible online assessments with rapid results
Supportive and proactive working relationship with our centres
Annually standardised local oral assessors who understand learners’ needs
Our ESOL International qualifications
| CEFR Level | Qualification number |
*GLH / TQT | Age range | AY 2024/25 price per learner** |
AY 2024/25 fast-track supplement |
Specification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | Unregulated | 200 / 220 hours | Children from age 11 to adult learners | £45.00 (online only) | £35.00 | Download |
| CEFR Level | Qualification number |
*GLH / TQT | Age range | AY 2024/25 price per learner** |
AY 2024/25 fast-track supplement |
Specification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A2 | Unregulated | 200 / 220 hours | Children from age 11 to adult learners | £45.00 (online only) | £35.00 | Download |
| CEFR Level | Qualification number |
*GLH / TQT | Age range | AY 2024/25 price per learner** |
AY 2024/25 fast-track supplement |
Specification | Resources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B1 | 500/3646/4 | 200 / 220 hours | Children from age 11 to adult learners | £53.00 (online only) | £35.00 | Download | Link |
| CEFR Level | Qualification number |
*GLH / TQT | Age range | AY 2024/25 price per learner** |
AY 2024/25 fast-track supplement |
Specification | Resources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B2 | 500/3647/6 | 300 hours / 330 hours | Children from age 11 to adult learners | £61.00 (online only) | £35.00 | Download | Link |
| CEFR Level | Qualification number |
*GLH / TQT | Age range | AY 2024/25 price per learner** |
AY 2024/25 fast-track supplement |
Specification | Resources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | 500/3648/8 | 250 hours / 275 hours | Children from age 11 to adult learners | £66.00 (online only) | £35.00 | Download | Link |
| CEFR Level | Qualification number |
*GLH / TQT | Age range | AY 2024/25 price per learner** |
AY 2024/25 fast-track supplement |
Specification | Resources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C2 | 500/3655/5 | 300 hours / 330 hours | Children from age 11 to adult learners | £71.00 (online only) | £35.00 | Download | Link |
*Guided Learning Hours / Total Qualification Time
**All prices are subject to oral assessors being recruited and contracted by centres to
deliver the speaking and listening part of the assessment. At least two assessors are required: one as an interlocutor and one as an assessor.
Who accepts ESB's ESOL International qualifications?
ASEP (Supreme Council for Civil Personnel Selection), Greece
UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) for C2 qualifications
Our memberships with the following organisations underlines our commitment to aligning with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR):
Associate member of ALTE (Association of Language Testers in Europe)
Institutional member of EALTA (European Association of Language Testing and Assessment
Supportive and proactive working relationships with our centres
ESB has established a trusted network of a number of high-quality international centres who manage a range of ESB language schools. We place great importance on fostering close, friendly, and proactive working relationships with our centres. Our commitment to responsiveness means that we consistently aim to address queries from centres within 48 hours. We work closely with our centres to provide the best possible experience for learners and staff.
Europalso (Greece)
“It’s always a pleasure to visit Greece and to meet members of the Europalso team who always make us feel so welcome. They work tirelessly to promote our ESOL International assessments in Greece since 2013.
The enthusiasm of the school owners is inspiring, and there is also the opportunity to gain feedback, which is extremely valuable to us at ESB. We now meet with Europalso colleagues quarterly to listen to how we can further support them and their students.
I am always humbled by the investment of parents and young people to fulfil their potential as they learn in preparation to take our ESB qualifications. The diligence, professionalism and care of their teachers, oral assessors, staff and Board of Europalso is ever present as is the friendship and kindness displayed whenever we visit Greece and meet so many of you.”
Ben Jackson,
Chief Assessor of ESB International
ESBinItaly
“I have been involved with the amazing ESBinItaly family since 2017. Having previously worked with other International Qualification Boards, I immediately noticed that ESB was different, being pleasantly surprised.
Apart from being a strict organisation with high standards, ESB makes the students feel at ease during their exams. The quality of its certifications has given ESB a leading role in the Italian market regarding linguistic qualifications.
ESB represents a solid reality in Italy with over 300 test centres, with many students who appreciate the quality of our certifications. I am extremely honoured to cover such a role and be part of the ESB family!”
Emma Esposito,
Director of ESBinItaly
ESBinSerbia
ESBinNorthMacedonia
“Since 2021, collaborating with ESB has guaranteed a very professional service throughout North Macedonia, offering our learners high quality and accessible assessments.
We have always found exceptional assistance and support from ESB’s professional and enthusiastic team. Its assessments have proven to be a gateway to success for our learners, whether they are aiming at career advancement, access to higher education or simply improving communication skills in English.
They grow, innovate and support development of meaningful skills. These are the distinctive traits of our partnership that we cherish greatly.”
Fabiana Pica, Representative for Serbia, North Macedonia and Malta
Online assessments
Our online assessments offer fully automated remote live proctoring through advanced AI technology. We utilise expert-led third-party platforms Cirrus Assessment and Proctorio for secure and valid delivery of assessments.
This online approach offers learners of all ages a more efficient and eco-friendly option to take their assessments from any location, and at any time. It ensures that they receive a tailored and accessible assessment experience without compromising on security or international recognition.
Our online platform ensures assessment results are delivered to centres within 10 days for the standard option and within 5 days for the fast track option.
- The Cirrus online assessment platform is easy for learners to use, has integrated anti-cheating technology and provides us with psychometric data so we can continually create better assessments. ESB International’s partnership with Cirrus ensures we have access to the latest high-stakes assessment security and technology.
- Proctorio is a leading proctoring platform than uses cutting-edge technology to ensure the integrity of online assessments. Our collaboration with Proctorio guarantees that all learners are tested fairly and the testing environment is secure.
Our Oral Assessors
Language schools often choose to deliver ESB qualifications because of our friendly and warm approach to assessment, with local oral assessors who have a deep understanding of their learners' needs, making them well-equipped to deliver the speaking and listening section. This personalised approach to assessment helps learners feel at ease and perform to the best of their ability.
Over 350,000 ESOL International certifications awarded since 2014.
650+ trained and standardised Oral Assessors who assess Speaking and Listening assessments.
40 highly-skilled markers who mark ESOL International assessments.
All ESB International oral assessors:
- are expert users of English, i.e. C2 on the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference)
- have extensive English language teaching experience
- hold a recognised TESOL qualification
- have deep knowledge and experience of teaching, learning and assessment on the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference)
- have extensive experience of applying assessment criteria to learners’ speaking and listening performances.
Oral assessors are regularly and frequently trained on the CEFR, assessment requirements and rating scales, and have to pass standardisation activities. Training and standardisation are delivered and assessed by ESB International.
To retain approval status, oral assessors must complete annual training and record their oral assessments for moderation purposes, ensuring a low-risk moderation outcome.
It is the centre's responsibility to communicate the arrangements for training, standardisation and moderation with oral assessors.
Frequently asked questions
ESB’s suite of qualifications for ESOL International can be found here. Please click on each qualification to download a detailed specification which is intended to support ESOL teachers and learners in the classroom which includes information on how the assessments are conducted and the range of language to be assessed. We offer unregulated qualifications for Young Learners aged 6 to 15 years old who wish to progress onto B1-C2 examinations.
Yes! Our ESB Entry Level 3 (B1), Level 1 (B2), Level 2 (C1) and Level 3 (C2) qualifications are recognised and regulated by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual). Our Level 3 Certificate in ESOL International C2 qualification also comes with the added attraction of gaining up to 36 UCAS points, a valuable incentive for learners wanting to access higher education in the UK.
Our regulated qualifications from B1-C2 are suitable for learners wishing to improve their level of general English for personal, academic or professional reasons.
There are no prior learning or formal qualification requirements for ESB ESOL International qualifications. Each qualification level in the ESB International ESOL qualification suite is a stand-alone qualification and learners are entered for listening, reading, use of English, writing and speaking at the same level. Tutors should ensure that the qualification level learners are entered for reflects their ability and needs.
Through a local, exclusive centre, ESB reduces much of the administrative burden on language schools by handling the administration of the results and certification.
Please see below the suggested number of hours for a learner to be taught by an English teacher, tutor or other appropriate provider of education or training, in preparing for these qualifications.
- B1: 200 hours
- B2: 300 hours
- C1: 250 hours
- C2: 300 hours
Please see below the suggested number of hours for a learner to be taught by an English teacher, tutor or other appropriate provider of education or training, in preparing for these qualifications.
- B1: 2 hours
- B2: 2 hours 30 minutes
- C1: 2 hours 40 minutes
- C2: 3 hours
Learners are assessed at every level in five core language skills. For Speaking: The face-to-face speaking examination takes place separately. The learner is assessed in pairs. In the event of an odd number of candidates, examinations may be conducted with three candidates.
- B1: 11 minutes
- B2: 11 minutes
- C1: 13 minutes
- C2: 15 minutes
If you intend to use an English language test in your immigration or nationality application, you must take a Secure English Language Test (SELT) in a SELT centre. Find out more here.
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