English Speaking Board (International) Ltd. – a trusted provider of ESOL Skills for Life qualifications
ESB International would be delighted to tell you about the impact an ESOL Skills for Life qualification can have on your learners – and how our external assessments free up more time for your tutors.
We create, result and certificate regulated ESOL Skills for Life qualifications. Our qualification are designed for learners aged 16 and above living, studying and working or preparing to work in the UK.
Watch our ESOL Skills for Life qualifications in action – see why learners and centres choose ESB International.
Our ESOL Skills for Life portfolio is regulated by Ofqual from Entry 1 to Level 2 and we also offer a non-accredited Pre-Entry qualification, the ideal gateway into the world of ESOL for beginners.
Our qualifications provide a holistic approach to improving English language skills, as learners are able to develop their speaking, listening, reading and writing through assessments contextualised to everyday life. Our assessment materials are relevant for learners of all ages and backgrounds, and are designed to interest and engage young people and adults wherever they are in their lives and learning journeys.
More than 25+ illustrious further education and community institutions offer our ESOL Skills for Life qualifications.
We certificate more than 16,000+ ESOL Skills for Life learners annually
We were named the Awarding Organisation of the Year in 2023 by the Federation of Awarding Bodies.
Our ESOL Skills for Life qualification portfolio
| Qualification | Accredited? | Available Modes | Specifications | More Information | Resources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Entry Level Award in ESOL Skills for Life | No |
|  Speaking & Listening |  | |
| Entry Level Award in ESOL Skills for Life (Entry 1) | Yes |
| Reading Writing Speaking & Listening | | |
| Entry Level Award in ESOL Skills for Life (Entry 2) | Yes |
| Reading Writing Speaking & Listening | | |
| Entry Level Award in ESOL Skills for Life (Entry 3) | Yes |
| Reading Writing Speaking & Listening | | |
| Level 1 Award in ESOL Skills for Life | Yes |
| Reading Writing Speaking & Listening | | |
| Level 2 Award in ESOL Skills for Life | Yes |
| Reading Writing Speaking & Listening | | |
Our ESOL Skills for Life qualification prices
| Level | Reading | Writing | Speaking & Listening |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Entry | N/A | N/A | £33.00 |
| Entry 1 | £15.00 | £15.00 | £42.00 |
| Entry 2 | £15.00 | £15.00 | £44.00 |
| Entry 3 | £15.00 | £15.00 | £45.00 |
| Level 1 | £16.00 | £16.00 | £49.00 |
| Level 2 | £16.00 | £16.00 | £54.00 |
What funding is available for our ESOL Skills for Life qualifications?
ESB International encourages its centres to explore the funding options available to them when booking our assessments.
For most mainstream education institutions, like Further Education colleges, our qualifications are approved for funding by the Education Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). To find out more, we have a full guide available for you
We are proud to run our own fund, named after our founder Christabel Burniston, that can assist centres in the voluntary and community sectors should they require help with qualifications and/or training fees.
Our partnerships and associations
We are engaged in ESOL conversations of national importance, working with the following institutions:
Partners of National Association for Teaching English and Community Languages to Adults (NATECLA)
Associate Member of the Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE)
Institutional Member of the European Association of Language Testing and Assessment (EALTA)
Carry on reading
What are external assessments?
Our ESOL centres and learners
Our ESOL Skills for Life qualifications
Frequently asked questions