AO of the year

ESOL Skills for Life

So, you are interested in our ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) Skills for Life qualifications for your learners. 

Here at ESB, our ESOL Skills for Life qualifications which include speaking and listening, reading and writing assessments are designed for individuals, above the age of 16 years, who live, study or work in the United Kingdom and who wish to develop their English Language skills. 

We promote and assess English language in a wide range of educational centres. Learn more about the skills your learners can develop, the outcomes they can expect and the captivating ESB experience that awaits them on this page!

Our ESOL Skills for Life Portfolio

Our ESOL Skills for Life qualifications are a clear path for English language success and are available at five different levels. Any level may be selected depending on your learners’ needs.  Each level builds, step by step, on their development from the previous level. Online resources and sample materials are also available to guide and support teachers throughout the ESB experience.

We have an accessible suite of qualifications from Entry 1 to Level 2 to boost your learners’ progression and employability.

For more information about the levels of qualifications on offer within our ESOL Skills for Life portfolio, we have a thorough overview available by following the links below:

ESB Entry Level Awards in
ESOL Skills for Life (Entry 1)

Click on each link above to download the relevant qualification specification. Fees are per learner.

ESB Entry Level Awards in
ESOL Skills for Life (Entry 2)

Click on each link above to download the relevant qualification specification. Fees are per learner.

ESB Entry Level Awards in
ESOL Skills for Life (Entry 3)

Click on each link above to download the relevant qualification specification. Fees are per learner.

ESB Level 1 Awards in ESOL Skills for Life

Click on each link to download the relevant qualification specification. Fees are per learner.

ESB Level 2 Awards in ESOL Skills for Life

Click on each link to download the relevant qualification specification. Fees are per learner.

To see a full list of our ESOL Skills for Life qualifications, click ‘read more’ below:

Qualification Name Level Ofqual Qualification No.
ESB Pre-Entry Level Assessment in Speaking and Listening Pre-Entry Unregulated
ESB Entry Level Award in ESOL Skills for Life (Reading) (Entry 1) Entry 1 601/5469/X
ESB Entry Level Award in ESOL Skills for Life (Reading) (Entry 2) Entry 2 601/5471/8
ESB Entry Level Award in ESOL Skills for Life (Reading) (Entry 3) Entry 3 601/5411/1
ESB Level 1 Award in ESOL Skills for Life (Reading) Level 1 601/5473/1
ESB Level 2 Award in ESOL Skills for Life (Reading) Level 2 601/5490/1
ESB Entry Level Award in ESOL Skills for Life (Speaking and Listening) (Entry 1) Entry 1 601/5445/7
ESB Entry Level Award in ESOL Skills for Life (Speaking and Listening) (Entry 2) Entry 2 601/5447/0
ESB Entry Level Award in ESOL Skills for Life (Speaking and Listening) (Entry 3) Entry 3 601/5407/X
ESB Level 1 Award in ESOL Skills for Life (Speaking and Listening) Level 1 601/5465/2
ESB Level 2 Award in ESOL Skills for Life (Speaking and Listening) Level 2 601/5467/6
ESB Entry Level Award in ESOL Skills for Life (Writing) (Entry 1) Entry 1 601/5470/6
ESB Entry Level Award in ESOL Skills for Life (Writing) (Entry 2) Entry 2 601/5472/X
ESB Entry Level Award in ESOL Skills for Life (Writing) (Entry 3) Entry 3 601/5444/5
ESB Level 1 Award in ESOL Skills for Life (Writing) Level 1 601/5474/3
ESB Level 2 Award in ESOL Skills for Life (Writing) Level 2 601/5483/4
ESB Entry Level Certificate in ESOL Skills for Life (Entry 1) Entry 1 601/5541/3
ESB Entry Level Certificate in ESOL Skills for Life (Entry 2) Entry 2 601/5540/1
ESB Entry Level Certificate in ESOL Skills for Life (Entry 3) Entry 3 601/5537/1
ESB Level 1 Certificate in ESOL Skills for Life Level 1 601/5543/7
ESB Level 2 Certificate in ESOL Skills for Life Level 2 601/5544/9

Learners working towards our ESOL assessments can attain the vital skills that support engagement in daily life, lead to further learning and education, and gain meaningful and sustainable employment. Our ESOL Skills for Life and ESOL International qualifications assess all four skills and are all externally assessed by trained and standardised markers and assessors. There are ESB ESOL Skills for Life qualifications from Entry 1 to Level 2, ESB ESOL International qualifications from B1 to C2, and Pre-Entry Speaking and Listening assessments, enabling every learner to realise their potential, whatever their circumstances.

Coming away with a whole list of new-found skills is something ESB prides itself on – but what is it actually like to do an ESB Assessment? Well, the overriding message that we hear from our learners, teachers and tutors is … it’s a whole lot of fun!

Time after time, learners come out of their assessment saying, ‘Can I do that again please?’ To hear that comment is music to our ears as we are passionate about providing not only a beneficial experience – but a rewarding one. Set in a group context, to facilitate listening and responding, our assessments are tailored to the individual. 

Here are just some benefits of the ESB experience:

Flexible bookings

Assessments can be booked at a time and date to suit you. Speaking and Listening assessments can be booked up to four weeks in advance, and Reading and Writing assessments can be booked up to 48 hours before the assessment date.

Fantastic Assessors

Our team of flexible assessors come from all walks of life but they share a common goal – to bring out the very best in every learner. Sympathetic to each individual’s background and situation, from the moment an assessor meets your learners, provision for ongoing support and encouragement is given. Their input is invaluable to the overall ESB experience. They are annually standardised to make sure that their marking is consistent and that they bring to every assessment session a passion for ESB’s core values of providing supportive and enjoyable assessments.

Learner Focused

All our assessments are built with the learners’ interests at heart. Assessments are carried out in pairs, so your learners will feel comfortable and well-supported.

Fast Results Turnaround

We make it a priority to send results and certificates out to centres quickly. Results are accessible in a master document. Our turnaround for results is five working days, or ten working days in our Peak Periods (May, June and July).

External assessments

Speaking and Listening assessments take place at your centre and are delivered by our team of supportive, experienced assessors. Reading and Writing assessments are also completed at your centre and sent to be marked by ESB. This gives you more time for teaching, and you can rest assured that your learners will be assessed accurately according to ESB criteria.

Personalised reports

Every Speaking and Listening learner receives a written report with personalised feedback about their performance.

Let the ESB experience enrich your learners’ lives and give them the opportunity to shine!

Here at ESB, the learner is not a performer of studied pieces, but a person taking their place in society as a worker, a citizen. We do not only assess what a learner knows or says, but what they have become. Below are just some of the benefits that learners can attract through ESB ESOL Skills for Life qualifications:

How much do ESB assessments cost?

At ESB, we try and keep our prices reasonable but yes, there is a cost for our assessments. This fee pays for ESB’s wonderful assessors who encourage and support your learners to develop key communication skills, the assessment itself and the delivery of your learners’ results and certificates.

  • ESB’s ESOL Skills for Life Reading Assessments (Entry 1 – Entry 3) are priced at £15.00 per learner and (Level 1 – Level 2) are priced at £16.00 per learner.
  • ESB’s ESOL Skills for Life Writing Assessments (Entry 1 – Level 2) are priced at £15.00 per learner and (Level 1 – Level 2) are priced at £16.00 per learner.
  • ESB’s ESOL Skills for Life Speaking and Listening Assessments range from £42.00 per learner at Entry 1 to £54.00 per learner at Level 2.

*Academic Year 2023 – 2024

A priority for ESB is to support as many disadvantaged groups as possible from the charity and community sectors, as well as educational centres. Financial support may be available for some centres. If you would like to find out about the financial support that ESB could offer your centre, please click here or contact a member of our Business Development Team.

Please click here to view our Prices page.


Frequently asked questions about our ESOL Skills for Life qualifications

1. What is the minimum advanced booking period?

The minimum advanced booking period is 28 days for ESOL SfL Speaking and Listening assessments and 2 days for Reading and Writing assessments.

2. Can I amend my booking if circumstances have changed since I made it?

We pride ourselves on our flexibility at ESB and recognise that there may be the need to make alterations even after the learners’ names and details have been uploaded to My ESB. Centres are able to modify the following to their existing booking: the qualification(s), date/time, number of sessions and number of learners. Please be aware that charges may apply depending at what time the amendments are made (to find out more, visit our prices page) and that substantial amendments that require reassignment of assessors may not be possible. Please note that assessors have no authority to sanction changes and cannot enter learners on the day of the assessment, or change the level at which they have been entered.

3. Does a member of my centre’s staff need to be in attendance for the assessment?

A centre-approved adult must be present for an assessment with learners under the age of 18 or with vulnerable adults. Please refer to our Safeguarding information on our website referring to working with children, young people and vulnerable adults to verify the instances when an approved adult is required. This information is also in your Centre Handbook.

4. Do my learners need to show ID if they are over 18? Who checks this at ESB?

It is the centre’s responsibility to check that each learner over the age of 18 presents photo ID on the day of the assessment, ensuring that the learners for each assessment are those who have been registered on MyESB. It is not the assessor’s responsibility to check learners’ ID. Acceptable forms of identification include a passport or other photo ID issued by a government or local authority, a photo driving licence or a UK Armed Forces photo ID card. Learners who fail to provide ID should not be prevented from sitting their assessment, but they will not be resulted until valid ID is confirmed by your centre.

5. We have female learners who cover their faces. Do they have to uncover for the S&L assessment?

No. It is the centre’s responsibility to ensure the learner’s identity and the assessment will take place as normal.

6. Do I need to import my learner details onto MyESB prior to the assessment date?

Centres must import their learner details onto MyESB prior to the assessment date. It is important to enter all learner names as they should appear on the certificate. Failure to do this correctly may incur a charge after certification.

7. Do my learners need their Unique Learner Numbers?

All learners entered for an assessment at a state-funded school/college in England need a Unique Learning Number (ULN). The ULN is a 10-digit number unique to every learner and can be obtained by schools/colleges from the Learning Records Service (LRS). ULNs are not mandatory for private learners or students who are under the age of 14, attend schools/colleges outside of England or attend non-state funded (independent) schools or colleges. For more information, please visit the LRS and Department for Education (DfE) website Accessing your personal learning record – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Neurodiverse learners and those with special educational needs and disabilities

8. How do I apply for a Reasonable Adjustment for my learners?

If you would like to apply for a Reasonable Adjustment for your learner/learners, please select the Reasonable Adjustment when you register your learners on My ESB. There is information about the accommodations that are available, a matrix so you can identify adjustments to support your learners and guidance documents on the Reasonable Adjustments area of the website. If you have any queries regarding the reasonable adjustments application, please email product@esbuk.org.

9. What evidence do we need to apply for a reasonable adjustment?

Examples of evidence are a relevant diagnostic report, a Cognassist Diversity Assessment Report (Inclusive Organisation Partnerships – Cognassist), a statement of learning needs or medical condition from appropriately qualified personnel. We also take into account the learner’s normal way of working and statements from your support staff. Reasonable Adjustments are specific to the learner, and we encourage tutors to work with us to implement the best and fairest accommodation, so email product@esbuk.org to discuss any individual applications.

10. When should we apply for a Reasonable Adjustment?

As soon as you know your learner may require an accommodation in class and in the assessments, contact us to discuss the options and to ensure that your learner can prepare for the assessments accordingly, e.g. using modified papers.


Preparing for your assessments
11. What is the pass mark?

There is not a pass mark, but learners have to achieve every assessment criterion once to achieve the qualification. There are two or three opportunities to attempt every criterion, depending on the level and the skill. The details are in the Specifications for the Award.

12. Are there any sample papers?

There are samples on the website for each level. There are some Reading and Writing papers that are only available to tutors at ESB centres, with a password that is available from product@esbuk.org.


Planning the assessment day
13. Should I contact the assessor before the assessment date?

A centre organiser or tutor should contact their assessor in advance of the assessment to confirm start time and to finalise details such as directions, parking, etc. It is also advisable to liaise with the assessor to confirm the timetable for the day including any breaks. This is an opportunity for the organiser to clarify any questions they may have about the assessment and to provide any informal information that the assessor may need to be aware of.

14. S&L assessments are carried out in pairs. What if I have an odd number of learners?

You will need to timetable a ‘dummy’ or non-assessed learner to make up the pair. This should be a learner who has already taken their assessment at the same level or one level above. In the unlikely event that there is no ‘dummy’ available please speak to your assessor who will be able to work with you for the best solution. The non-assessed learner will complete the assessment as an assessed partner would, but does not need to complete the Listening task in Section 4.

15. How do we work out the timetable for the S&L assessments?

Use the guided time for each assessment in the qualification specification and you can use the timing guidance document on the Plan your Assessment page on the website. Add up to 5 minutes between pairs to allow for learners to enter and leave the assessment room. Liaise with your assessor to arrange any break times.

16. Can the learners use pen and paper during the S&L assessments?

Yes. Centres should provide pen and paper for learners which they can use throughout the assessment, as necessary. Centres are advised to discourage learners from making excessive notes as this does affect their communicative / listening skills.

17. How many questions should learners ask in the S&L assessment for Task 1?

There is not a set number of questions. It is very dependent on the complexity of the questions and the confidence in which candidates ask them. The assessor may prompt for additional questions if necessary or, equally, thank candidates for their questions and move on.

18. Do L1 and L2 learners need to use visual aids for their talk in Task 2?

No. This is not mandatory, but some learners like to use VAs as a prompt for the content. Also, effective use of VAs can add interest to a talk and help clarify points made

19. Can learners use prompt cards for their prepared talk?

Learners may use bullet points or brief notes, but these must be shown to the assessor before the talk. It is more authentic and natural for the learners to use brief notes than to learn their talks by rote. Reciting from memory can negatively affect pronunciation and creates unnecessary stress for the learner.

20. Can L1 and L2 learners stand for their presentation?

If they feel more comfortable presenting in this way then this is perfectly acceptable. It is not necessary, however.

21. How will assessors play the audio for the Listening task in section 4?

For this year (2024) assessors will carry CDs, so you can provide a CD player. Assessors can also play the audios from a secure site, so you can provide a computer, log in access and suitable speakers.


After the assessment
22. How do I apply for a Special Consideration for my learners?

If you would like to apply for a Special Consideration for your learners, a Special Consideration Form can be downloaded from the Special Considerations area of the website.

23. Can a learner who missed their assessment through illness re-apply?

A centre can make an application on behalf of a learner who missed their assessment due to illness for re-entry within six months of the original assessment for half the normal fee of that assessment. The application must be made within 30 days of the original assessment date and include a medical certificate, along with the learner’s details, and be sent to our Customer Experience Team. Please refer to our Absence Through Illness Policy.

24. When will I receive my learners’ results

You will receive your learners’ results 5 working days after the assessment date. However, during the peak period of 1st May – 31st August, this will be 10 working days for Reading and Writing assessments.

25. Can I appeal a learner/group of learners’ results?

If a centre is dissatisfied with results awarded to a learner/group of learners, they should raise an enquiry with our Customer Experience Team. The enquiry should never be made to the assessor directly and should be made within 15 working days of receiving their results. To find out how ESB manages centre enquiries, please refer to our Enquiries, Complaints and Appeals Policy.

26. When will I receive my learners’ certificates?

All successful learners receive a certificate. Certificates will be dispatched to centres within 10 working days of results being issued. To allow for sampling and standardisation procedures, results cannot be regarded as final until confirmed by certification.

27. Can I request replacement certificates for my learners?

A centre may request a replacement certificate for their learners if they have lost or damaged their certificate. Please refer to our Replacement Certificate Policy.

28. Can I apply for an over-arching Certificate in ESOL Skills for Life for my learners?

Yes. You can apply for a Certificate in ESOL Skills for Life if your learners have three Awards at the same level, or at different levels, either all from ESB International, or from ESB and another awarding organisation. This falls under our Recognition of Prior Learning policy and you can find the forms to apply for an individual learner or for a group of learners on the website here. Each Certificate costs £7.

29. Can learners use ESOL Skills for Life qualifications for visas for the UK?

No. The Home Office only recognises Secure English Language Tests (SELT) and no Skills for Life qualifications are on the approved list, because of funding rules and the requirements for SELT providers.

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