ISE - Integrated Skills in English exams

Transferable skills for study and employment

Trinity's Integrated Skills in English (ISE) is a contemporary four skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening) qualification recognised by governments and institutions as providing reliable evidence of English language proficiency.

Preparing for ISE helps develop authentic communicative and transferable skills that are required for academic study and employability, such as synthesising information, participating in interactive discussions and presenting on topics of personal interest.

Two exam modules offer flexibility

There are two exam modules – Reading & Writing and Speaking & Listening. These can be taken together or separately, depending on whether you are taking the exam in a Trinity Registered Exam Centre, or in a UK Trinity SELT Centre.

The Reading & Writing module is taken as a written exam in registered centres.

One-to-one, face-to-face Speaking & Listening assessments can be taken in person or via live video conference in exam centres.

More about Video Conference

Mapped to the CEFR

ISE proficiency levels are calibrated to the Common European Framework of Reference for languages (CEFR) and are available at five levels: ISE Foundation (A2), ISE I (B1), ISE II (B2), ISE III (C1), ISE IV (C2)*.

_{*ISE IV has a different format to ISE at CEFR levels A2-C1}

Exam comparison

Click here to see how Trinity’s Integrated Skills in English (ISE) exam compares to other well-known four skills English Language exams.

Guides, resources and teaching materials

ISE is designed to support classroom teaching and maps easily to general English language curricula and coursework and Trinity provides a wide range of guidance and resources including coursework Schemes of Work for each level.

  ISE Foundation (A2)  

   ISE I (B1)  

  ISE II (B2)  

  ISE III (C1) 

  ISE IV (C2)

Reliable evidence of skills

Trinity's ISE qualifications provide individuals and institutions with reliable evidence of the use of integrated English language skills at different levels from beginner to advanced. Read more about the research leading to CEFR alignment and learner profiles. 

Our ISE exams are regulated by Ofqual in the UK - see regulatory information. They are listed on the UK's Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) and are aligned with the European Qualifications Framework (EQF). Find out more at Certificate information.

Trinity's ISE A2-C2 exams have been awarded the ALTE Q-mark by the Association of Language Testers in Europe demonstrating that they meet strictest of quality criteria.

Recognised and accepted

ISE is a UK government government-approved test for settlement and visa application purposes when taken at a Trinity SELT Centre.

If you are preparing for ISE as a Secure English Language Test (SELT) for visa or other purposes in the UK, please visit UK visa tests,

ISE qualifications are used as robust evidence of English language proficiency and are recognised by an ever growing number of universities, governments and institutions around the world. Read more about international Recognition of Trinity's English language qualifications.

ISE is a suitable exam for students at the end of study-abroad courses, such as the Italian PON-funded programme.

Find out more about PON in the UK, Ireland and Malta 

Overview video

Book exams

• To book exams in registered centres visit exam administration
• To book ISE as a SELT test in the UK for visa, immigration or other SELT purposes, visit our UK SELT test pages

“We chose Trinity ISE because
of its focus on authentic
communicative skills.”

Peter Lahiff, Academic Director
Future Learning, Ireland