TrinityGESEInfoSheets

Stage Grade Time Tasks

Grade 1 (minutes)
Examination format Initial 1 5 Conversation on Lexis
5 minutes 2 6 Conversation on Lexis
o greetings and 3 7 Conversation on Lexis
setting at ease
o conversation
o end of conversation and leave-taking.

Grammar
The candidate must understand:
o Imperatives for common actions, e.g. go, come, show, point, give, touch,
stand up
o Question words what? homany? hoold?
o Demonstratives this, that, these, those
The candidate must understand and use:
o The present simple tense of the verb to be
o Common nouns in singular and plural (regular and irregular), e.g.
shoe/shoes, foot/feet
o Simple adjectives, e.g. small, tall, green
o Determiners a, the, my, your, his, her
o Pronouns I, you, he, she, it, they

Lexis
The candidate must understand and use vocabulary related to:
o Personal information
o Immediate surroundings including classroom objects
o Basic parts of the face and body
o Common animals (domestic, farm and wild)
o Cardinal numbers up to 20
o Colours
o Everyday items of clothing

Language functions
o Exchanging greetings
o Giving personal information, e.g. name, age
o Identifying and naming items given in the lexical list below
o Leave-taking
TrinityGESEInfoSheets
Stage Grade Time Tasks
Grade 2 (minutes)
A1 CEFR Initial 1 5 Conversation on Lexis
2 6 Conversation on Lexis
3 7 Conversation on Lexis
Examination format
6 minutes
o greetings and setting at ease
o conversation
o end of conversation and leave-taking.

Grammar
The candidate must understand:
o Present simple tense questions
o Question words who? when?
o Present continuous tense questions
o Determiners some, any
The candidate must understand and use:
o Present simple tense
o There is/are and has/have got/have you got? Do you have?
o Question words where? how?
o Prepositions of place in, on, under, between, next to
o Determiners their, its
o Possessive pronouns mine, yours, his, hers
o Yes/no answers to present continuous tense questions

Lexis
The candidate must understand and use vocabulary related to:
o Rooms in the home o Possessions
o Household objects o Days of the week and months
o Family and friends of the year
o Pets o Cardinal numbers up to 50

Phonology
o The correct pronunciation of words relevant to the lexical areas listed
above
o Basic intonation patterns for simple questions
o Contractions, e.g. I’ve, I’m, he’s

Language functions
o Indicating the position of people and objects
o Describing people, animals, objects and places very simply
o Stating simple facts
o Informing about possessions
o Asking very simple questions about personal details
TrinityGESEInfoSheets

Grade 3 Stage Grade Time Tasks

A2.1 CEFR (minutes)
Initial 1 5 Conversation on Lexis
Examination format 2 6 Conversation on Lexis
7 minutes 3 7 Conversation on Lexis
o greetings and setting
at ease
o conversation
o end of conversation and leave-taking.

Grammar
The candidate must understand and use:
o Present continuous tense
o Can and can’t
o Prepositions of movement from, to, up, down, along, across
o Prepositions of time on, in, at
o Prepositions of place near, in front of, behind, opposite
o Past tense of the verb to be
o Link words and, and then

Lexis
The candidate must understand and use vocabulary related to:
o Jobs o Weather
o Places in the local area o Free time
o Place of study o Times and dates
o Home life o Ordinal numbers up to 31st for
dates

Phonology
o The correct pronunciation of words relevant to the lexical areas listed
above
o The use of contractions where appropriate
o Basic stress and intonation patterns for words, short sentences and
simple questions

Language functions
o Describing daily routines and times
o Giving dates
o Expressing ability and inability
o Giving very simple directions and locations
o Describing current activities of real people or those in pictures
o Describing states in the past
o Asking simple questions about everyday life
o
TrinityGESE
InfoSheets Stage Grade Time Tasks
(minutes)
Elementary 4-6 5 Discussion of Topic
Grade 4 5 Conversation on 2 Subjects
A2.2 CEFR

Examination format
10 minutes
o greetings and setting at ease
o discussion of a prepared topic*
o conversation on two subject areas
o end of conversation and leave taking.
* Please note candidates should not select their topic from the lists of subject
areas below

Grammar
o Past simple tense of regular and common irregular verbs
o Going to future
o Like + gerund/infinitive, e.g. I like shopping, I like to read books
o Adverbs of manner and frequency
o Comparatives and superlatives of adjectives
o Link word but

Lexis
o Adverbs of frequency, e.g. sometimes, often, never
o Adverbial phrases of frequency, e.g. every day, once a week
o Expressions of past time, e.g. yesterday, last night
o Phrases and expressions relating to the Language functions listed
above

Phonology
o Appropriate weak forms and intonation in connected speech
o Three different ways of pronouncing ‘ed’ past tense endings, e.g. played,
walked, wanted
o Avoidance of speech patterns of recitation

Language functions
o Talking about past events
o Talking about future plans and intentions
o Expressing simple comparisons
o Expressing likes and dislikes
o Describing manner and frequency

Subject areas for the Conversation phase

Two subject areas will be selected by the examiner from the list below.
o Holidays o Hobbies and sports
o Shopping o Food
o School and work o Weekend and seasonal
activities
TrinityGESE
InfoSheets Stage Grade Time Tasks
(minutes)
Grade 5 Elementary 4-6 5 Discussion of Topic
5 Conversation on 2 Subjects
B1.1 CEFR

Examination format
10 minutes
The examination consists of the following:
o greetings and setting at ease
o discussion of a prepared topic*
o conversation on two subject areas
o end of conversation and leave taking.
* Please note candidates should not select their topic from the lists of subject
areas below

Grammar
o Present perfect tense including use with for, since, ever, never, just
o Connecting clauses using because
o Will referring to the future for informing and predicting
o Adjectives and adverbials of quantity, e.g. a lot (of), not very much,
many
o Expressions of preference, e.g. I prefer, I’d rather

Lexis
o Expressions relating to past and future time, e.g. two days ago, in the
future
o Phrases and expressions relating to the Language functions listed
above

Phonology
o The combination of weak forms and contractions, e.g. I’ve been to...
o Avoidance of speech patterns of recitation

Language functions
o Talking about the future — informing and predicting
o Expressing preferences
o Talking about events in the indefinite and recent past
o Giving reasons
o Stating the duration of events
o Quantifying

Subject areas for the Conversation phase

Two subject areas will be selected by the examiner from the list below.
o Festivals o Entertainment, e.g. cinema,
o Means of transport television, clubs
o Special occasions, e.g. o Music
birthday celebrations o Recent personal experiences
TrinityGESE
InfoSheets Stage Grade Time Tasks
(minutes)
Elementary 4-6 5 Discussion of Topic
Grade 6 5 Conversation on 2 Subjects
B1.2 CEFR

Examination format
10 minutes
o greetings and setting at ease
o discussion of a prepared topic*
o conversation on two subject areas
o end of conversation and leave taking.
* Please note candidates should not select their topic from the lists of subject
areas below

Grammar
o Zero and first conditionals, using if and when
o Present continuous tense for future use
o Past continuous tense
o Modals connected to the functions listed above, e.g. must, need to,
might, don’t have to
o Infinitive of purpose

Lexis
o Further expressions relating to future time, e.g. the day after tomorrow,
in a year’s time,
o in … years’ time
o Common phrasal verbs
o Phrases and expressions relating to the Language functions listed
above

Phonology
o Sentence stress to clarify meaning
o Basic intonation and features of connected speech at sentence level
o Intonation patterns of more complex question forms
o Avoidance of speech patterns of recitation

Language functions
o Expressing and requesting opinions and impressions
o Expressing intention and purpose
o Expressing obligation and necessity
o Expressing certainty and uncertainty
o Describing past actions over a period of time

Subject areas for the Conversation phase

Two subject areas will be selected by the examiner from the list below.
o Travel o Rules and regulations
o Money o Health and fitness
o Fashion o Learning a foreign language
TrinityGESEInfoSheets

Grade 7
B2.1 CEFR Stage Grade Time Tasks
(minutes)
Examination format Intermediate 7 - 9 5 Discussion of Topic
4 Interactive Task
15 minutes 5 Conversation on 2 Subjects
o greetings and setting at
ease
o candidate-led discussion of a prepared topic*
o interactive task
o conversation on two subject areas
o end of conversation and leave taking.
* Please note candidates should not select their topic from the lists of subject
areas below

Grammar
o Second conditional
o Simple passive
o Used to
o Relative clauses
o Modals and phrases used to give advice and make suggestions, e.g.
should/ought to, could, you’d better
o Modals and phrases used to express possibility and uncertainty, e.g.
may, might, I’m not sure
o Discourse connectors, e.g. because of, due to
Lexis
o Appropriate words and expressions to indicate interest and
shoawareness of the speaker, e.g. Really? Oh dear! Did you?
o Simple fillers to give time for thought, e.g. well... um...
o Phrases and expressions relating to the Language functions listed
above

Phonology
o Rising intonation to indicate interest and surprise as appropriate
o Falling intonation to indicate the end of a turn
o Intonation and features of connected speech beyond sentence level

Language functions
o Giving advice and highlighting advantages and disadvantages
o Making suggestions
o Describing past habits
o Expressing possibility and uncertainty
o Eliciting further information and expansion of ideas and opinions
o Expressing agreement and disagreement

Subject areas for the Conversation phase

Two subject areas will be selected by the examiner from the list below.
o Education customs life
o National o Village and city o National and
local produce o Early memories o Pollution and
and products recycling
TrinityGESEInfoSheets

Grade 8 Stage Grade Time Tasks

B2.2 CEFR (minutes)
Intermediate 7-9 5 Discussion of Topic
4 Interactive Task
Examination format 5 Conversation on 2 Subjects
15 minutes
o greetings and setting at ease
o candidate-led discussion of a prepared topic*
o interactive task
o conversation on two subject areas
o end of conversation and leave taking.
* Please note candidates should not select their topic from the lists of subject
areas below

Grammar
o Third conditional
o Present perfect continuous tense
o Past perfect tense
o Reported speech
o Linking expressions, e.g. even though, in spite of, although
o Cohesive devices, e.g. so to continue, in other words, for example

Lexis
o Reporting verbs, e.g. say, tell, ask, report, advise, promise
o Appropriate words and expressions to encourage further participation
o Phrases and expressions relating to the Language functions listed
above

Phonology
o Rising and falling intonation to indicate giving up and offering turns
o Stress, intonation and pitch relevant to the Language functions listed
above
o Stress and intonation to indicate emotion

Language functions
o Expressing feelings and emotions
o Expressing impossibility
o Reporting the conversation of others
o Speculating
o Persuading and discouraging

Subject areas for the Conversation phase

Two subject areas will be selected by the examiner from the list below.
o Society and living standards events
o Personal values and ideals o National environmental
o The world of work concerns
o Unexplained phenomena and o Public figures past and present
TrinityGESE
InfoSheets Stage Grade Time Tasks
(minutes)
Grade 9 Intermediate 7-9 5 Discussion of Topic
4 Interactive Task
B2.3 CEFR 5 Conversation on 2 Subjects

Examination format
15 minutes
o greetings and setting at ease
o candidate-led discussion of a prepared topic+
o interactive task
o conversation on two subject areas
o end of conversation and leave taking.
* Please note candidates should not select their topic from the lists of subject
areas below

Grammar
o Mixed conditionals
o Verbs followed by gerund and/or infinitive, e.g. forget, stop, go on,
remember
o More complex forms of the passive with modals
o Should/must/might/could + perfect infinitive
o Correct verb patterns after wish and hope

Lexis
o Cohesive devices to recap and recover, e.g. as I was saying, anyway...
o Hesitation fillers, e.g. I mean, you know
o Stock phrases to gain time for thought and keep the turn, e.g. well, let
me think...
o Phrases and expressions relating to the Language functions listed
above

Phonology
o Rising and falling intonation for keeping, giving up and offering turns
o Stress and rhythm to highlight and emphasise main points and ideas
o Intonation and pitch to convey attitude

Language functions
o Expressing abstract ideas
o Expressing regrets, wishes and hopes
o Expressing assumptions
o Paraphrasing
o Evaluating options
o Hypothesising
o Evaluating past actions or course of events

Subject areas for the Conversation phase

Two subject areas will be selected by the examiner from the list below.
o Dreams and nightmares o Crime and punishment
o Technology o Global environmental issues
o Habits and obsessions o Design
TrinityGESEInfoSheets

Grade 10 Stage Grade Time Tasks

C1.1 CEFR (minutes)
Advanced 10 -12 5 Formal Presentation of Topic
Examination format 5 Discussion of Topic
25 minutes 5 Interactive Task
o greetings and setting 3 Listening Task
at ease 6 Conversation on 2 Subjects
o formal presentation of
a topic* prepared by the candidate
o discussion of the topic presentation with the examiner
o interactive task
o listening task
o conversation on two subject areas selected by the examiner
o end of conversation and leave-taking.
* Please note candidates should not select their topic from the lists of subject
areas below

Language functions
o Developing an argument
o Defending a point of view
o Expressing beliefs
o Expressing opinions tentatively
o Summarising information, ideas and arguments
o Deducing
Grammar
o A broad range of complex structures to express thoughts clearly
o A high degree of grammatical accuracy, although minor errors may occur
when attempting to use a combination of structures across sentence
boundaries
Lexis
o A range of idiomatic expressions and colloquialisms
o Modifying words, e.g. basically, quite, certainly
o Intensifiers, e.g. absolutely, completely, totally
o Tentative expressions, e.g. I may be wrong but... Don’t you think it might
be...
o Signposting words, e.g. firstly, finally
o Phrases and expressions relating to the Language functions listed

Phonology
o Sounds with minimal interference from the first language
o A range of stress and intonation patterns, pitch and volume to:
– engage and maintain the examiner’s interest
– signal the provision of neinformation
– indicate discourse structure.
Subject areas for the Conversation phase
Two subject areas will be selected by the examiner from chosen list below.
LIST A o Communication
o Roles in the family o The school curriculum
o Youth behaviour o Equal opportunities
o Use of the internet o Social issues
o Designer goods o The future of the planet
o o Scientific developments
o OR LIST B o Stress management
o International events
TrinityGESE
InfoSheets Stage Grade Time Tasks
(minutes)
Grade 11 Advanced 10 -12 5 Formal Presentation of Topic
C1.2 CEFR 5 Discussion of Topic
5 Interactive Task
Examination format 3 Listening Task
25 minutes 6 Conversation on 2 Subjects
o greetings and
setting at ease
o formal presentation of a topic* prepared by the candidate
o discussion of the topic presentation with the examiner
o interactive task
o listening task
o conversation on two subject areas selected by the examiner
o end of conversation and leave-taking.
* Please note Grade 11 candidates should not select their topic from the lists of
subject areas below

Grammar
o A broad range of complex structures, used flexibly and effectively in
combination and contrast
o A high degree of grammatical accuracy, errors are rare and difficult to
identify

Lexis
o A good range of idiomatic expressions and colloquialisms
o Signposting expressions, e.g. I’d like to begin with... Conversely... To
conclude...
o Vague and imprecise language, e.g. a bit more, a hundred people or so
o Phrases and expressions relating to the Language functions listed

Phonology
o Various features of pronunciation which only occasionally deviate from
an internationally intelligible model
o A range of stress and intonation patterns, pitch and volume to convey
subtle shifts in meaning and attitude

Language functions
o Justifying an argument
o Inferring
o Expressing caution
o Expressing empathy and sympathy
o Challenging arguments and opinions
o Evaluating different standpoints
o Expressing reservations

Subject areas for the Conversation phase

Two subject areas will be selected by the examiner from the chosen list
below
LIST A OR LIST B
o Independence o The media
o Ambitions o Advertising
o Stereotypes o Lifestyles
o Role models o The arts
o Competitiveness o The rights of the individual
o Young people’s rights o Economic issues
TrinityGESEInfoSheets

Grade 12
Stage Grade Time Tasks
C2 CEFR (minutes)
Advanced 10 -12 5 Formal Presentation of Topic
Examination format 5 Discussion of Topic
25 minutes 5 Interactive Task
o greetings and 3 Listening Task
setting at ease 6 Conversation on 2 Subjects
o formal
presentation of a topic prepared by the candidate
o discussion of the topic presentation with the examiner
o interactive task
o listening task
o conversation on two subject areas selected by the examiner
o end of conversation and leave-taking.

Grammar
o A comprehensive and reliable mastery of a very wide range of language
to formulate thoughts precisely, give emphasis and eliminate ambiguity
o Differing linguistic forms to reformulate ideas and convey finer shades of
meaning
o Complete and consistent grammatical control of highly complex
language at all times

Lexis
o A good command of a very broad lexical repertoire
o A wide range of idiomatic expressions and colloquialisms
o Phrases and expressions relating to the Language functions listed
above

Phonology
o Produce individual sounds so as to be fully understood by the examiner,
with only a rare sound that deviates from an internationally intelligible
model
o Stress and intonation patterns which are recognisably specific to English
without any lapses in intelligibility

Language functions
o Asserting
o Denying
o Softening and downplaying propositions
o Contradicting
o Implying
o Affirming

Subject areas for the Conversation phase

There are no specific subject areas for Grade 12.