Duration5 Minutes
Trinity GESE Grade 1
Trinity GESE Grade 1 (Beginner: Pre-A1) is a speaking and listening exam for people taking their first steps in English, including adults and younger learners. In a one-to-one conversation lasting up to five minutes, candidates greet the examiner, answer simple questions about themselves, and name familiar objects or colours. They can show understanding with a short answer or an action, such as pointing to an object when asked.
FormatOnline
Entry level(Beginner: Pre-A1)
What you need to know
Exam Information
Exam Overview
Grade 1 is the first level of Trinity College London’s Graded Examinations in Spoken English (GESE). It is suitable for adults and younger learners who are beginning to communicate in English. At this level, candidates show that they can understand a simple question or instruction and respond with a familiar word, a short phrase, or an appropriate action.
What Happens During the Exam
The exam consists of one conversation with a Trinity examiner lasting up to five minutes. It begins with a greeting, such as “Hello” or “Good morning.” The examiner then asks short questions and gives simple instructions, sometimes using pictures or objects to make the meaning clear. Candidates give brief answers, follow instructions, and say goodbye at the end.
Conforming to the CEFR
The GESE scale spans twelve tiers: Grades 1-12 (Pre-A1-C2 CEFR degrees).Clustered by developmental phase, the GESE exams facilitate a progressive framework for English language proficiency growth, thereby ensuring an evaluative measure for all students. * Grades 1-3 – Initial stage: Pre-A1-A2.1* Grades 4-6 – Fundamental stage: A2.2-B1.2* Grades 7-9 – Intermediate stage: B2.1-B2.3* Grades 10-12 – Advanced stage: C1.1-C2
Speaking About Yourself and Your Surroundings
As candidates are given leeway to plan discussions centred around their personal interests and perspectives during the examination, it stokes the flames of learning and promotes natural speech. This manner of preparation aids in equipping them to remain composed and perform to their optimum in the exam.
Listening and Following Instructions
Candidates can also demonstrate understanding through an action. If the examiner says, “Point to the blue bag,” the candidate can point to it. This checks whether they understand the instruction, recognise the object, and distinguish its colour. Preparation includes listening for common action words such as show, give, and touch, as well as question phrases such as what, how many, and how old.
Vocabulary, Grammar, and Pronunciation
Grade 1 vocabulary covers familiar objects, clothing, colours, common animals, parts of the face and body, and numbers up to 20. Candidates use simple grammar to communicate meaning. For example, “It’s my bag” combines the verb to be with a word showing ownership, while “Two bags” shows the plural form. Pronunciation practice focuses on saying familiar words clearly enough for the examiner to understand them.
