Trinity GESE Grade 5 is a 10-minute speaking and listening exam for adults and younger learners. It has two parts of up to five minutes each. First, the candidate discusses a topic they have chosen. Then the examiner selects two familiar subjects for conversation. In both parts, candidates develop their answers, give reasons, respond when the examiner asks for clarification, and ask at least one relevant question in each part

Before the exam, the candidate completes a topic form with five discussion points about a subject that interests them, chosen outside the six conversation subjects listed below. For example, a candidate could choose My community garden, as pictured in the thumbnail. Their five points could cover why they joined, how long they have been involved, what they have grown, which gardening task they prefer, and how they think the garden will change.

The examiner chooses where to begin and uses the points on the form to guide the discussion. If asked, “How long have you worked in the garden?”, the candidate might say, “I’ve helped there since March. I prefer working on Saturdays because more neighbours come.” This answer gives a fact, adds a personal preference, and explains it. A related question such as “Have you ever grown vegetables?” invites the examiner into the conversation.

The examiner chooses two of six areas: festivals, transport, special occasions, entertainment, music, and recent personal experiences. Candidates draw on their own lives. In a conversation about transport, for example, the examiner might ask how the candidate usually travels and why. The candidate could explain, “I’d rather take the train because I can read on the way,” then ask, “How do you prefer to travel?”

Grade 5 focuses on describing experiences, saying how long something has continued, expressing preferences, giving reasons, talking about quantities, and making predictions. For example, I’ve just planted tomatoes describes a recent event, while I’ve grown vegetables for three years tells the listener how long an activity has continued. A candidate can also use will to make a prediction, as in “I think more people will join the garden next year.”

Candidates are expected to pronounce key words clearly and use natural contractions such as I’ve and I’d. A useful way to practise is to ask a partner to choose the five topic points in a different order and follow up with questions such as “Why?” or “How long?” This gives the candidate practice listening, choosing a relevant detail, and explaining it in their own words.