Page 26 - ELG1704 Apr Issue 446

DATA & ANALYSIS

At a glance: comparison between ISE and Ielts

SELT EXAMS UK ISE IELTS
Type of Exam Proficiency – academic focus Proficiency – academic or general focus
SELT ISE I, II and III available as SELT For Tiers 1, 2 and 4 visa applications
For Tiers 1, 2 and 4 visa applications
Number of SELT centres 10 SELT centres throughout UK 14 SELT centres throughout UK, 250+ worldwide
Availability 7 days a week in the UK, book online Varies, look online
Exam focus Four skills authentic communication Four skills competence
Age range 11+ 16+
Cost UK SELT price £180. Refer to centres for total price UK SELT price £200 for UKVI. Refer to centres for total price
Modular Yes, 2 modules (can be taken separately): Yes, 4 modules (not normally taken separately):
Speaking & Listening, Reading & Writing Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening
NB for SELT both modules have to be taken on the same day at NB Speaking test may be delivered on different day
the same centre
Scale Separate exams at five levels directly correlated to CEFR, from One exam applied to all levels marked on a scale 1–9 correlated
A2 to C2. Candidates can only pass at level taken to CEFR. All candidates receive grade
Target candidate Young person or adult Adult student, professional or migrant
Speaking Increase in number of tasks and duration with level 3-part oral interview
• Discussion of a personalised topic (all levels) • General questions on familiar topics
• Conversation based on listed topic (all levels) • Presentation with Task card prompt and preparation time.
• Collaborative task (ISE II and above) - responding to situational • Examiner and candidate(s) discuss issues relating to previous
prompt topic
• Formal presentation followed by discussion of topic (ISE III and IV)
Listening Tested with speaking Tested as a separate skill
ISE I two recordings played twice (Academic) Four recordings each played once (Academic/General)
• Task 1: listen twice then orally answers 6 questions • 6 task types including multiple choice, matching, map or
• Task 2: listen once then orally report what text is about. diagram labelling, notes or tables, sentence completion, short
Listen again then orally reports 6 facts from text, then answer 4 answer
questions about the text
ISE II and above, one recording (Academic)
• Task 1: Listen once then orally report what task is about
• Task2: Listen again then orally give information from text
following examiner question
Reading Tested with Writing Tested as a separate skill
2 texts Academic Reading, 3 authentic texts, 40 questions
One long text (15 questions) and one multi-text (15 questions) • General interest topics, variety of styles
• Multi-text reading of familiar types, e.g. blogs, reviews, emails • Non-verbal materials e.g. graphs, diagrams
etc. • Variety of tasks including multiple choice, true/false, identifying
• Always includes an infographic opinions, multiple matching, sentence completion, summary,
diagram labelling
Writing Tested with Reading Tested as a separate skill
2 tasks. Subjectively scored Academic Writing, 2 tasks
• Task 1: Reading into Writing. Task based on topic from multi- • Task 1: Describing visual information in 150 words
text reading (see above) • Task 2: Response to opinion, argument or problem in 250
• The reading into writing assesses the candidates’ ability to words
read across texts and apply into writing, giving a true indication Assessed on task response, coherence and cohesion, lexical
of skill integration. resource, grammatical range and accuracy
• Task 2: Extended writing (length depends on level)
Task accessibility Tasks designed to be accessible to candidates All tasks are commonly used in language classrooms
Scoring information available Available on Trinity website Live rating scales are not available to the public
Use of scripts in Speaking No Part 1 is from a script in order to ensure consistency
Feedback – test taker Yes No (arguably bans score is diagnostic)
diagnostic reporting
Feedback – teachers / centres Yes No
Support materials Yes Yes
Free practice tests available Yes Yes
online
Published materials Yes, third party Yes, third party and related parties (British Council, Cambridge
English)
Online verification system Yes Yes
Time to receive certificate within 14 days (SELT) 6-8 wks (non-SELT) 13 days after test, preview results online
Certificate Overarching Certificate = fail, pass, merit or distinction Scores for all four skills and overall band score. No pass or fail
Compensatory (aggregate) All four skills must be passed to pass overall. Individual scores given for each skill. Aggregated score average
marking (SELT If candidates fail one skill, they are required to retake the gives overall score. Candidates can retake one module
relevant module)
Recognition ‘Over 95% of UK universities recognise ISE’ (Trinity website) 9,000 organisations including ‘almost all universities and HE
institutes’
Validity period No limit (3rd party may stipulate 2 years) Recommended period of 2 years
n All information taken from official public domain websites

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