Table Of ContentCambridge ESOL
Skills for Life
Entry1,2and3 * Levels1and2
Handbook for teachers
AccreditedbyOfqual
Supporting
learners & teachers
of ESOL
©UCLES2010 EMC/2673/0Y12
Contents
Page
Introduction 2
Certificates in ESOL Skills for Life – an overview 3
Grading and results 10
Valid and fair assessment 13
High-quality administration 15
Outstanding teacher support 17
Reading mode 18
Writing mode 22
Speaking and Listening mode 31
Sample papers 39
About Cambridge ESOL 85
Key features 86
Note:Further sample papers are available for download from
www.CambridgeESOL.org/SfL
Introduction
“Skills for Life” is the UK government’s strategy for improving the skills of
adults (post 14) in literacy, numeracy, information technology (IT) and ESOL
(English for Speakers of Other Languages) in England, Wales and Northern
Ireland. All qualifications for adult learners of English in the state sector which
relate to the strategy must be based on the Adult ESOL Core Curriculum –
a development of the National Standards for Adult Literacy – and accredited
by Ofqual (the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation).
Cambridge ESOL’s Certificates in ESOL Skills for Life also reflect the content
of the “Life in the UK” test, as well as the “Life in the United Kingdom: A
Journey to Citizenship” handbook. Up to Entry 3, a pass in the Speaking
and Listening mode of Cambridge ESOL’s Skills for Life exams may be used
as part of an application for UK residency and citizenship. See the UK
Home Office website for the latest information:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/settlement/knowledge-language-
life/demonstrating/
Cambridge ESOL’s Certificates in ESOL Skills for Life provide flexible
assessment of ESOL learners in England, Wales and Northern Ireland,
whilst minimising the workload for teachers and administrators. They
reflect the use of English in everyday life, and are fully based on the Adult
ESOL Core Curriculum.
Following accreditation by Ofqual, the Cambridge ESOL certificates
feature as part of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). A full
list of accredited qualifications in the UK can be found at
www.openquals.org.uk
The certificates are taken at authorised Cambridge ESOL examination
centres. There is an extensive network of centres offering these
examinations.
A list of centres is available at www.CambridgeESOL.org/SfL
2 Skills for Life | Introduction
Certificates in ESOL Skills for Life
– an overview
Cambridge ESOL’s Certificates in ESOL Skills for Life contribute to the Skills
for Life initiative by providing assessment of English for Speakers of Other
Languages which is designed around the standards for adult literacy and
the Adult ESOL Core Curriculum. They meet the needs of a diverse range
of adult ESOL learners resident or seeking residence in England, Wales and
Northern Ireland.
Cambridge ESOL Certificates in ESOL Skills for Life
• wholly externally assessed by trained and experienced
examiners
• available on demand to suit the learner and the learning provider
• can be eligible for government funding
• profiled results for individual learner feedback
• fast turnaround of results
• available as an all-mode qualification (Speaking and Listening,
Reading, Writing) or as a single-mode Speaking and Listening
qualification
• available on paper or on computer
Levels
Cambridge ESOL Skills for Life certificates are available at Entry 1, Entry 2,
Entry 3, Level 1 and Level 2 on the National Qualifications Framework.
Prior learning
The tests are designed to offer progression through the levels, and at any
one level the prior language knowledge and attainment required is that
defined in the standards and curriculum for the NQF level below. No
specific language knowledge or experience is required for Entry 1. For
more information on the Adult ESOL Core Curriculum, please visit
www.excellencegateway.org.uk/sflcurriculum
Overview | Skills for Life 3
Progression
After Level 2, candidates can progress to other Cambridge ESOL
qualifications, or GCSEs, A levels and Functional Skills qualifications.
As the world’s leading provider of qualifications for learners of English,
Cambridge ESOL offers additional progression routes with its
internationally recognised English language qualifications. Visit
www.openquals.org.uk for a full list of accredited qualifications available
in the UK.
For more information on Cambridge ESOL qualifications, visit
www.CambridgeESOL.org
Content and structure
At each level, three separate modes are available:
(cid:129) Reading
(cid:129) Writing
(cid:129) Speaking and Listening.
Candidates may choose to enter any combination of the three modes. In
order to reflect the fact that many candidates will have varying levels of
ability in different skills, it is also possible for them to be assessed in
different modes at different levels in the same exam session. Alternatively,
candidates may prefer to enter for single modes, one by one, as their skills
develop. Either way, candidates are able to build up a portfolio of
achievement over time.
Examinations on paper and on computer
The same exam – the same Cambridge certificate
Some learners are more comfortable and confident working on a keyboard
than with pen and paper. For them, computer-based ESOL Skills for Life
examinations are available from Cambridge ESOL.
There are advantages for centres too, such as shorter registration times
and faster access to results, savings on despatch costs, and less paperwork.
4 Skills for Life | Overview
To find out more about computer-based ESOL Skills for Life examinations,
visit:
www.CambridgeESOL.org/exams/exams-info/computer-based-
testing.html
or contact [email protected]
A choice of pathways
The Cambridge ESOL Certificates in ESOL Skills for Life are designed to give
learners the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities in English in the full
range of skills. The flexible modular structure can ensure that the
assessment of language proficiency is comprehensive.
For some learners, however, a full profile across all the modes and skills is
not required; for example, for certain employment purposes.
To enable candidates to opt for an assessment of their overall proficiency
in English, or to demonstrate the level of their oral/aural skills only,
Cambridge ESOL provides two pathways to an approved qualification:
1 an all-mode qualification in Speaking and Listening, Reading, and
Writing.
2 a single-mode qualification in Speaking and Listening.
The qualifications are available at Entry 1, Entry 2, Entry 3, Level 1 and
Level 2. It is important to note that, if a learner subsequently wishes to
obtain an all-mode qualification, a pass in the single-mode Speaking and
Listening qualification, with the addition of passes in Reading and Writing,
can count towards an all-mode qualification for up to three years.
The timings for each mode are given overleaf.
Overview | Skills for Life 5
Mode
Reading Writing Speaking and
Listening
Entry 1 50 minutes 40 minutes 16–18 minutes
Entry 2 1 hour 50 minutes 18–20 minutes
Entry 3 1 hour 15 minutes 1 hour 20–22 minutes
Level 1 1 hour 1 hour 15 minutes 24–25 minutes
Level 2 1 hour 1 hour 30 minutes 26–27 minutes
Reading at Levels 1 and 2 is tested via the National Adult Literacy Tests.
Study commitment (notional guided learning hours)
The Cambridge ESOL Certificates in ESOL Skills for Life are ideal for
both full-time and part-time study. In keeping with Ofqual guidelines,
the guided learning hours for an average learner following an ESOL
Skills for Life qualification are estimated to be up to 140 hours per level.
This is a notional figure used to calculate the substance of whole
qualifications based on the adult literacy standards and the Core
Curriculum. It does not imply that the language modes are taught or
learned separately.
Candidature
The Skills for Life tests are designed for learners over the age of 14 whose
first language is not English, and who are living or trying to settle in
England. These ESOL learners may include refugees or asylum seekers,
migrant workers, people from settled communities, and partners or
spouses of people who are settled in this country for a number of years.
It is expected that the learners’ educational and employment backgrounds
will be diverse, as well as their aspirations, literacy levels and language
learning skills. This diversity is reflected in the range of material selected
for use in these tests and in the task types which candidates need to
complete. Most of the topic areas correspond to themes contained in the
ESOL Citizenship/Life in the UK syllabus.
6 Skills for Life | Overview
At Entry 1–3 candidates will encounter topics in the tests which are both
familiar and relevant to them as learners of English. Topics may include:
(cid:129) personal details/experiences
(cid:129) work
(cid:129) education/training
(cid:129) housing
(cid:129) family and friends
(cid:129) health
(cid:129) transport
(cid:129) weather
(cid:129) buying goods
(cid:129) leisure
(cid:129) UK society.
At Levels 1 and 2, the tasks are designed to reflect the fact that the needs
of ESOL learners at these levels will be predominantly educational or
professional, though broader social issues are also included in the materials
where appropriate. Therefore, in addition to the above list of topics,
candidates may encounter such topics as:
(cid:129) careers
(cid:129) academic study
(cid:129) information technology
(cid:129) the environment
(cid:129) law and order.
Examination opportunities are designed to ensure that each assessment
experienced by individual candidates is fair, objective, and previously
unseen. Mark schemes allow candidates to reach the level via different
patterns of strengths and weaknesses.
In line with the overall objectives of the Adult ESOL Core Curriculum, the
choice of contexts, topics and texts is designed to encourage an
understanding of spiritual, moral, ethical and cultural issues. It will also
contribute to raising awareness of environmental issues and health and
safety considerations, as well as European developments consistent with
relevant international agreements.
Overview | Skills for Life 7
Examination entries
Cambridge ESOL requires entries to be made four weeks before the date
of the proposed exam session. For Speaking and Listening tests, estimates
of entry numbers must also be submitted five weeks before the date of the
proposed exam session, along with details of dates, venues, etc. If special
arrangements are required, an application must be made at least six weeks
before the examination date.
There are certain restrictions on examination entries:
(cid:129) The certificates are intended for learners whose first language is
not English.
(cid:129) Centres are requested to ensure that candidates enter the
examinations only at a time when they have a realistic chance of
success at the given level.
(cid:129) Candidates may not enter for the same mode at a higher level
within a two-month period.
(cid:129) Candidates may not re-enter for the same mode at the same level
within a one-month period.
(cid:129) Centres can enter candidates for each mode at each level up to
nine times a year (e.g. a centre can hold up to nine sessions of
Entry 1 Reading per year plus nine sessions of Entry 2 Reading per
year, etc.).
(cid:129) Centres must enter a minimum of 10 candidates per mode at
each session. These can be split across the levels. Additionally, for
Speaking and Listening, there must be a minimum of four
candidates at any one level.
8 Skills for Life | Overview
Qualification reference numbers
The following table shows the qualification reference numbers:
Qualification Speaking and Reading Writing
Reference Listening
Number
Column A Column B
Entry 1 100/3942/9 100/5129/6 M/102/4823 T/102/4824
Entry 2 100/3930/2 100/5130/2 T/102/9487 A/102/9488
Entry 3 100/3932/6 100/5131/4 Y/102/4833 K/102/4836
Level 1 100/4938/1 100/5133/8 T/102/9568 K/102/9566
Level 2 100/4939/3 100/5132/6 T/102/9571 K/102/9569
Note the following:
(cid:129) Make use of the Qualification Reference Numbers in Column A for
candidates registering for all-mode qualifications from the outset.
(cid:129) Make use of the Qualification Reference Numbers in Column B
when recording candidates for a single-mode, standalone
Speaking and Listening qualification.
(cid:129) Refer to Skills Funding Agency guidelines for recording procedures
if it is later decided to use a pass in a single-mode Speaking and
Listening qualification to count towards an all-mode Skills for Life
ESOL qualification.
Note also that the test structures and assessment criteria of the single-
mode Speaking and Listening examinations are identical to those of the
Speaking and Listening units contained in the all-mode examinations.
Overview | Skills for Life 9
