City and Guilds - City & Guilds ESOL/SESOL for Young Learners

City & Guilds ESOL/SESOL for Young Learners

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What does City & Guilds offer for Young Learners of International English?

City & Guilds offer four certificates:
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Young Learners: Basic Level
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Young Learners: Elementary Level
Spoken English for Speakers of Other Languages (SESOL) Young Learners: Basic Level
Spoken English for Speakers of Other Languages (SESOL) Young Learners: Elementary Level
ESOL assesses reading, writing and listening.
SESOL assesses speaking skills.

Who are they suitable for?

They are aimed at young learners aged 9 to 14 years old.

How difficult are they?

Basic Level is equivalent to Breakthrough (A1) Level in the Common European Framework. This is described as:
Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type. Can introduce him/her self and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where he/she lives, people he/she knows and things he/she has. Can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.
Elementary Level is equivalent to Waystage (A2) Level in the Common European Framework. This is described as:
Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, etc.). Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters. Can describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need.

How are they made suitable for young learners?

The tests for young learners cover topics, language and contexts of use that most children of this age-span are familiar with.
Topics include: free time activities, hobbies, classmates and friends, animals and pets, favourite places, science fiction, school activities, home and family, transport, food, clothes, holidays, sports.
Contexts of use include: holiday trips, at school, reading magazines, writing letters, meeting friends, shopping, playing sports and pursuing interests.
The language assessed reflects these topics and contexts of use.

How can Young Learners get a City & Guilds certificate?

Tests can be held by any City & Guilds Approved Examination Centre. These tests are available on any date requested by the Centre.
The parents of Young Learners need to contact their nearest City & Guilds Centre to find out details of how to take the tests.
Centres that are interested in becoming an Approved Examination Centre should contact the local City & Guilds Representative.

How are the children assessed?

City & Guilds aims to create stress-free conditions while maintaining standards across the world.
The children can often take the tests in their own school, provided test conditions are met.
Spoken examinations take place at a local City & Guilds Approved Examination Centre. They are conducted by an Interlocutor who does not assess the child's performance. The Interlocutor is a suitably qualified teacher of English appointed by that Centre; he or she can even be the child's own English teacher. The examination is recorded and all tapes are sent to City & Guilds and marked by City & Guilds Examiners.
All written examinations are marked by City & Guilds Examiners.

Should young learners take standardised tests?

Some educationalists and parents have expressed concern about the pressure of test taking on children. At City & Guilds, we acknowledge the potential problems - and recommend ways of reducing these. But we also believe that tests and certificates can be very beneficial for children learning a new language.
Benefits:

Children have an achievable target - learning a language can seem overwhelming to a beginner. These examinations break the task into achievable chunks.
If the children are adequately prepared, they can feel a great sense of achievement and recognition by receiving a certificate from an international organisation
The syllabus of the examinations provides a structure for the courses.
Parents can be reassured that their children are making real progress.
For the school, the test results provide an objective confirmation of the quality of its teaching.
Children gain experience in developing the test skills and techniques they will need as they move up the ladder of international English examinations.

Reducing potential problems:

Make sure that the children are very familiar with the test, its tasks and requirements.
Make sure that the children have reached a sufficient level of English to be confident of passing.
Don't put forward children for tests if you believe they are unlikely to pass.
Make it clear to the children that if they do not pass, they can always take the test again.

General information on City & Guilds Young Learners examinations

Standard City & Guilds examinations are matched/ related to the Common European Framework, therefore are available at six levels.
At the first two levels special versions of the written and spoken examinations are available for children aged 9 to 14 (YESOL/ YSESOL). The format and the language levels of these exams are the same as those in the standard examinations, however the topic areas reflect the candidates’ range of experience.

International YESOL/ YSESOL levels	International ESOL/ SESOL levels	CEF reference level
Basic	Preliminary	A1 Breakthrough
Elementary	Access	A2 Waystage
	Achiever	B1 Threshold
	Communicator	B2 Vantage
	Expert	C1 Effective Operational Proficiency
	Mastery	C2 Mastery

YESOL/ YSESOL EXAMINATIONS

are on demand

are assessed in London, therefore quality and international standards are assured

are designed to measure the candidate’s ability to operate in the real world

are recognised by numerous secondary schools by giving extra points when taking the entrance exam or at placement

give exam practice in a relaxed environment

give motivation for further improvement

prove language proficiency

teach extra skills (e.g. dictionary use)

Students need to get a mark of 60% to pass, 75% + to achieve First Class Pass

Basic and Elementary exams are very similar to each other concerning tasks, however language proficiency is required on different levels.

Required language proficiency:

BASIC	Uses a very narrow range of language, adequate for basic needs and simple situations. Does not really have sufficient language to cope with normal day-to-day, real life communication, but basic communication is possible with opportunities for assistance. Uses short, often inaccurately and inappropriately worded messages, with constant lapses in fluency.
ELEMENTARY	Uses a limited range of language sufficient for simple, practical needs. In more exacting situations, there are frequent problems in accuracy, fluency, aproppriacy and organisation, so that normal communication and comprehension frequently break down or are difficult to keep going.

Young Learners sample papers

You can download sample papers for our Young Learner's exams here.

Student FAQs on International English Qualifications

Please click here for our Student FAQs on International English Qualifications.