Master the Trinity Graded Examinations in Spoken English. Learn how to prepare your Topic Form, take control of the Interactive Phase, and pass your UKVI SELT with confidence.
Visit Official Trinity SiteTrinity GESE is widely taken by candidates applying for UK Visas (SELT) such as settlement or citizenship, as well as students looking for a conversational, 1-on-1 assessment of their spoken English.
Before the exam, you must prepare a "Topic Form". This is the foundation of the first phase of your exam. Here is an example of what you might write on your form for an Intermediate Grade.
Trinity GESE has 12 grades. The structure below is for the Intermediate (Grades 7-9) and Advanced (Grades 10-12) stages, which are the most common for immigration and study.
You hand your prepared Topic Form to the examiner. The examiner will choose points from your form and ask you questions about them.
You are expected to lead this discussion. You should do most of the talking, expand on your points, and even ask the examiner a question about your topic.
The examiner will read a short prompt (e.g., "My neighbor's dog barks all night and I don't know what to do"). You must initiate the conversation.
Your job is to ask the examiner questions, find out more information, make suggestions, and keep the interaction going for 4 minutes.
(Note: This phase is only for Grades 10-12). The examiner will read two short, complex passages. You must listen and either guess the ending of the story, or identify the speaker's main opinion.
You can take notes while they speak, but you must give your answer verbally.
The examiner will choose two subject areas from the official Trinity syllabus for your specific grade (e.g., "National customs", "Pollution", "Early memories").
You will have a natural, spontaneous discussion about these topics. You must show that you can use the specific grammar expected for your grade level.
Watch an official Trinity GESE mock exam to see how candidates take control of the Interactive Phase.
Unlike other exams, Trinity GESE provides a very specific syllabus. The examiner evaluates you based on four key components.
Every Grade has a specific list of grammar structures. For example, in Grade 7, you MUST use the Second Conditional ("If I were you, I would..."). If you don't use the grammar required for your grade, you will lose marks.
Are you taking initiative? In Trinity exams, the candidate is expected to share the responsibility of keeping the conversation going. You must ask the examiner questions, not just wait to be spoken to.
The examiner listens for correct pronunciation, but more importantly, for intonation and stress. Can you use your voice to show surprise, agreement, or emphasis?
Can you speak smoothly without long, unnatural pauses? Are you using language that is appropriate for a formal discussion with an examiner?
Yes. Trinity's Graded Examinations in Spoken English (GESE) is an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) for various visa types, including settlement and citizenship.
You must bring your completed Topic Form with you to the exam! Without it, you cannot complete the Topic Phase, and this will severely impact your ability to pass the exam.
The length depends on your Grade. Initial stages (Grades 1-3) take 5-7 minutes. Intermediate stages (Grades 7-9) take 15 minutes. Advanced stages (Grades 10-12) take 25 minutes.