Grade 12

C2 CEFR

Examination format

Total examination time: 25 minutes

The examination consists of five assessed phases:

Formal presentation of a topic prepared by the candidate (up to 5 minutes)

Candidate-led discussion of the topic presentation with the examiner (up to 5 minutes)

Interactive task (up to 5 minutes)

Listening task (up to 3 minutes)

Conversation on two subject areas selected by the examiner (up to 6 minutes).

Candidate performance

In addition to the items listed for the previous grades, the candidate is expected to demonstrate the

following communicative skills and meet the language requirements during the examination.

Communicative skills

In the Formal topic presentation phase

Present a complex topic with a high degree of linguistic formality to the examiner, who will

probably be unfamiliar with the subject matter

Present a clear argument with an effective logical structure which helps the examiner to notice

and remember significant points

Bring the presentation to a logical conclusion by inviting questions and comments from

the examiner

In the Topic discussion phase

Initiate the discussion and actively seek ways in which to engage the examiner in a meaningful

exchange of ideas and opinions

Take full responsibility for the maintenance of the discussion

Be able to deal effectively with the examiner’s input by responding to a variety of conversational

gambits and handling in-depth questioning

In the Interactive phase

Control and sustain the discussion at all times

Actively encourage the examiner’s collaboration in the task

Direct the interaction towards a successful conclusion

In the Listening phase

Understand texts on abstract and complex topics which may be of a specialist nature beyond  his or her own field

Understand virtually everything heard when delivered at natural native speaker speed

Identify implicit meaning

In the Conversation phase

Take full responsibility for the maintenance of the conversation

Hold a discussion unconstrained by linguistic limitations, without showing signs of having to  restrict what he or she
 wants to say

Introduce his or her contribution into the joint discourse with natural turn-taking and referencing

Demonstrate the ability to make an unobtrusive substitution for a word or expression he or she is unable to recall

Grade 12

Language requirements

Language functions

Asserting

Denying

Softening and downplaying propositions

Contradicting

Implying

Affirming

Grammar

A comprehensive and reliable mastery of a very wide range of language to formulate thoughts

precisely, give emphasis and eliminate ambiguity

Differing linguistic forms to reformulate ideas and convey finer shades of meaning

Complete and consistent grammatical control of highly complex language at all times

Lexis

A good command of a very broad lexical repertoire

A wide range of idiomatic expressions and colloquialisms

Phrases and expressions relating to the language functions listed above

Phonology

Produce individual sounds so as to be fully understood by the examiner, with only a rare sound

that deviates from an internationally intelligible model

Stress and intonation patterns which are recognisably specific to English without any lapses

in intelligibility

Subject areas for the Conversation phase

There are no specific subject areas for Grade 12.

Candidates should be able to make use of a wide range of vocabulary items relating to all other

previous subject areas as well as other subjects of general or topical interest.

At this grade, candidates are expected to be able to enter into discussion on any subject that the

examiner deems appropriate for the individual candidate. The age of the candidate will be taken

into account when the examiner makes his or her choice.

Grade 12 communicative skills and language requirements have been mapped to C2 in the CEFR.

Regulations

Age and entry requirements

Trinity College London’s Graded Examinations in Spoken English are for learners whose native

language is not English. There is no minimum age limit, although Trinity recommends that candidates

are aged seven years and above at the time of the examination. There is no upper age limit.

Candidates may enter at any grade without having previously taken any other Trinity examination.

Applications for examinations will be accepted by Trinity on the condition that candidates are examined

according to the requirements of the current syllabus. It is the responsibility of the centre to ensure

that they and the candidate are following the current syllabus and regulations.

Candidates cannot enter for more than one grade in the same examination session.

Once candidates have been submitted for an examination no changes to the entries are permitted.

Should an exceptional circumstance arise after this time, for example a natural disaster, health issue or

bereavement please contact your National/Area Consultant or Trinity’s Head Office. Written evidence

may be required.

If a candidate does not reach the level required to pass and wishes to re-sit an examination, a minimum

of one month must elapse before the candidate may enter again.

Candidate entries received after the relevant closing date cannot be guaranteed and will be subject to

a surcharge. These dates can be obtained from National/Area Consultants and Trinity’s Head Office.

Trinity Online* gives approved individuals and centres in the Trinity network worldwide direct access t

their own candidate information held on Trinity’s central database. This website is available 24 hours a

day, 365 days a year. It will make your examination administration quicker and easier, and you can view,

analyse and print out your results for quality assurance and reporting.

Results and certificates.

Each candidate for a Graded Examination in Spoken English receives an Examination report form,

evaluating performance in the form of letter grades and highlighting areas in need of improvement

A provisional final overall statement of Pass or Fail is given on the Examination report form which will

be given to the Centre Representative immediately after the examination session finishes. The letter

grade profiles can be converted into the four overall levels of attainment by using the Results look–up

tables which can be found on the Trinity website (www.trinitycollege.co.uk).

The four levels of performance are

Pass with Distinction

Pass with Merit

Pass

Fail.

The results issued at the end of the session are provisional and are only intended to provide an

indication of the likely outcome of the examination. Centres are strongly advised to check any

borderline results by using the Results look–up tables provided on the website. The final result will

be confirmed by the issue of a certificate, or, in the case of a fail, centres can confirm the results by

checking Trinity Online. The provisional nature of the results provided on the Examination report form

is clearly stated and only the final results, i.e. those issued by Trinity’s Head Office in the form of a

certificate, are valid.

Examiners issue Examination report forms only to the teacher in charge or the Centre Representative.

Examiners are not allowed to give details of results in any other way or to any other person.

Successful candidates will receive a certificate showing the subject, grade and level of pass, i.e. Pass, Merit

or Distinction, as well as the name of their teacher or school if requested at the time of registration. After

moderation of the results, certificates are sent to centres for distribution and normally arrive six to eight

weeks after the completion of the examination session.

Replacement certificates are available, although an administration fee will be charged for replacing a

certificate. All replacement certificates issued later than six months after the date of the examination

will be marked ‘Duplicate’. Exact candidate details must be provided prior to a certificate being replaced.

The Trinity website contains more details on how to obtain a replacement certificate.

Regulations

Trinity Online is available in English and in a range of languages: you can select the default language of your choice.

check availability for your location.

Candidates with special educational needs/disabilities

Trinity welcomes entries from candidates with special needs and disabilities. Adjustments are

implemented according to individuals’ special needs/disabilities, reflecting their usual method of

working, the assessment requirements and the guidelines stipulated by the regulatory authorities as

well as the Joint Council for Qualifications.

The same standard of assessment applies to all candidates, regardless of any special need/disability,

and allowances will only be made to the conduct of the examination if appropriate.

The procedures below must be followed when requesting consideration of special needs/disabilities.

Enrolment on Trinity Online

Full details of the special needs/disabilities must be received on or before the closing date for the

examination. The specific condition and request for special needs dispensation should be inputted

on the candidate’s record on Trinity Online and supporting medical documentation sent to the

National/Area Consultant or Trinity’s Head Office. Details of how to indicate special needs are

explained in the candidate enrolment instructions available via Trinity Online. No alteration to the

details of the candidate with special needs/disabilities can take place after registration.

Owing to the extra preparation time required to provide individual tests for candidates with

special needs/disabilities, late entries or entries which do not contain full details of the nature of

the special needs/disabilities will not normally be accepted. If a late entry has been accepted but

the examination cannot take place, the fee will be refunded (at the discretion of Trinity) but the

surcharge will be retained to cover costs of administration of the late entry.

In order to prepare Braille tests for candidates, centres are required to give a minimum of two

months’ notice.

Braille materials and certificates are available for visually impaired candidates at no extra charge.

Requests for Braille certificates should be made at the time of entry.

Evidence to Trinity’s Head Office

All provision for special needs candidates is adjusted to the particular needs of each candidate. To be

most beneficial to candidates, as full an explanation as possible of the nature of the special needs and

potential modification to the procedure of the examination is required.

Appropriate documentary evidence of special assessment needs must be supplied at the time

of enrolment. Special provision will not be given without this information. This must be a current

medical certificate or, in the case of dyslexic candidates, a report from an educational psychologist

(a chartered educational psychologist, a full or affiliate member of the Association of Educational

Psychologists or a person employed by a local education authority as an educational psychologist).

Reports from psychologists of other disciplines (e.g. clinical) are not acceptable. Details of medical

and psychological reports are not disclosed to anyone, including examiners.

Trinity College London reserves the right to turn down requests for provision if sufficient information

is not provided.

Candidates who require wheelchair access to centres should notify the centre.

Equal opportunities policy for examination candidates

Trinity is committed to equality of access to examinations. This commitment applies to all candidates,

regardless of gender, age, racial origin, nationality, creed, sexual orientation, marital status or

employment status. Trinity endeavours to provide examinations for candidates with special needs/

disabilities but owing to the nature of the examination, some special needs/disabilities, such as the

inability to speak, will prevent the candidate from fulfilling the requirements of the examinations.

Trinity seeks to ensure that:

the content and assessment of its examinations are non-discriminatory and are appropriate to the

knowledge and skills specified

the style and language of its documentation are readily understood and do not reflect stereotyped

or biased attitudes

its examiners and all associated with its examinations apply a fair and just process.

Regulations

Candidate identification policy

Candidates entered for the Graded Examinations in Spoken English Grade 5 and above are required to

provide a photographic form of identification. Candidates will be asked by the examiner to provide ID at

the start of the examination.

Centre Representatives will be reminded of this policy by the examiner on arrival at the centre. Where

no ID has been provided, the examiner will inform the Centre Representative or teacher during the

feedback session and subsequently notify Trinity’s Head Office.

Absence through sickness

A candidate who is sick and cannot take the examination may apply to Trinity’s Head Office for a

half-fee re-entry permit, enclosing a medical certificate. Applications for re-entry permits must be

made within 30 days of the examination date. Trinity will issue a re-entry permit for an examination

at the same level, which can be used for an examination within 12 months of the original examination

date on payment of half the current entry fee. If a re-entry permit is used towards entry for a

higher-level examination, the difference in fee is also payable, i.e. the full fee of the higher-level

examination less half the fee of the lower level examination.

Examiners are not permitted to accept either notice of withdrawal or medical certificates.

Trinity reserves the right to consider other special cases for absence on their individual merits.

Exceptional circumstances

All examinations are assessed on the basis of the performance given on the day of the examination

without regard to any external circumstances.

When a candidate infringes examination regulations, wherever possible, the examination will continue

without comment by the examiner so that candidate performance in other parts of the examination

is unaffected. The Examination report form will normally be returned by the examiner to Trinity at

the end of the examination, rather than being issued to the Centre Representative, so that a decision

can be taken about the validity of the examination. Trinity reserves the right to award no marks for

invalid parts of an examination. The outcome of referred examinations will be reported to the Centre

Representative as soon as possible after the matter has been considered.

Examination monitoring

Trinity examiners will audio record oral examinations for monitoring and research purposes. All

examinations are recorded unless stated otherwise. Trinity reserves the right to allow Trinity monitors

into the examination room while the examination is in progress in order to observe the conduct of the

examinations. Recordings of examinations are retained at Trinity’s Head Office and not made available

to centres or candidates.

These procedures are an essential feature of Trinity’s commitment to the consistency of marking and

administration by its examiners and are in no way detrimental to the candidate. Every effort will be

made to give advance notice of such monitoring sessions and arrangements will be discussed with

the Registered Centre involved, wherever possible. Entrance for the Trinity examinations constitutes

acceptance of all the quality assurance procedures.

In normal circumstances, no other person is permitted to be present in the examination room. Special

arrangements apply, with prior authorisation, in cases where candidates with special needs/disabilities

require assistance.

Candidate privacy and data are protected under the UK Data Protection Act 1998.

Examination delivery

Trinity works with the centre to ensure that the examination session is delivered at the mutual

convenience of the centre and the examiner. During the planning process, the centre may be

approached regarding alternative dates for delivery.

Regulations

Trinity reserves the right not to conduct an examination session in the following circumstances:

examination entries are not received prior to the specified closing dates. Closing dates are available

from your National/Area Consultant or Trinity’s Head Office

examination fees are not paid in full by the closing date

the minimum fee required by Trinity in order to cover the costs of an examiner visiting an

examination venue is not met. Details of the minimum fee required can be obtained from your

National/Area Consultant or Trinity’s Head Office

centres have not used the correct fees for their examination session.

Trinity takes every effort to ensure the delivery of its examinations on the dates and at the locations

planned. However, there may on occasion be exceptional circumstances that mean we are not able to

meet our commitment. This would include, for example, lack of examiner availability, national strikes,

labour disputes, industrial disruption, natural disasters, widespread disruption of international travel,

terrorist attacks, acts of war or pandemics.

Appeals procedure

Entry for Trinity examinations constitutes acceptance of the professional judgement of the examiners.

Teachers, schools, parents and candidates who wish to question the outcome of Graded Examinations

in Spoken English should use the following procedure. In any other dispute concerning the conduct of

any examination, the decision of Trinity’s Chief Executive shall be final.

Allowable grounds for appeal

Appeals will not be accepted which simply question assessments made by the examiner. The two broad

categories of appeal which will be considered are:

claims of irregular procedure on the part of the examiner which is believed to have disadvantaged

the candidate

a mismatch between the letter grades awarded and the final result declared.

First level of appeal

Appeals must be made on the official appeals procedure documents available from National/

Area Consultants and Trinity’s Head Office. These documents must be completed in English by the

nominated academic representative and sent to the Head of International ESOL. An appeal can be

made either on behalf of an individual candidate or a group of candidates. The grounds for appeal

should be set out, and the original (not a photocopy) of the Examination Report form(s) should be

sent by post. Appeals lodged by email and fax are not acceptable.

Please note from 1 February 2010 there will be a ￡25 fee per candidate for all first level appeals.

For appeals involving more than five candidates, a maximum fee of ￡125 applies. Please consult

your National/Area Consultant for information about methods of payment.

Appeals will not be considered until the appropriate fee and all the required documentation  are provided.

Trinity will send an acknowledgement within seven days and the appeal will be referred to the

examiner(s) for comment as appropriate.

Appeals must be postmarked not later than 14 days after the issue of the results to the Centre

Representative otherwise the appeal will not be accepted.

The Head of International ESOL will reach a decision after a full investigation into the appeal has been

conducted. The grounds for appeal, examiner report plus any other information relevant to the appeal

will be considered. The target time for resolving appeals is 20 working days from the date of receipt.

The outcome of a successful appeal may be the opportunity of a free re-examination, usually at the

same centre. In the event of a re-examination being offered, a time limit will normally be prescribed

in the interests of all concerned. Any such offer of a re-examination will terminate the appeals

procedure. In the case of a mismatch between the letter grades awarded and the final result

declared, there may be a revision to the letter grades awarded and/or the final result declared.

Regulations

Second level of appeal

Those who are not satisfied with the decision of the Head of International ESOL and to whom a

re-examination is not offered, may proceed to a second level of appeal to the Director of Language

Examinations. Such appeals should state the further grounds on which they are pursued and should

be postmarked not later than 14 days from the date of the previous decision. The original Examination

report forms are not required. The further appeal will be handled in the same way as above.

Second level appeals should be accompanied by a fee of ￡50 per candidate.

For appeals involving more than five candidates, a maximum fee of ￡250 applies.

Third level of appeal

Those who are not satisfied with the decision of the Director of Language Examinations and

to whom a re-examination is not offered may proceed to a third level of appeal to the Chief

Executive. Such appeals should state the further grounds on which they are pursued and should be

postmarked not later than 14 days from the date of the previous decision. The original Examination

report forms are not required.

A fee of ￡100 per candidate (or ￡500 for five or more candidates) should be enclosed with the

further appeal, which will be handled by the Chief Executive in association with an independent

member of the Review Board for Language Examinations in the same way as above.

General notes

Trinity representatives are not permitted to act as agents of appeals.

In the event that an appeal is upheld, the appeal fee will be returned; otherwise the fee will be

retained by Trinity.

Review Boards

Trinity’s independent Review Boards consider:

academic standards in relation to other qualifications and learning available

examiner training including reliability issues

validity of the examination system

the quality of current and new syllabuses

relevance of Trinity’s work to the needs of the sector.

The membership of Trinity’s independent Review Boards, which meet on an annual basis or as

requested by the independent Chair of each Board, is drawn from the professions concerned. Members

of the Review Boards are invited to the Board for a fixed period of time by the Chief Executive in

consultation with the Chair. The Chair of each Board is appointed by the Chief Executive, generally for

a period of three years.

The aims and responsibilities of each Board are, in their defined area of expertise, to review the relevance,

validity, reliability and efficient conduct of Trinity College London’s assessments. This includes but is not

restricted to issues of syllabus and examination design, panel membership, and monitoring of results. All

meetings are minuted, are conducted with Trinity staff in attendance, and the Chief Executive is informed

of any recommendations which she is expected to respond to and report back on.

Customer service

Trinity strives constantly to update and improve its syllabuses. Amendments and additions are

published on the website at www.trinitycollege.co.uk. The website is also a source of general

information about Trinity and its services. A Customer Service Statement is available on the website.

Malpractice statement and policy

Trinity takes any attempt on the part of individual candidates or centres to influence the outcome of

examinations by unfair means very seriously.

Note to centres

Centres must agree to abide by the Code of Practice at all times. This means that they must implement

all the measures described there in order to ensure that all candidates at the centre and at all other

centres around the world have an equal opportunity to demonstrate their abilities.

Regulations

Examiners must be able to conduct the examinations without fear of pressure, coercion and recrimination.

the examiner must not be placed in a position where the ability to deal with individual candidates equally

and fairly is likely to be affected. Examiners on tour are vulnerable in that they are often staying away

from home, in unknown places and the examination centre staff are their only point of contact. Centres

must not take advantage of this fact.

Centres are deemed to be responsible for the conduct of the examination session and the behaviour of

their candidates.

Individual candidates

Examples of candidate behaviour which would be the subject of an investigation into malpractice are:

infringement of the stated examination regulations and behaving in such a way that other candidates

are disadvantaged

impersonating another candidate

providing a false form of identification

plagiarising texts from another source including the internet

cheating by copying another’s work in written examination sessions

cheating by using unauthorised aids such as notes in the examination room during written examinations

attempting to obtain confidential examination material

attempting to influence the examiner’s assessment by offering incentives of any kind.

Centres

Examples of centre behaviour which would be the subject of an investigation into malpractice are:

infringement of the stated examination regulations and contravening any of the items in the Code

of Practice

altering official documentation such as Examination report forms, Individual marksheets and certificates

attempting to influence the examiner’s assessment by offering incentives of any kind or by using

threatening behaviour either before or after the examination session

knowingly introducing candidates to the examiner prior to the examination in order to gain an

unfair advantage

collecting confidential examination material and disseminating this to centre staff and other candidates

knowingly allowing candidates to impersonate other candidates.

Information collection

Trinity has various ways of collecting information regarding the conduct of an examination session,

for example:

centre report forms completed by examiners for each centre they visit. They are required to report

any incidence of suspected malpractice

supervisors’ reports of written examination sessions including seating plans

inspection visit reports supplied by Trinity Inspectors

appeals documentation

reports from written paper markers.

Action taken by Trinity when notified of suspected malpractice

The issue of results is suspended. This may be the results of an individual candidate or selected

candidates or of the whole examination session at a particular centre.

The relevant Academic Officer investigates the matter by collecting all information and data relevant

to the case. This will include a request being sent usually to the Centre Representative or through

them, more rarely, to an individual candidate for a written account of actions under investigation. The

examiner or marker will also be asked for specific information about the session, candidate’s work or

behaviour where relevant. A case file is opened.

If the case involves written papers which indicate improper behaviour, the paper(s) are scrutinised by

a second marker, the Academic Officer and the Academic Manager.

The Academic Manager presents the case to the Head of International ESOL and together a decision is reached.

Regulations

The centre is contacted with the decision and told of the action that will be taken by Trinity. In the

case of there being a confirmation of malpractice the following action can be taken.

Centres

All results for the session in question can be voided and candidates given the opportunity to sit the

examination again with the centre meeting the costs.

The centre can be de-registered.

Individual candidates

Results will not be released. Certification will be withheld.

Data protection

Trinity College London is registered as a Data Controller with the Information Commissioner’s Office in

the UK under the Data Protection Act 1998. The Act requires that there should always be a legitimate

basis for the processing of personal data and that the processing and collection of data be accurate,

fair and lawful. Trinity is required to ensure that those to whom the data relate are aware of the

purposes for which their data may be used, disclosed or transferred.

Trinity and its agents collect and process candidate/representative and centre data for the purpose of

examination administration. This includes:

the registration of candidate entries for examinations

the management of examination schedules and itineraries and

the collection, registration and distribution of examination results to both individual candidates and

to centres and representatives.

Personal data is transferred to third parties for the purpose of registering candidate entries and the

results of examinations onto Trinity’s online registration system.

Trinity also collects and processes data to respond to requests for information from members of the

general public. This is the sole purpose of the collection of this data. Additionally, Trinity collects and

processes data on individuals who have consented to the use of their names and addresses being

retained for the purpose of providing them with Trinity event and examination information on a regular

basis. Trinity will amend and update inaccurate personal data upon receipt of a hard copy written

request to do so, with evidence of the individual’s identity. Please write to Trinity’s Head Office. The

address to write to is 89 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TP, UK.

Trinity retains personal data for statistical analysis and to replace certificates upon request from

candidates. All candidate/representative and centre data is stored securely. Once candidate certificates

are issued, candidate/representative and centre data is securely archived.

Trinity must also fulfil its obligation to provide candidate and centre information, including personal

data, to Educational Authorities and Regulators worldwide.

Use of candidates’ personal data

Candidates who enter courses and take examinations based upon any Trinity College London syllabus

should be aware that by attending and participating in courses and examinations they are consenting to:

their teachers, colleges or examination centres collecting, processing, disclosing and transferring

their personal data, and

Trinity or specifically contracted third parties (such as data processors) processing, transferring and

disclosing their personal data to fulfil Trinity’s obligation to administer examinations.

Furthermore, Trinity communicates candidates’ personal data back to colleges or examination centres

for distribution to individual candidates once examinations are complete.

Rights of access to personal data

Trinity employs the following procedure for individual candidate/centre/representative right of access

to personal data records. Trinity will respond to requests from individuals for information to which

they are entitled within 40 days of receipt of written requests. Requests will only be considered from

persons who can prove that they are/were:

candidates, or  have written authorisation to act for candidates.

Proof of candidate identity needs to be enclosed with a signed letter from the candidate/representative

making the request. Trinity will only consider the 40-day deadline active once all requested data, both

proof of identity and a signed letter, is received at Trinity’s Head Office. Further information on Trinity’s

Data Protection policy can be found at www.trinitycollege.co.uk

Publication of results

Representatives of Trinity are required to ensure that candidates and their parents or guardians are

made aware that examination results may be published in electronic and hard copy publications.

Explicit consent is not required for the publication of examination results; however, candidates and

their parents have the right to object to publication. Candidates must indicate whether they consent to

the publication of their examination results, by ticking the box marked ‘Yes’ on the entry form. Ticking

The box marked ‘Yes’ does not guarantee publication of examination results but will enable Trinity to

proceed with the publication of examination results without further candidate consultation.