Exam structure

Reading & Writing

ISE Foundation (A2) ISE I (B1) ISE II (B2) ISE III (C1)
2 Reading tasks + 1 Reading into writing task + 1 Writing task
2 hours

Speaking & Listening

ISE Foundation (A2) ISE I (B1) ISE II (B2) ISE III (C1)
Speaking = 2 tasks Speaking = 2 tasks Speaking = 3 tasks Speaking = 3 tasks
Listening = 2 tasks Listening = 2 tasks Listening = 1 tasks Listening = 1 tasks
13 minutes 14 minutes 20 minutes 25 minutes
 Reading
ISE I (B1) ISE II (B2) ISE III (C1)

Task 1 - Long reading

Items Item type
Questions 1-5 Title matching
Questions 6-10 Choosing true statements
Questions 11-15 Completing sentences

Task 2 - Multi-text reading

Items Item type
Questions 16-20 Multiple matching
Questions 21-25 Choosing true statements
Questions 26-30 Completing summary notes
 Writing
Task 3 – Reading into writing
Level Output length
100-130 words
ISE I (B1) Descriptive essay / Discursive essay /
Article (magazine or online)
150-180 words
Descriptive essay / Discursive essay /
ISE II (B2)
Article (magazine or online) / Report /
Argument essay
200-230 words
ISE III (C1)
The same as ISE II
 Writing
Task 4 – Extended writing
Level Output length
100-130 words
Descriptive essay / Discursive essay /
ISE I (B1)
Article (magazine or online) / Review /
Formal & Informal Letter & e-mail
150-180 words
Descriptive essay / Discursive essay /
ISE II (B2) Article (magazine or online) / Report /
Argument essay / Review /
Formal & Informal Letter & e-mail
200-230 words
ISE III (C1)
The same as ISE II
 Reading & Writing (ISE I)
Subject areas:
◗ Travel
◗ Money
◗ Fashion
◗ Rules and regulations
◗ Health and fitness
◗ Learning a foreign language
◗ Festivals
◗ Means of transport
◗ Special occasions
◗ Entertainment
◗ Music
◗ Recent personal experiences
 Reading & Writing (ISE II)
The writing prompt will be on one of the subjects for ISE II. The
suggested subjects for ISE II are:
◗ Society and living standards
◗ Personal values and ideals
◗ The world of work
◗ Natural environmental concerns
◗ Public figures past and present
◗ Education
◗ National customs
◗ Village and city life
◗ National and local produce and products
◗ Early memories
◗ Pollution and recycling
 Reading & Writing (ISE III)
The writing prompt will be on one of the subjects for ISE III. The suggested
subjects for ISE III are:
◗ Independence ◗ Ambitions
◗ Stereotypes ◗ Role models
◗ Competitiveness ◗ Young people’s rights
◗ The media ◗ Advertising
◗ Lifestyles ◗ The arts
◗ The rights of the individual ◗ Economic issues
◗ Roles in the family ◗ Communication
◗ The school curriculum ◗ Youth behaviour
◗ Use of the internet ◗ Designer goods
◗ International events ◗ Equal opportunities
◗ Social issues ◗ The future of the planet
◗ Scientific developments ◗ Stress management
 Speaking & Listening (ISE I)
Speaking:
Topic = 4 minutes
Conversation area = 2 minutes
Travel Learning a foreigning
Money Rules & regulations
Fashion Health & fitness

Listening:
Task 1 – Listen twice and take notes
Purpose: Answer 6 questions about: Places / People / Time /
Facts / Reasons
Task 2 – Listen once: Summarize the recording (in a few words)
Listen again: Make notes and give 6 pieces of information

Total time = 14 minutes

 Speaking & Listening (ISE II)
Speaking:
Topic = 4 minutes
Interactive phase = 4 minutes (Prompts)
Conversation area = 2 minutes
Society & living standards Public figures past & present
The world of work Personal values & ideas
National enviromental concerns

Listening:
Task 1 – Listen once: Summarize the recording (in one or two sentences)
Listen again: Make notes to talk about for a minute about
pros/cons for or against

Total time = 20 minutes

 Speaking & Listening (ISE III)
Speaking:
Presentation topic = 4 minutes
Discussion topic = 4 minutes
Interactive phase = 4 minutes (Prompts)
Conversation area = 3 minutes
Independence Ambitions Stereotypes
Role models Competitiveness Young people’s rights
The media Advertising Lifestyles
The arts The rights of the individual Economic issues

Listening:
Task 1 – Listen once: Summarize the recording (in one or two sentences)
Listen again: Make notes to talk about for a minute about
pros/cons for or against

Total time = 25 minutes

 Writing rating scale
Reading for writing
◗ Understanding of source materials
◗ Selection of relevant content from source texts
◗ Ability to identify common themes and links within and across the
multiple texts
◗ Adaptation of content to suit the purpose for writing
◗ Use of paraphrasing/summarising

Task fulfilment
◗ Overall achievement of communicative aim
◗ Awareness of the writer-reader relationship (style and register)
◗ Adequacy of topic coverage
 Writing rating scale
Organisation and structure
◗ Text organisation, including use of paragraphing,
beginnings/endings
◗ Presentation of ideas and arguments, including clarity and
coherence of their development
◗ Consistent use of format to suit the task
◗ Use of signposting

Language control
◗ Range and accuracy of grammar
◗ Range and accuracy of lexis
◗ Effect of linguistic errors on understanding
◗ Control of punctuation and spelling
Language functions (ISE I)
• Giving reasons, opinions and preferences
• Describing the future, informing and expressing
intentions
• Predicting and expressing certainty and uncertainty
• Describing past actions in the indefinite and recent
past
• Expressing obligation
• Asking for information and opinions
Language functions (ISE II)
• Expressing and expanding ideas and opinions
• Highlighting advantages and disadvantages
• Speculating
• Giving advice
• Expressing agreement and disagreement
• Eliciting further information
• Negotiating meaning– establishing common ground
Language functions (ISE III)
• Developing and justifying an argument
• Summarising
• Evaluating options, past actions/course of events,
different standpoints
• Deducing and inferring
• Staging
• Hypothesising
• Negotiating meaning
– Indicating understanding of points made by
partner
– Establishing common ground/purpose or strategy
How is ISE Reading&Writing assessed?

Both scales:
– Rating scales: 0-15 (reading) and 0-5 (writing)
– Dichotomous scoring ( depends on the answer, it
is subjective).
– Reading into writing scale: five ascending bands
and four categories.
– Extended writing scale: five ascending bands
and three categories.
How is ISE Reading&Writing assessed?

For each category: five bands

– 4 Excellent achievement — at the upper end of
the CEFR level
– 3 Appropriate achievement — at the middle of the
CEFR level
– 2 Acceptable achievement — of the CEFR level,
possibly newly qualified at that level
– 1 Non-achievement — not of the CEFR level
– 0 Test void (eg paper spoiled, not attempted,
illegible, unintelligible)
 Thank you
for your attention