International ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages)
NFQ Level-3 Certificate in ESOL International (Reading, Writing and Listening) (Preliminary A1)
NFQ Level-4 Certificate in ESOL International (Reading, Writing and Listening) (Access A2)
NFQ Level-5 Certificate in ESOL International (Reading, Writing and Listening) (Achiever B1)
NFQ Level-3 Certificate in ESOL International (Reading, Writing and Listening)(Communicator B2)
NFQ Level-4 Certificate in ESOL International (Reading, Writing and Listening) (Expert C1)
NFQ Level-5 Certificate in ESOL International (Reading, Writing and Listening) (Mastery C2)
This range of examinations offers a communicative approach to the testing of listening, reading and writing at six levels:
• Preliminary (equivalent to A1 Breakthrough on the Common European Framework1)
• Access (equivalent to A2 Waystage on the Common European Framework)
• Achiever (equivalent to B1 Threshold on the Common European Framework)
• Communicator (equivalent to B2 Vantage on the Common European Framework)
• Expert (equivalent to C1 EOP on the Common European Framework)
• Mastery (equivalent to C2 Mastery on the Common European Framework).
Descriptions of competence at each level (City & Guilds qualification)
NFQ Level-3 Certificate in ESOL International (Reading, Writing and Listening) (Preliminary A1)
Preliminary • Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases
satisfying practical needs in connection with education, training and social roles.
• Can introduce him/her and others.
• Can ask and answer questions about personal details such as possessions,
address and people known.
• Can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly
and is prepared to help.
• Can read and understand short texts on familiar topics and obtain information
from common signs and symbols.
• Can write short simple phrases and sentences in documents such as forms, lists
and messages.
NFQ Level-4 Certificate in ESOL International (Reading, Writing and Listening) (Access A2)
Access • Can understand sentences and frequently-used expressions related to areas of
Most immediate relevance such as basic personal and family information,
shopping, local geography, employment, education, training and social roles.
• Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a direct exchange of
Information, feelings and opinions on familiar and routine matters.
• Can engage in conversation to establish shared understanding about familiar
topics.
• Can read, understand and obtain information from short documents, familiar
sources, signs and symbols.
• Can write to communicate with some awareness of the intended audience.
NFQ Level-5 Certificate in ESOL International (Reading, Writing and Listening) (Achiever B1)
Achiever • Can understand the main points of clear standard communication on matters
regularly encountered in social roles, work, school, leisure, education and
training.
• Can convey information, feelings and opinions on familiar topics, using
appropriate formality.
• Can engage in discussion in a familiar situation making relevant points and
responding to reach a shared understanding.
• Can deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where
the language is spoken.
• Can produce a simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal
interest, adapting to the intended audience.
• Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitions and briefly
give explanations for opinions and plans.
International ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) (8984) 15
NFQ Level-3 Certificate in ESOL International (Reading, Writing and Listening)(Communicator B2)
Communicator • Can understand the main ideas of complex communication on both concrete
and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of
specialisation.
• Can communicate with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes
interaction quite possible without strain for either party.
• Can adapt to take account of the listener(s), the context and the medium.
• Can engage in discussion in familiar and unfamiliar situations making clear
and relevant contributions.
• Can obtain information from different sources.
• Can communicate clearly and in detail on a wide range of subjects and
explain a viewpoint giving the advantages and disadvantages of various
options, varying length, format and style appropriate to purpose and+
audience.
NFQ Level-4 Certificate in ESOL International (Reading, Writing and Listening) (Expert C1)
Expert • Can understand a wide range of demanding longer texts, both written and
spoken, and recognise implicit meaning.
• Can use the language fluently and spontaneously without much obvious
searching for expressions.
• Can respond to extended information and narratives, follow detailed
explanations and complex instructions, adapting response to audience,
medium and context.
• Can engage in discussion in a variety of situations making clear and effective
contributions.
• Can use language flexibly and understand a range of texts of varying
complexity and length for social, academic and professional purposes.
• Can produce clear well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects,
showing controlled use of organisational patterns, connectors and cohesive
devices.
• Can communicate ideas and opinions effectively, using length, format and
style appropriate to purpose, content and audience.
NFQ Level-5 Certificate in ESOL International (Reading, Writing and Listening) (Mastery C2)
Mastery • Can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read.
• Can summarise information from different spoken or written sources,
reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation. Can
express him/herself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating
finer shades of meaning even in more complex situations.