Speaking Success: Trinity GESE Grade 6

Elementary stage · CEFR B1.2 — the tasks, themes and language of Grade 6, practised by Philo and Sophia.

•Grade 6, at a glance

Elementary stageCEFR B1.210 minutesOne-to-one with the examiner

1. Topic discussion

up to 5 min

2. Conversation

up to 5 min

At the Elementary stage you bring a topic of your own choice, with a topic form listing your discussion points. The examiner discusses at least four of them with you. Then the examiner chooses two subject areas from the list below for a conversation.

1What you need to do (communicative skills)

Topic: talk about your six points in sustained turns, making the order of events clear, and ask the examiner one question
Conversation: give information and opinions, start to lead the conversation, and ask the examiner at least two questions

2Themes and topics (subject areas)

Conversation subject areas (the examiner chooses two)

Topics

Travel
Money
Fashion
Rules and regulations
Health and fitness
Learning a foreign language

Your own topic must not be taken from this list: choose something personal, which you know well and enjoy talking about.

3Language functions and grammar (what the examiner listens for)

Functions

Asking for and giving opinions and impressions
Talking about intentions and purpose
Obligation and necessity
Certainty and uncertainty
Describing past actions over a period of time

Grammar and language

Zero and first conditionals with if and when
Present continuous for the future: I’m flying to Rome on Monday.
Past continuous
must, need to, might, don’t have to
Infinitive of purpose: I went there to buy…
Common phrasal verbs; in a year’s time

Worked example — the Conversation phase: rules and regulations

ExaminerLet’s talk about rules. Are there any rules at your school that you don’t agree with?

PhiloYes. We have to be silent in the reading room all day. I think it’s a bit strict, because sometimes you need to discuss a text with someone.

ExaminerWhat would happen if there were no rules?

PhiloIf there are no rules, people talk all the time and nobody can work. So I suppose we need some. What do you think? Were there strict rules at your school?

ExaminerVery strict, yes.

PhiloAnd did you agree with them?

Tips for Grade 6

Topic: six discussion points on your topic form.
In the Conversation, ask two questions: plan some useful ones for each subject area.
Practise must / have to / don’t have to / might with the rules of your school, home or sport.

•How Grade 6 is assessed

The examiner gives a letter grade for each phase, for task fulfilment: how well you use the communicative skills, functions, grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation of this grade and all the grades before it, with good fluency.

A · Distinction

An excellent performance.

B · Merit

A good performance.

C · Pass

A satisfactory performance.

D · Fail

Not yet satisfactory: the report shows what to work on.

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Based on Trinity College London’s GESE specifications (from January 2026). Always check trinitycollege.com/GESE for the current version.