OCNLR Level 1 Certificate in ESOL International (CEFR B2)

A certification of the English language on a lower level. It addresses those who wish to enrich their CV with a certificate in English, but also to owners of a lower (or equivalent degree) who need a more recent and modern certification of their knowledge.

Recognised by Ofqual

OCNLR Level 1 Certificate in ESOL International is comprised by:

ModulesPartsDurationQuestionsMarks
1. Listening3 Parts (played twice)20 min3030
2. Writing2 Parts70 min2 Compositions (150-200 Words)30
3. Reading3 Parts45 min3030
4. Speaking3 PartsA minimum of 6 min30

Listening (Oral Comprehension) 

  • Can understand standard language or a familiar variety, live or broadcast, on both familiar and unfamiliar topics normally encountered in personal, social, academic or vocational life. Only extreme [auditory/visual] background noise, inadequate discourse structure and/or idiomatic usage influence the ability to understand. 
  • Can understand the main ideas of propositionally and linguistically complex discourse on both concrete and abstract topics delivered in standard language or a familiar variety, including technical discussions in their field of specialisation. 
  • Can follow extended discourse and complex lines of argument, provided the topic is reasonably familiar, and the direction of the argument is signposted by explicit markers. 

Reading Comprehension 

  • Can read with a large degree of independence, adapting style and speed of reading to different texts and purposes, and using appropriate reference sources selectively.  
  • Has a broad active reading vocabulary, but may experience some difficulty with low-frequency idioms. 

Speaking (Oral Production) 

  • Can give clear, systematically developed descriptions and presentations, with appropriate highlighting of significant points, and relevant supporting detail. 
  • Can give clear, detailed descriptions and presentations on a wide range of subjects related to their field of 
    interest, expanding and supporting ideas with subsidiary points and relevant examples. 

Written Production 

  • Can produce clear, detailed texts on a variety of subjects related to their field of interest, synthesising and evaluating information and arguments from a number of sources. 

General Linguistic Range 

  • Can express themselves clearly without much sign of having to restrict what they want to say.  
  • Has a sufficient range of language to be able to give clear descriptions, express viewpoints and develop arguments without much conspicuous searching for words/signs, using some complex sentence forms to do so. 

 

Part of language 

Examples 

Functions 

Critiquing and reviewing  

Describing experiences  

Describing feelings and emotions  

Describing hopes and plans  

Developing an argument  

Encouraging and inviting another speaker to continue, come in  

Expressing abstract ideas  

Expressing agreement and disagreement  

Expressing opinions  

Expressing reaction, e.g. indifference  

Interacting informally, reacting, expressing interest, sympathy, surprise etc.  

Opinion, justification  

Speculating  

Taking the initiative in interaction  

Synthesizing, evaluating, glossing info 

Grammar 

Adjectives and adverbs  

Future continuous  

Future perfect  

Future perfect continuous  

Mixed conditionals  

Modals – can’t have, needn’t have  

Modals of deduction and speculation  

Narrative tenses  

Passives Past perfect  

Past perfect continuous  

Phrasal verbs, extended  

Relative clauses  

Reported speech  

Will and going to, for prediction  

Wish  

Would expressing habits, in the past 

Discourse Markers 

Connecting words expressing cause and effect, contrast etc.  

Discourse markers to structure formal speech  

Linkers: although, in spite of, despite  

Linkers: sequential – past time – subsequently 

Vocabulary 

Collocation Colloquial language 

Topics 

Family and community life 

Personal Details/experiences 

Holidays and leisure 

Education and training 

Transport and travel 

Entertainment 

Food and drink 

Shopping 

Work and jobs 

Health and hygiene 

Weather and environment 

Local area/neighbourhood 

Relationships 

Public services 

 

Sample Test