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Students must be at least seven years old to enter for the examinations.

The exams test spoken English (listening and speaking). They do not test reading and writing.

An examiner comes from the United Kingdom to registered exam centres in Hong Kong to conduct the examinations.

The exams are offered on demand providing there are enough candidates. In Hong Kong they are usually held three times a year.

The exam consists of a conversation between one examiner and one candidate.

The results of the exam: pass or fail are given to the centre at the end of the examination session. Candidates are also given advice on the key areas for improvement: communicative skills, grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation.

The final grades (A-D) and the certificates are sent from Trinity College, London about six weeks after the examination session.

Students are awarded either:

• A Grade - Pass with Distinction
• B Grade - Pass with Merit
• C grade - Pass
• D grade - Fail

There are twelve grades divided into four stages:

• Initial (Grades 1-3)
• Elementary (Grades 4-6)
• Intermediate (Grades 7-9)
• Advanced (Grades 10-12)

At the Initial Stage the examiner asks the candidate questions and the candidate answers.

At the Elementary Stage the candidate introduces a topic of his or her own choice. The examiner then discusses the points prepared by the candidate. The examiner starts a conversation based on two of the subject areas in the syllabus.

At the Intermediate Stage the candidate introduces and develops a topic; the examiner next develops an interactive task and then holds a conversation with the candidate based on two of the subject areas in the syllabus.

At the Advanced Stage the candidate presents a topic and then develops an interactive task. This is followed by a listening task. The examination ends with a conversation based on two subject areas selected by the examiner from the syllabus.

Examination levels

Initial Stage

Grade 1 is suitable for candidates who can

• exchange greetings with the examiner:
  Hello.
  Good morning.
• show understanding of simple instructions with an appropriate action:
  Stand up, please.
  Point to the window.
• give very short even single-word answers to simple questions and requests for information:
  What's your name?
  What colour is that?

Grade 2 is suitable for candidates who can

• understand short simple statements and requests for information:
  Tell me about your flat.
  Have you got a brother or sister?
• respond with appropriate actions and yes/no answers:
  Put the red pen next to the book.
  Is the girl wearing a blue skirt?
• contribute to the conversation using memorised phrases and short statements:
  I have eggs for breakfast.
  Today is Monday.
• use a basic range of words and simple phrases related to personal information:
  Hong Kong.
  She's ten.

Grade 3 is suitable for candidates who can

• show understanding by responding to simple requests and questions:
  Where do you live?
  What was the weather like yesterday?
• use basic sentence patterns to communicate information:
  My sister is ten years old.
  She's quite tall and has got short straight hair.
• give basic personal information and descriptions of every day life and activities:
  I go to school in Shatin.
  I'm a Form 3 student.
  In my free time I play badminton.
• link groups of words in a simple way:
  It's hot and sunny today.
  I like English but I don't like maths.

Elementary Stage

Grade 4 is suitable for candidates who can

• talk about past events:
  I went on holiday to Thailand last month.
  I played football at the weekend.
• talk about plans and intentions:
  We are going to visit my grandparents.
  She is going to do her homework.
• express simple comparisons:
  I'm taller than my brother.
  She's a better player than me.
• express likes and dislikes:
  I like playing the piano.
  My sister doesn't like going by tram.
• describe manner and frequency:
  They are playing badly.
  I usually do go swimming twice a week.

Grade 5 is suitable for candidates who can

• talk about the future:
  What do you think will happen?
  I think she'll win the gold medal.
• express preferences:
  I prefer to go by bike.
  She'd rather watch TV than go to the cinema.
• talk about events in the recent past:
  I have just come back from Shanghai.
  The match has finished.
• give reasons:
  I don't like maths because I can't do equations.
  They'll win because they are the best team.
• state the duration of events:
  The shop has been open for about three years.
  She's been here since January.
• quantify:
  How many players are there in a basketball team?
  I've only got a little time to watch TV.

Grade 6 is suitable for candidates who can

• express and request opinions and impressions:
  Do you think these clothes are fashionable?
  I don't like cars that pollute the atmosphere.
• express intention and purpose:
  I'm going to become a doctor.
  I went to London to improve my English.
• express obligation and necessity:
  Do you need to be a member?
  We must wear the official school uniform.
• express certainty and uncertainty:
  If I don't go to university, I'll probably look for a job.
  She'll pass the exam, if she works really hard.

Candidates need to have studied the language from the previous grades as well as the grade they have entered for.

For more detailed information about the Initial and Elementary Stages go to the Talking Trinity book maps and sample lessons.