Trinity GESE Grade 3
Trinity GESE Grade 3 (A2)
Trinity GESE Grade 3 is a 7 minute one-to-one speaking test at CEFR level A2, with one conversation phase. GOV.UK says A2 speaking and listening applies to a family visa extension after 2.5 years if your first visa used A1. Check GOV.UK for your situation. See also our A2 English test page.
Practise each part
- Level
- A2 (CEFR). Source: GOV.UK list
- Length
- 7 minutes, one conversation phase. Source: Trinity
- Format
- One-to-one with an examiner by video. Source: Trinity
- Fee
- £160 on Trinity's SELT page (UK). Source: Trinity
- Where
- In the UK only. Source: GOV.UK
What Trinity GESE Grade 3 tests
Grade 3 checks that you can talk about everyday life in simple sentences. You talk about daily routines, ability, places and what people are doing. You also join ideas with "and" and "then". Source: Trinity specifications .
The step below is Trinity GESE Grade 5 (B1). Grade 3 is the lower step.
What happens in the test, step by step
- The examiner greets you and puts you at ease.
- The examiner starts a conversation. They may use pictures or objects and ask what people are doing.
- You answer in simple sentences and link ideas with "and" and "then".
- You ask the examiner at least one simple question about everyday life.
- The examiner ends the test. It is up to 7 minutes.
Sources: Trinity specifications , Trinity Grade 3 page .
The one thing you must do
You must ask the examiner at least one simple question about everyday life. For example: "What time do you get up?" or "What do you do at weekends?" Choose your question before the test and use it early. Source: Trinity specifications .
What the examiner can talk about
- Topics: jobs, places in the local area, place of study, home life, weather, free time, times and dates, ordinal numbers up to 31st.
- What you may need to do: talk about daily routines and times, give dates, say what you can and cannot do, give very simple directions, say what people are doing now, and talk about past states.
- Grammar: present continuous, can and can't, words for movement, time and place, was and were, and the link words "and" and "then".
Source: Trinity specifications .
How Grade 3 is marked
As with Grade 2, there is one phase and one grade. Trinity judges task fulfilment: how well you communicate, the language you use, and your fluency. The grades are A (Distinction), B (Merit), C (Pass) and D (Fail). D is a fail. Sources: Trinity specifications , Trinity conversion tables .
| Grade | Meaning (in short) |
|---|---|
| A | Very effective, high accuracy, quick and fluent |
| B | Generally effective, some errors, some hesitation |
| C | Moderately effective, may need support, hesitation halts the flow |
| D | Very limited, communication breaks down, fail |
Summary of Trinity's descriptors: Trinity performance descriptors .
Test setting, price and results
For the SELT, the examiner joins by video conference. At a Trinity centre you sit at a tablet. A personal steward sets it up for you. Examiners may tailor the test to a study, work or everyday-life setting, depending on your background and preference. Sources: Trinity Grade 2 page , Trinity specifications .
Trinity's SELT page shows £160 for Grade 3 as of 9 November 2026. See SELT test fees and SELT test results times for more.
Trinity says you get a provisional result by email by 9am the day after the exam. The final result and a link to your digital certificate follow within 4 to 7 days. UK SELT digital certificates usually arrive within 7 days. A printed certificate costs £12.50. Source: Trinity SELT page , Trinity results page .
How to practise
- Talk for one minute about a normal day. Use times: "At seven o'clock I get up. Then I make tea."
- Describe pictures: say what people are doing right now.
- Practise "I can" and "I can't" with five things.
- Practise two questions about everyday life and say one early in the test.
- Do a timed 7 minute practice. Listen back and fix one thing at a time.
Try it with an AI examiner here, or take the free level check (no sign-up).
How long is Trinity GESE Grade 3?
Up to 7 minutes, with one conversation phase.
What level is Trinity GESE Grade 3?
CEFR A2. It is on the GOV.UK list of tests taken in the UK (file dated 29 September 2025).
Do I have to ask a question in Grade 3?
Yes. Trinity says you must ask at least one simple question about everyday life.
What happens if I get a D?
At Grade 3 you get one grade. D is a fail. A, B and C pass.
Can I take Trinity GESE outside the UK for a visa?
GOV.UK lists Trinity as a provider for tests taken in the UK only, not outside the UK (as of 9 November 2026). Check GOV.UK for your situation before you book.
Is Grade 3 enough for a family visa extension?
GOV.UK says A2 speaking and listening applies after 2.5 years if the first visa used A1. Your case may differ, so check GOV.UK for your situation.