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Trinity B1 test practice: GESE Grade 5 questions and answers

Format checked against Trinity's specifications on 10 October 2026

GESE Grade 5 is Trinity College London's B1 speaking and listening exam. It lasts ten minutes and has two parts with a Trinity examiner: a discussion of a topic you have prepared, and a conversation about two subject areas that the examiner chooses.

Length
10 minutes
Level
CEFR B1
Taken with
One examiner
Result
A, B or C to pass

Used for indefinite leave to remain (settlement) and British citizenship.

Free practice tests

GESE Grade 5 sample questions with answers

These are the questions from our practice test 1, with example answers at B1 level. To hear each question and answer it out loud with a timer, open practice test 1.

Your topic: My job in a care home

You prepare the topic before the exam. The examiner asks about your points.

What I do every day
You could sayI help older people to get up, wash and have breakfast. I've done this job for two years.
Examiner asksWhich part of the day is the busiest?
Why I chose this job
You could sayI chose it because I looked after my grandmother at home, and I like helping people.
Examiner asksDid you need any training before you started?
The people I work with
You could sayThere are a lot of staff, and many of them have worked there for more than ten years.
Examiner asksHave you made any good friends at work?
A difficult day
You could sayLast winter a lot of staff were ill, so I worked twelve hours. I have never been so tired.
Examiner asksWhat did you do after that long day?
My plans for the future
You could sayI'd rather not stay a care assistant for ever. I think I will study to become a nurse.
Examiner asksHow long will the course take?

A question you could ask the examiner: Have you ever visited a care home?

Festivals

ExaminerWhat is the most important festival in your country?
Example answerThe most important festival is Eid. Families visit each other, and we cook a lot of special food.
ExaminerHave you ever been to a festival in the UK?
Example answerYes, I have. I've been to the Christmas market in my town twice, and I really enjoyed the lights.
ExaminerDo you prefer big festivals or quiet family celebrations?
Example answerI prefer quiet celebrations, because I can talk to everyone. Big festivals are exciting, but there are too many people.
ExaminerHow will you celebrate the next festival?
Example answerI think we will go to my brother's house. My mother will cook, and the children will get presents.
ExaminerHow long does the festival last?
Example answerIt lasts for three days. Most people don't work during that time, so the streets are very quiet.

Means of transport

ExaminerHow do you usually travel to work or to the shops?
Example answerI usually go by bus, because I haven't got a car. It takes about twenty minutes.
ExaminerDo you prefer travelling by bus or by train?
Example answerI'd rather travel by train, because it's faster and I can read. Buses are cheaper, though.
ExaminerHave you ever travelled by plane?
Example answerYes, I have. I've flown to Pakistan three times since I came to this country.
ExaminerIs there a lot of traffic where you live?
Example answerYes, there's a lot of traffic in the morning, but there isn't very much in the evening.
ExaminerHow do you think people will travel in the future?
Example answerI think more people will use electric cars, and there will be fewer petrol stations in our towns.

Questions you could ask the examiner

At Grade 5, Trinity requires at least one question about your topic, and at least one about a subject area.

  • Which festival do you like best?
  • How do you travel to work?
  • Have you ever worked at night?

Practise these questions out loud

What happens in the exam

  1. Topic phase · up to 5 minutes

    You choose a topic before the exam and write five points about it on a topic form. The examiner asks about at least four of the points, in any order. You must ask the examiner at least one question about your topic.

  2. Conversation phase · up to 5 minutes

    The examiner chooses two of the six subject areas and talks with you about them. You must ask the examiner at least one question here too.

You must ask the examiner a question. At Grade 5, Trinity requires at least one question about your topic, and at least one about a subject area.

What you need to be able to do

  • Talking about the future: informing and predicting
  • Expressing preferences
  • Talking about events in the indefinite and recent past
  • Giving reasons
  • Stating the duration of events
  • Quantifying

Subject areas for the conversation

  • Festivals
  • Means of transport
  • Special occasions, for example birthday celebrations
  • Entertainment, for example cinema, television and clubs
  • Music
  • Recent personal experiences

How to prepare

  • Do not learn your topic by heart. Trinity says the topic must not be a memorised recitation. The examiner asks about your points in any order, so know your ideas, not a script.
  • Choose a topic that is not on the list. Trinity says candidates should not take their topic from the six conversation subject areas.
  • Give a reason every time. "I prefer the train because it's faster." Giving reasons is one of the functions the examiner listens for.
  • Use "have" for experience and "will" for the future. "I've been to London twice." "I think I will visit my sister." These show Grade 5 language.
  • Prepare for all six subject areas. The examiner chooses only two, but you do not know which. Each of our practice tests covers a different pair.
  • Ask two questions in total. One about your topic and one in the conversation. Decide them before the exam.

For each part in detail, with example language, common mistakes and a study plan, see our GESE Grade 5 tips.

Questions

What questions are asked in GESE Grade 5?
Questions on familiar subjects at B1 level, for example "What is the most important festival in your country?" or "Have you ever been to a festival in the UK?" The exam has 2 parts: the topic phase and conversation phase. This page shows a full set of example questions with example answers, and our 3 free practice tests have more.
How long is the GESE Grade 5 exam?
10 minutes. It is a one-to-one speaking and listening exam with a Trinity examiner.
Where do I take it?
At a Trinity SELT centre in the UK. Trinity says the examiner joins by video link on a tablet that a steward sets up for you.
Is there reading or writing?
No. GESE tests speaking and listening only.
How is GESE Grade 5 marked?
The examiner gives a letter: A (distinction), B (merit), C (pass) or D (fail). Trinity says a provisional result is emailed by 9am the next day.
How much does it cost?
Trinity's site listed all its SELT GESE exams at £160 when we checked. Confirm the price when you book.
Is this practice marked?
No. A conversation cannot be marked by a web page. You hear each question, answer out loud, and compare your answer with an example. If your browser can listen, it also shows the words it heard, so you can check that you were clear.
Is this site connected to Trinity?
No. This is independent practice material for B1 candidates. GESE is an exam of Trinity College London, and only Trinity's own pages are the official guide to it.
Who needs GESE Grade 5?
Trinity lists it for indefinite leave to remain (settlement) and British citizenship. For settlement applications made on or after 26 March 2027, the Immigration Rules raise the level on most routes to B2, so check GOV.UK before you book.
What is the topic form?
A sheet with the title of your topic and five points you want to talk about, one short phrase each. You bring it to the exam and the examiner uses it to ask you questions. Trinity provides a blank form, and you may also make your own.
What happens if I do not prepare a topic?
Trinity says the topic phase cannot be assessed without one, and that this results in a fail for the whole exam.

Other grades and tests

Official sources

TestWise Prep is independent and is not connected to Trinity College London. GESE is Trinity's exam. Format checked against Trinity's specifications on 10 October 2026; every practice question and example answer here is our own.