jTELS

jTELS qualifications, specifically written for learners aged 11 – 16, are offered at levels A1 to B2 and have been developed, trialled, and piloted to exacting standards, under the guidance of international experts in the field of language testing and assessment.

This internationally recognised suite of qualifications offers standardised tests of English language proficiency for non-native English language speakers wishing to obtain accreditation of their level of English.

The jTELS suite of qualifications covers 4 levels.

ESaT is fully recognised by the Maltese regulating body, MFHEA (Malta Further and Higher Education Authority). ESaT TELSa qualifications are aligned to the Maltese Qualifications Framework (MQF)*, which is aligned to the European Qualifications Framework (EQF).

The following chart illustrates how ESaT qualifications compare to various international standards and assessments.

Comparison Table

ESaT MQF/EQF CEFR Cambridge English IELTS
TELSa B2 LEVEL 4 B2 VANTAGE 160-180 6.0-6.5
TELSa B1 LEVEL 3 B1 THRESHOLD 140-160 4.0-5.5
TELSa A2 LEVEL 2 A2 WAYSTAGE 120-140 3.0-3.5
TELSa A1 LEVEL 1 A1 BREAKTHROUGH 100-120 1.0-2.5

jTELS qualifications are used by further and higher education institutions as entrance requirements.

The jTELS suite of qualifications assesses the four language skills through specific tests and subtests for Reading comprehension, Written production, Listening comprehension and Oral production as well as Use of English/Language Use.

SCHEME OF ASSESSMENT FOR LEVELS A1 – B1:

PASS GRADES FAIL GRADES
Narrow Fail
Grade A Grade B Grade C Grade D Fail
80% – 100% 70% – 79% 60% – 69% 51%-59% 0% – 50%
  • Overall qualification grades are determined by a candidate’s performance across four skills in the qualification. The marking system caters for a single cumulative mark, out of 100, to be expressed as a percentage.
  • Pass mark is an overall 60%.
  • Each of the 4 language skills (Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking) carries an equal weighting of 25% of the total score:
Test weighting
Paper 1 Reading & Language Use 25%
Writing 25%
Paper 2 Listening 25%
Paper 3 Speaking 25%
  • There is no minimum pass mark for the individual sections/papers of the qualification, and, therefore, a candidate’s ‘pass’ or ‘fail’ result is based on the total/cumulative score of all the papers.
  • With the exception of the Writing section of Paper 1 and Paper 3 (Speaking), both of which entail subjective marking and are, therefore, subject to prescribed guidelines relating to assessment of productive skills, the jTELS qualifications consist of structured objective testing which allow for a fixed score to be given for each correct answer, as per marking keys/mark scheme provided.
  • The final candidate score is made up of the sum total of marks achieved in all three papers.

    SCHEME OF ASSESSMENT FOR LEVELS B2:

    PASS GRADES FAIL GRADES
    Narrow Fail
    Grade A Grade B Grade C Grade D Fail
    80% – 100% 70% – 79% 60% – 69% 51%-59% 0% – 50%
    • Overall qualification grades are determined by a candidate’s overall performance in the four papers of the qualification. The marking system caters for a single cumulative mark, out of 100, to be expressed as a percentage.
    • Pass mark is an overall 60%. Each of the 4 language skills (Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking) carries an equal weighting of 25% of the total score:

      Test weighting
      Paper 1 Reading & Language Use 25%
      Paper 2 Writing 25%
      Paper 3 Listening 25%
      Paper 4 Speaking 25%
      • There is no minimum pass mark for the individual sections/papers of the qualification, and, therefore, a candidate’s ‘pass’ or ‘fail’ result is based on the total/cumulative score of all the papers.
      • With the exception of Paper 3 (Writing) and Paper 4 (Speaking), both of which entail subjective marking and are, therefore, subject to prescribed guidelines relating to assessment of productive skills, the jTELS qualification consists of structured tests which allow for a fixed score to be given for each correct answer, as per marking keys/mark scheme provided.

      • The final candidate score is made up of the sum total of marks achieved in all four papers.