ESOL Entry 1: Everyday English Skills and Practice

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Practise everyday English on your phone with ESOL English. Explore reading, videos and quizzes between lessons.

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What is ESOL Entry 1?

ESOL Entry 1 develops English for familiar everyday situations. It is an early stage in the Skills for Life pathway. You can work on reading, writing, speaking and listening, with support that matches your starting point.

Providers such as Gateway and Trinity offer qualifications for these skills. A course provider can assess your English and help you choose a suitable class.

Everyday skills to practise

Reading: understand a short notice or message and find a day, time or place.

Writing: give simple information, complete a short form and write a clear sentence.

Speaking and listening: introduce yourself, ask a simple question and understand a short answer.

The following activities are original examples for practice. They do not decide whether you have passed Entry 1.

For a complete partner activity, use our Entry 1 speaking questions with original replies, follow-up prompts and printable conversation cards.

Read a class notice

Welcome to the art class. We meet on Wednesday at 2 pm in Room 6. Please bring a pencil. You do not need to bring paper. Ask Ben at reception if you need help finding the room.

Question A: What day is the class?

Question B: Which room do you need?

Question C: What should you bring?

Question D: Who can help you find the room?

Check your answers

A: Wednesday. B: Room 6. C: A pencil. D: Ben at reception.

Read the notice again and find the words that support each answer. The sentence about paper tells you something you do not need to bring.

Practise asking and answering

Ask a partner: What is your name? What day is your class? What time does it start?

Listen to the answer before asking the next question. If you do not understand, try: Can you say that again, please?

You can change the day and time to talk about your own class. If you are practising alone, say both parts of the conversation aloud.

Write a short message

Imagine you are joining the art class. Write a message to say your name, confirm the day and ask one question. Use invented details for this practice activity.

Example: Hello Ben. My name is Lina. I am coming to the art class on Wednesday. Can I bring my own coloured pencils? Thank you.

Now write your own version. Check the capital letter in your name, the capital W in Wednesday, and the question mark after your question.

What if the activities feel difficult?

Try one sentence at a time. Ask a teacher to explain the instructions, then try the task again. Speaking may feel easier than writing, or the other way round. Tell the provider what kind of help you need.

If you are new to reading or writing, ask about beginner or Pre-Entry support. You do not need to guess your level from one website exercise.

Keep practising between lessons

Use ESOL English's reading, videos and quizzes for additional practice on your phone. The App Store and Google Play buttons above open the official listings. For an assessed qualification, follow your course provider's advice and official resources.