Spain

In Spain, Trinity ISE and GESE are recognised as official English language exams by the Ministry of Education (MEFPD) on a state level, and by the education authorities of the Autonomous Communities.

Trinity collaborates with regional governments on bilingual projects at both primary and secondary levels in the state, state-subsidised and private sectors, through various agreements nationwide.

For more information on our activities in Spain, including contact details for our representatives, please visit here.

Trinity College London’s ISE and GESE qualifications have been awarded the Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE) Q-Mark, indicating that they have successfully undergone ALTE’s rigorous audit process and met its established quality standards.

Separately, these qualifications have been formally calibrated and mapped to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), enabling a clear and transparent description of candidates’ language proficiency at internationally recognised benchmark levels.

Together, the combination of the Q-Mark and the CEFR mapping assures test takers, institutions, and recognising bodies that Trinity’s English-language qualifications are both aligned with rigorous quality-assurance practices and situated reliably within an international framework for language proficiency.

ISE

ISE is available in paper-based and digital variants. Both are equivalent versions of the same OFQUAL-regulated qualification, administered entirely in person under secure conditions at Registered Exam Centres, and both lead to the same outcome.

Trinity’s ISE qualification is widely recognised in Spain by universities, public administrations, institutions, and employers for study, mobility, and professional purposes, where evidence of English proficiency at defined CEFR levels is required.

Recognition within higher education is supported by the inclusion of ISE in the approved English-language qualification lists issued by the Council of Spanish University Rectors (CRUE) and by the Association of Language Centres in Higher Education (ACLES).

Many universities also publish their own guidance online, indicating the CEFR levels required for admission and Erasmus+ mobility. Further support for the sector is provided in Trinity’s ISE Guide for Higher Education and Universities.

• CRUE:   crue.org/universidades
• ACLES:  acles.es/index.php/centros-asociados

ISE is also accepted by public administrations in Spain for public employment processes and other professional requirements. Acceptance is governed by the conditions outlined in each official call for applications, and some calls may include specific provisions, such how recently the test was taken or preferred formats. For example, for Ministry of Defence recruitment and other processes, we recommend that candidates use the ISE Paper edition to help ensure compatibility with these requirements. Applicants should always check the specific criteria published in each call before submitting their application.

To strengthen the speed, efficiency, and security of the certification process, ISE certificates are now issued in a secure digital format. This format mirrors the traditional paper certificate in appearance and validity while enabling faster and more reliable verification for universities, employers, and public institutions worldwide. Traditional paper certificates remain fully valid and can be verified through the Trinity Results Verification (TRV) system. Digital certificates, on the other hand, can be authenticated through a dedicated digital verification service.

GESE

GESE qualifications are also officially recognised for a range of specific purposes in Spain, where proof of spoken English at particular CEFR levels is required, and education authorities accept them in several regions for bilingual teaching roles. It should be noted, however, that Trinity’s ISE is the qualification most commonly required for teaching posts, with ISE III (C1) typically specified for entry into regional bilingual education systems.