Aptis vs Trinity ISE: how the level is chosen, module structure, certificate and validity, with official Trinity and British Council data.
Trinity ISE and Aptis both measure English in four skills, but they are organised very differently. In ISE you choose a level and you pass or fail. In Aptis you take one exam and the level comes from your scores. This is the difference that changes how you prepare. We use only what Trinity and the British Council publish. We do not compare difficulty or acceptance: there is no official source for that. For more on Aptis levels, see the home page.
| Aptis (British Council) | Trinity ISE | |
|---|---|---|
| How the level is chosen | You do not choose: Aptis General measures A0 to C1 and your level comes from the scores | You choose a level before you sit the exam (ISE Paper) |
| Levels | General: A0-C1. Advanced: B1-C2 | A1, Foundation (A2), ISE I (B1), II (B2), III (C1) and IV (C2) |
| Structure | Four skills, plus a Core of grammar and vocabulary | Two modules: Reading & Writing and Speaking & Listening |
| Duration | General: Reading 35 min, Listening 40, Writing 50, Speaking 12 | ISE II (B2): Reading & Writing 2 hours; Speaking & Listening 20 min |
| Result | Score per skill, level per skill and global level | You pass each module at the level you chose |
| Full certificate | With the four skills, global level | You must pass both modules at the same level |
| Expiry | The certificates do not expire | "Valid for life"; for UK visas, 2 years |
ISE Paper is offered at six levels. These are the durations Trinity publishes for the four levels that have data on its resource pages:
| Level | Equals | Reading & Writing | Speaking & Listening |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISE I | B1 | 2 hours | 18 min |
| ISE II | B2 | 2 hours | 20 min |
| ISE III | C1 | 2 hours | 25 min |
| ISE IV | C2 | 3 hours (controlled written exam) | 25 min (interview) |
What else we know about the format:
Trinity has a different version, ISE Digital, with another logic:
Compared with Aptis, the point in common is that you do not choose a level either. The difference is that ISE Digital is a computer exam at a centre, in a single session.
In ISE Paper there are two types of certificate, depending on what you pass:
The important point: both modules must be at the same level. If you pass Reading & Writing at ISE II and Speaking & Listening at ISE I, you have two module certificates, not the full one. That is why choosing the right level is part of the preparation.
This is AptisBot's own judgement, not official. The data for each exam are those published by Trinity and the British Council.
| Your situation | What fits | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You do not know your level and do not want to risk choosing wrongly | Aptis General or ISE Digital | In neither do you choose a level before you enter |
| You know you need B2 and prefer a classic written exam | ISE II | A level fixed in advance, two modules |
| You prefer an individual interview with an examiner | ISE Paper | The oral module is individual, in person or by video call |
| You want to do everything in one computer session | ISE Digital | Four modules together, up to 105 minutes |
| You need to show C2 | Aptis Advanced (B1-C2) or ISE IV | They are the ones that reach that level |
| Your institution names one exam | The one it names | Their rules come first |
We have not verified these data, so ask the centre: price and what it includes, dates, whether the oral module is in person or by video call, when the result arrives, and whether specific adjustments are available. Also confirm with whoever asks for the certificate that they accept it and at what level.
What level equals ISE II? B2 of the Common European Framework. ISE I is B1, ISE III is C1 and ISE IV is C2.
Can I take only one ISE module? Yes, the two ISE Paper modules can be taken together or separately. But for the full certificate you must pass both at the same level.
Can I take a single ISE Digital module? No: the four modules are taken at the same time. You can retake one module within 90 days.
Does ISE expire? Trinity certificates are valid for life. For UK visas, validity is 2 years from the exam date. Aptis ESOL certificates do not expire; each institution sets the maximum age it accepts.
How long do ISE results take? For ISE Digital, most come out in 3-5 working days. For ISE Paper we have no verified time: the general Trinity certificates page mentions 4-8 weeks for certificates to reach the centres.
Do the Speaking part of the simulator with the time given for each answer: take a practice exam in your browser.
Aptis is a registered trademark of the British Council. AptisBot is an independent project. Our feedback is an estimate, not an official result.
Trinity College London, official pages for ISE Paper and ISE Digital, resource pages by level (ISE I, II, III and IV), results and certificate validity (consulted on 9 Oct 2026); Test format overview 2023 and "Aptis Scoring System" v2.1 from the British Council. We do not compare difficulty or acceptance.