100+ Free ISE Foundation Practice Questions
Pass your Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Foundation exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.
Choose the word that best completes the sentence. Please ___ the door when you leave. It is cold outside.
Explore More Trinity College London English Exams
Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.
Key Facts: ISE Foundation Exam
Trinity ISE Foundation is the A2 level of Trinity College London's Integrated Skills in English exam; its two-hour Reading & Writing module tests reading through 30 items (title matching, true statements, sentence and note completion) marked out of 30, with 15 a pass.
Sample ISE Foundation Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your ISE Foundation exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1Read the text, then answer the question. "Anna lives in a small town near the sea. Every Saturday morning she walks down to the beach with her dog, Max. They play in the sand and Anna throws a ball for Max to catch. After their walk, they go home and Anna makes a hot drink. It is her favourite part of the week." What does Anna do on Saturday mornings?
2Read the text, then answer the question. "Anna lives in a small town near the sea. Every Saturday morning she walks down to the beach with her dog, Max. They play in the sand and Anna throws a ball for Max to catch. After their walk, they go home and Anna makes a hot drink. It is her favourite part of the week." What is the name of Anna's dog?
3Read the text, then answer the question. "Anna lives in a small town near the sea. Every Saturday morning she walks down to the beach with her dog, Max. They play in the sand and Anna throws a ball for Max to catch. After their walk, they go home and Anna makes a hot drink. It is her favourite part of the week." What does Anna throw for Max?
4Read the text, then answer the question. "Last summer, Tom visited his cousins in Spain for two weeks. He had never been on a plane before, so he was a little nervous. But the flight was short and easy. In Spain, the weather was hot and sunny every day. Tom swam in the sea, ate delicious food and learned a few words in Spanish. He hopes to go back next year." How did Tom feel before the flight?
5Read the text, then answer the question. "Last summer, Tom visited his cousins in Spain for two weeks. He had never been on a plane before, so he was a little nervous. But the flight was short and easy. In Spain, the weather was hot and sunny every day. Tom swam in the sea, ate delicious food and learned a few words in Spanish. He hopes to go back next year." How long did Tom stay in Spain?
6Read the text, then answer the question. "Last summer, Tom visited his cousins in Spain for two weeks. He had never been on a plane before, so he was a little nervous. But the flight was short and easy. In Spain, the weather was hot and sunny every day. Tom swam in the sea, ate delicious food and learned a few words in Spanish. He hopes to go back next year." Which statement is TRUE according to the text?
7Read the text, then answer the question. "The new sports centre opened last month in the centre of town. It has a large swimming pool, two tennis courts and a gym. The centre is open from seven in the morning until ten at night. Students pay half price on weekdays. Many families visit at the weekend, so it is best to arrive early." What time does the sports centre close?
8Read the text, then answer the question. "The new sports centre opened last month in the centre of town. It has a large swimming pool, two tennis courts and a gym. The centre is open from seven in the morning until ten at night. Students pay half price on weekdays. Many families visit at the weekend, so it is best to arrive early." Who pays half price on weekdays?
9Read the text, then answer the question. "The new sports centre opened last month in the centre of town. It has a large swimming pool, two tennis courts and a gym. The centre is open from seven in the morning until ten at night. Students pay half price on weekdays. Many families visit at the weekend, so it is best to arrive early." Why is it best to arrive early at the weekend?
10Read the paragraph, then choose the BEST title for it. "Bees are small insects, but they are very important. When they fly from flower to flower, they help fruit and vegetables to grow. Without bees, many of the foods we eat every day would disappear. This is why scientists are worried that the number of bees is falling." What is the best title for this paragraph?
About the ISE Foundation Exam
Trinity ISE Foundation is the A2 (elementary) level of Trinity College London's Integrated Skills in English (ISE) qualification, an international English exam for learners in full or part-time education. It is built around two modules: Reading & Writing and Speaking & Listening, which can be taken together or separately. The Reading & Writing module lasts two hours and contains four tasks, the first two of which assess reading through 30 selected-response and short-answer items: Task 1 is a 300-word long reading text and Task 2 is a set of three short multi-texts. Reading is marked objectively out of 30, with 15 the normal pass mark, 23 a Merit and 28 a Distinction. Each skill is reported as Distinction, Merit, Pass or Fail, and candidates must pass every skill to earn the module certificate; passing both modules at the same level earns the full ISE Foundation qualification at CEFR A2. ISE is accepted by universities, employers and, for some levels, UK Visas and Immigration.
Questions
100 scored questions
Time Limit
The Reading & Writing module lasts 2 hours, with about 20 minutes recommended for each reading task and 40 minutes for each writing task.
Passing Score
Reading is marked out of 30: Pass 15, Merit 23, Distinction 28. Writing is marked out of 28: Pass 14, Merit 20, Distinction 25. Each skill is awarded Distinction, Merit, Pass or Fail, and a Pass in every skill is required to pass the module.
Exam Fee
Around US$48 for the Reading & Writing module, about US$113 for Speaking & Listening and roughly US$134 for the Four Skills package; centres set local prices that vary by country. (Trinity College London)
ISE Foundation Exam Content Outline
Long reading (Task 1)
One 300-word text in five paragraphs with 15 questions: title matching, choosing true statements and completing sentences with exact words from the text.
Multi-text reading (Task 2)
Three short connected texts (about 300 words, one an infographic) with 15 questions: multiple matching, choosing true statements and completing summary notes.
A2 reading skills
Skimming for gist, scanning for specific information, identifying the main idea of a paragraph and finding facts at sentence, word and phrase level.
A2 grammar
Tenses, comparatives and superlatives, modal verbs, prepositions, quantifiers and linking words at A2 level.
A2 vocabulary
Everyday vocabulary, synonyms, antonyms and common phrasal verbs on familiar topics such as home, travel, food and work.
How to Pass the ISE Foundation Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Reading is marked out of 30: Pass 15, Merit 23, Distinction 28. Writing is marked out of 28: Pass 14, Merit 20, Distinction 25. Each skill is awarded Distinction, Merit, Pass or Fail, and a Pass in every skill is required to pass the module.
- Exam length: 100 questions
- Time limit: The Reading & Writing module lasts 2 hours, with about 20 minutes recommended for each reading task and 40 minutes for each writing task.
- Exam fee: Around US$48 for the Reading & Writing module, about US$113 for Speaking & Listening and roughly US$134 for the Four Skills package; centres set local prices that vary by country.
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
ISE Foundation Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Trinity ISE Foundation?
Trinity ISE Foundation is the A2 (elementary) level of Trinity College London's Integrated Skills in English (ISE) qualification. It assesses reading, writing, speaking and listening through two modules and is accepted by universities and employers worldwide.
What reading tasks are in the ISE Foundation exam?
Reading has two tasks. Task 1 (Long reading) is a 300-word text with 15 questions using title matching, choosing true statements and sentence completion. Task 2 (Multi-text reading) has three short texts with 15 questions using multiple matching, true statements and summary notes.
How is ISE Foundation reading scored?
Reading is marked objectively out of 30. Candidates normally pass with at least 15 marks, achieve a Merit at 23 and a Distinction at 28 or higher. Each skill is reported as Distinction, Merit, Pass or Fail.
How long is the ISE Foundation Reading & Writing exam?
The Reading & Writing module lasts two hours and has four tasks. Candidates are advised to spend about 20 minutes on each reading task and about 40 minutes on each of the two writing tasks.
What CEFR level is ISE Foundation?
ISE Foundation is set at CEFR level A2, the elementary level. Texts are short and use everyday vocabulary, so it suits learners who can understand simple factual texts on familiar topics.
How much does ISE Foundation cost?
Fees are set by local centres. The Reading & Writing module costs around US$48, Speaking & Listening around US$113, and the Four Skills package roughly US$134, with prices varying by country.