The Ofqual approved NEAL(T) test assesses English proficiency for study, work, or migration, providing scores across Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking, enabling access to global opportunities. It tests real-world English in different academic contexts.
Proficiencies and skills include understanding generic academic vocabulary. Covering aspects of academic expression such as formality of style, textual conventions, oral skills and critical thinking. Providing candidates with a qualification that they can use for entrance purposes to higher education for English education courses in English-speaking countries, and in countries where English is not a first language but where the ability to speak, write and understand verbal and written general academic English is required.
NEAL(T) provides candidates with a banded score of their knowledge and skills in academic English encompassing the following units:
The assessments for NEAL(T) are set and marked by NOCN and made available on the NOCN assessment platform.
NEAL(T) tasks reflect real academic scenarios, emphasising strong academic relevance in language assessment. The speaking test adapts question difficulty based on candidate responses to better assess language ability. Clear mark schemes and band descriptors ensure transparency and fairness in scoring.
The test is designed to assess the language proficiency of candidates at various levels according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The test will use texts at the C1 level while the questions range through the levels B1 to C2. The tests certificates are provided through a banded scoring system which aligns to the CEFR levels.
The qualifications are suitable for Non-native speakers of English worldwide, including in the UK who: