Umut and Nurgul

Umut and his mother Nurgul share their experience preparing and carrying out their Secure English Language Test (SELT) with Trinity as they both took the Graded Examination in Spoken English (GESE) Grade 5 (B1) exam on the same day. This was Nurgul’s second time taking a Trinity SELT exam as she came to Trinity two and a half years ago to take the GESE Grade 3 (A2) exam to extend her spousal visa.

After ten years of her husband living and working in the UK, Nurgul and her husband decided it was time for the family to be reunited. In 2017, Nurgul, eldest son Umut and a younger son finally made the move from Turkey to England, originally entering the UK on dependent visas.

Upon hearing the news about the transition to live in the UK, Umut was very pleased:

“There are more opportunities in the UK, the economy is better, there is more freedom here...”

Fast forward five years and the family are now ready to extend their original visa with a view to apply for full British citizenship in the coming year. After seeking advice from friends, they were recommended Trinity to take their SELT which was a requirement of their UK visa application. In preparation to take the GESE Grade 5 (B1) exam, Umut and Nurgul sought SELT exam preparation support from a local training provider, so they knew what to expect on the day.

Nurgul felt very confident as she was about to take the exam:

“I had an idea of what the exam would be like from other people and I had been practising so much having a conversation with the teacher that it felt the same with the examiner.”

Umut however was feeling nervous as he knew the importance of the exam to help him continue to live and study in the UK. Fears of the exam were removed when Umut realised that it didn’t feel like an exam:

“After a few questions I began to relax and it felt just like a natural conversation”.

Now Umut is focusing on his education as he studies IT at college and wants to progress onto university to become a programmer or web designer.

Meanwhile Nurgul is happy to have her family back living in the same country and enjoying life in the UK. She continues to share her heritage through cooking and working as a chef at a local Turkish restaurant.

“There is no need to worry you just need to focus on what you are saying and it will happen. I would recommend Trinity SELT to anyone as it is an easy process and a positive experience.”

“I had an idea of what the exam would be like from other people and I had been practising so much having a conversation with the teacher that it felt the same with the examiner.” (Nurgul)

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