What is the UAE Teacher Licence TESOL test?
The TESOL test is the specialisation test in the Ministry of Education's Teacher Licensing System (TLS) for teachers of English as a foreign language in Grades 3 to 12. It checks subject knowledge across ten domains, from linguistics and grammar to CEFR-based marking of student writing and how Arabic affects learners of English.
The exam format
| Set by | UAE Ministry of Education, Teacher Licensing System |
|---|---|
| Questions | 125 multiple-choice questions |
| Time | 2 hours |
| Delivery | Computer-based |
| CEFR Writing section | Rate short student essays on a CEFR-based scale, with half bands allowed (for example B2+) |
| Pass score | Not published in the study guide |
What the exam covers
| Domain | Approximate share |
|---|---|
| Linguistics (including IPA and phonology) | 16% |
| Parts of speech | 12% |
| CEFR writing | 12% |
| Methods | 12% |
| Arabic transfer | 8% |
| Assessment literacy | 8% |
| Error identification | 8% |
| CEFR knowledge | 8% |
| Second language acquisition | 8% |
| Young learners | 8% |
Free official resources, and what we add
The MoE TLS TESOL Study Guide is free on the TLS portal and includes the test specifications and a small set of sample questions. The CEFR and its Companion Volume are free from the Council of Europe. We add 111 original practice questions spread across all ten domains in line with the official weights, each with an explanation and a named source.
How to prepare
- Learn the IPA symbols for English consonants and vowels, and practise transcribing short words.
- Revise parts of speech in context: the same word (after, those, has) can change class depending on the sentence.
- Read the CEFR self-assessment grid for writing and practise placing short texts at A1 to C2.
- Know the main methods (CLT, TBL, PPP, audio-lingual, TPR) and the common Arabic-transfer errors.
- Practise by domain, then take timed mocks at the real pace of just under one minute per question.
Practice questions with answers
Tap a question to see the correct answer and explanation.
Which IPA symbol represents the first sound in "think"?
- /θ/
- /s/
- /t/
- /ð/
Answer: A, /θ/. /θ/ is the voiceless dental fricative in "think". /ð/ is the voiced sound in "this". Source: International Phonetic Alphabet.
Identify the part of speech of the word in capitals: "They walked to the beach AFTER lunch."
- Adverb
- Conjunction
- Determiner
- Preposition
Answer: D, Preposition. "After" is followed by a noun ("lunch"), so here it is a preposition. In "after we ate", it would be a subordinating conjunction. Source: Swan, Practical English Usage.
Which CEFR level best fits this student text? "My name is Omar. I am twelve. I live in Al Ain. I like football. My brother is eight."
- A2
- B2
- A1
- B1
Answer: C, A1. The text uses isolated, very simple sentences about personal details with no linking words, matching A1 ("can write simple isolated phrases and sentences", short postcards and forms with personal details). Source: Council of Europe, Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (2001) and Companion Volume (2020), self-assessment grid for writing; MoE TLS TESOL Study Guide (CEFR Writing section).