TOLES Advanced Exam - Syllabus

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Oliver

TOLES Advanced Exam Syllabus outlines the grammar and legal vocabulary knowledge required for candidates aiming at accurate English use in an international legal context. The grammar syllabus covers B2/C1 conditionals, future tenses, verb patterns, modals, past tenses including passive forms, and precise preposition use with legal phrasal verbs. The legal topics syllabus addresses court case details, contracts, business structures, insolvency, disputes, property-related matters, tort and negligence, employment, and intellectual property, plus alternatives to litigation and how common law develops.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

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Pages3

Reading Time8 min

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TOLES Advanced Exam Syllabus

Recommended Study Resources

Grammar Syllabus

B2 and C1 conditionals

B2 future tenses

B2 verb patterns

B2 and C1 modal verbs

B2 and C1 past tenses

C1+ prepositions

Legal Topics Syllabus

Court cases and legal vocabulary domains

Contracts, businesses, insolvency, disputes

Landlord and tenant, tort, negligence, nuisance

Employment, intellectual property, alternatives to litigation

The TOLES Advanced Exam Syllabus RECOMMENDED STUDY FOR THE TOLES ADVANCED EXAM 􀀹 ADVANCED LEGAL ENGLISH: English Law and English Legal Vocabulary to support International Lawyers taking an SQE course (previously Advanced Legal English)-by Catherine Mason and Natalie Canham, ISBN 978-1-80068-095-1 (available from the TOLES website) 􀀹 The Illuminate online legal English Programme (available from the Cambridge Law Studio website) 􀀹 The Vocabulary of Commercial Contracts-by Catherine Mason, ISBN 978-0-9573589-0-4 (available from the TOLES website) 􀀹 The Vocabulary of Employment Contracts & Employment Law-by Catherine Mason, ISBN 978-0-9573589-2-8 (available from the TOLES website) 􀀹 Supplementary material for English grammar/use of language at a level appropriate for the group 􀀹 Practice Exams for The TOLES Advanced Exam (available from the TOLES website) 􀀹 Activate: Accuracy in Grammar Part 2 (available from Cambridge Law Studio online) 􀀹 A Manual of Style for Contract Drafting by Ken Adams ISBN 978-1-63425-964-4 (available from the TOLES website) THE TOLES ADVANCED EXAM GRAMMAR SYLLABUS The TOLES Advanced Exam tests accurate use of grammar in the following areas: THIS LIST IS IN ADDITION TO THE GRAMMAR SYLLABUS FOR TOLES HIGHER, AND TOLES FOUNDATION, WHICH IS ASSUMED KNOWLEDGE. THE THREE SYLLABUSES COMBINED COMPRISE THE FULL SYLLABUS FOR TOLES ADVANCED. B2 and C1 conditionals • Third conditional e.g. If she had paid her bills on time, she would not have incurred so much interest. • Mixed conditionals e.g. If I’d paid my bills on time, I wouldn’t be in so much debt. • Wish, if only, expressing regrets e.g. If only/I wish I had paid my bills on time. B2 future tenses • Future perfect e.g. They will have spent over £9,000 in fees by the time this is over. • Future perfect continuous e.g. We will have been working on this case for over four years by this time next month. B2 verb patterns • Verbs followed by bare infinitives such as I’d rather, had better etc. • Verbs followed by to + -ing such as used to, look forward to, etc. B2 and C1 modal verbs • May, might, could have done e.g. He might have left already. • Couldn’t have done e.g. She couldn’t have read it properly. • Must have done e.g. They must have made a better offer. • Needn’t have done vs didn’t need to i.e. We needn’t have left early. We didn’t need to leave early. • Ought to/Should have done e.g. The change should have been made in writing. • Would expressing habits in the past e.g. We would print off a paper copy of everything. • Be able to for possibility e.g. They may be able to assist you in your claim. B2 and C1 past tenses • Passive voice of all past tenses including modals e.g. The goods must have been damaged in transit. • All irregular verbs, including: bear, seek, undertake C1+ prepositions Full and accurate use of prepositions, including phrasal verbs and prepositions specific to legal English e.g. return on investment, title to goods, an interest in property etc. THE TOLES ADVANCED EXAM LEGAL TOPICS SYLLABUS The TOLES Advanced Exam tests knowledge of legal vocabulary from among the following areas: • The details of real court cases • Banks accounts and loans • Contracts in common law systems • Oral and written contracts • Sole trader businesses • Traditional partnerships and LLPs • Limited companies • Bankruptcy and insolvency • Disputes and litigation • Landlord and tenant • The law of tort • The liability of businesses for negligence • The liability of businesses for nuisance • Employment • Copyright, patents and trademarks • Alternatives to litigation • How the common law works

FAQs

What grammar areas are tested in the TOLES Advanced Exam?

The exam tests accurate use of B2 and C1 conditionals, B2 future tenses, B2 verb patterns, B2/C1 modal verbs, B2/C1 past tenses (including passive forms), and full, accurate preposition use with legal phrasal verbs.

Which legal topics and vocabulary domains are included?

Included areas cover details of real court cases, banks accounts and loans, oral and written contracts, sole trader businesses, partnerships and LLPs, limited companies, bankruptcy and insolvency, disputes and litigation, landlord and tenant matters, and tort-related vocabulary.

What study materials are recommended for preparing for the TOLES Advanced Exam?

Recommended materials include advanced legal English books and contract vocabulary resources by Catherine Mason, online legal English programmes, grammar/use supplementary material, practice exams, Activate: Accuracy in Grammar Part 2, and A Manual of Style for Contract Drafting by Ken Adams.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Oliver

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