Aptis Core: 50 questions (25 grammar, 25 vocabulary) with one 25-minute clock. Why it does not reach C1 and how it can raise your level.
The Aptis Core is 50 questions: 25 of grammar and 25 of vocabulary, with a single 25-minute clock for everything. It does not give its own level and it does not reach C1, but it can help raise your level in the other skills. Here is how each part works, which levels it covers and how to plan your time. For the rest of the site, go to the home page.
| Part | What it is | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Grammar | Complete a sentence by choosing the correct word or words, from 3 options | 25 |
| Vocabulary | 5 tasks of 5 items each (synonyms, meaning in context, definitions and collocations) | 25 |
The Core is the same in all Aptis variants. And there is only one clock: 25 minutes for all the grammar and all the vocabulary. The individual tasks do not have their own time. It is not 25 minutes for each part.
Each question is a sentence with a gap and three options. The exam divides the 25 questions by level:
| Level | Questions |
|---|---|
| A1 | 5 (fixed) |
| A2 | between 5 and 7 |
| B1 | between 5 and 7 |
| B2 | between 5 and 7 |
Almost everything is formal written English, with some spoken English questions. A1 sentences have 8 words at most. A2 to B2 sentences have 15 words at most.
| Task | What it asks | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Synonyms | Match words with the same or very similar meaning | 5 words, bank of 10 options |
| Meaning in context | Complete the gap in a short sentence | 5 sentences, bank of 10 |
| Meaning in context (second task) | Same mechanism | 5 sentences, bank of 10 |
| Definitions | Match each word with its definition | 5 definitions, bank of 10 |
| Collocations | The word that usually goes with another | 5 words, bank of 10 |
In all the tasks you choose from a bank of 10 options for five gaps, so five are left over. Do not use an option on the first gap before you have looked at the others.
According to the published structure of the exam, each Grammar question aims at a grammar point of one specific level between A1 and B2. There are no C1 or C2 questions. If you search for "Core questions from A1 to C1", you are asking for something the exam does not have.
This does not mean the Core is not important for people who aim at C1. It means the Core cannot give a C1 by itself. What it can do is help raise your level in the other skills.
The Core gives only a numerical score, without a level. But it influences the level of the four skills. If the score in one skill falls just below a cut score, the system looks at the Core and, if your Core is strong, it can raise you to the next level. For this reason, two people with the same score in one skill can receive different levels.
An example: if your Reading score is just below the B2 cut score (38 in Aptis General) and your Core is strong, the system can raise you to B2.
There are 50 questions in 25 minutes: about 30 seconds per question on average. Because the tasks have no time of their own, how you use your time is up to you. This is our own suggestion:
How many questions does the Aptis Core have? 50: 25 of Grammar and 25 of Vocabulary.
How long is it? 25 minutes in total for the two parts, with one clock.
Does the Core give a level? No, only a numerical score. But it influences the level of the skills if you are just below a cut score.
Are there C1 questions in the Core? No. The Core grammar covers A1 to B2.
Is it the same in Advanced? Yes. The Core is the same in all Aptis variants.
Do the Core in the simulator and check how you manage the 25-minute clock: take a practice test in your browser.
Aptis® is a trademark of the British Council. AptisBot is an independent project. Our estimate is not the official result.
Aptis General technical manual, Table 3 (Core structure) and the description of the Vocabulary part; "Aptis Scoring System" v2.1 (TR/2024/002) for the effect of the Core on skill levels. The time sharing and the preparation tips are AptisBot's own judgement.