Aptis General Listening: four parts, 40 minutes, two listenings in every part. What each part asks, the B2 cut score (34 out of 50) and how to prepare.
The Aptis General Listening lasts 40 minutes. It has four parts, and you can listen twice in all of them. This is the big difference from Advanced, where two parts are heard only once. Here is what each part contains, which level each part aims at and how to prepare. For the rest of the site, go to the home page.
| Part | What it is | Items | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Recognising information | Short monologues and dialogues: a number, a time, a place, a suggestion | 13 | A1, A2 and B1 |
| 2 · Matching information | 4 speakers and 6 written pieces of information: you choose the best one for each speaker | 4 | B1 |
| 3 · Matching opinions | A dialogue between a man and a woman: who says each opinion? | 4 | B2 |
| 4 · Understanding a monologue | 2 monologues with 2 questions each about attitude or intention | 4 | B2 |
There are 25 items in total. Part 1 is divided like this: 5 items at A1, 5 at A2 and 3 at B1.
These are short messages, monologues or dialogues where you must identify one detail: a number, a name, a place or a time. They start very simple and go up in level.
How to work on it: write down numbers and proper names while you listen. Use the second listening to confirm the detail.
You listen to four people and you have six pieces of information in writing. You must choose the one that matches each speaker, and two are left over. These are not six questions with four speakers as options. There are four items, one for each speaker.
How to work on it: read the six options before you listen and underline one key word in each. Pay attention to paraphrase: what you hear may not repeat the words of the option.
There is a dialogue between a man and a woman, and four questions. In each question you must decide if the opinion is expressed by him, by her or by both. This format appears in General, not only in Advanced.
How to work on it: next to each question, write M (man), W (woman) or B (both) while you listen. If the second listening contradicts your note, change it.
You listen to a monologue and answer two questions about the attitude, intention or opinion of the speaker. You must notice the language and the tone, not only the facts. There are two monologues with two questions each.
How to work on it: ask yourself what the speaker wants to achieve (to convince, to complain, to doubt), not only what the speaker says.
Listening cut scores in Aptis General (out of 50):
| A1 | A2 | B1 | B2 | C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 16 | 24 | 34 | 42 |
B2 starts at 34. If your score is just below it, the Core can raise you to the next level.
The Advanced Listening lasts 30 minutes and has four different parts. The first two are heard twice. Parts 3 and 4 are heard only once. In the third part there is a dialogue with six statements (him, her or both), and you get 20 seconds to read the options before the audio starts. In the fourth part there are two monologues with answers in a table, and the information does not follow the same order as the table.
How long is the Aptis General Listening? 40 minutes, with four parts.
Can you listen twice? Yes, all parts of General can be heard twice.
How many questions does it have? 25 items: 13 in Part 1 and 4 in each of the other three parts.
What score do you need for B2 in Listening? 34 out of 50 in Aptis General.
Do you also listen twice in Advanced? Only in the first two parts. In the third and fourth, only once.
Do the Listening in the simulator and check how you do in the four parts: 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 5 (Listening structure); Test format overview 2023 (General and Advanced); "Aptis Scoring System" v2.1 (TR/2024/002) for the cut scores. The preparation tips are AptisBot's own judgement.