Same exam format, different level range. The short version: General certifies A1-B2 (and C1 if you exceed B2); Advanced certifies B1-C2 and is the only one that can certify C2.
| Feature | Aptis General | Aptis Advanced |
|---|---|---|
| CEFR range | A1 → B2 (C1 if you exceed B2) | B1 → C2 |
| Can certify C2? | No (ceiling C1) | Yes — the only one |
| C1 vs C2 distinction | No — grouped as C1 | Yes — its tasks and rating scales are calibrated for B1–C2 |
| Best for | Certifying B1 / B2 | Certifying C1 / C2 |
| Components | Both: Grammar & Vocabulary (Core) + Reading + Listening + Speaking + Writing · scored 0-50 per component + CEFR per skill and overall · results in 48-72h | |
There is no pass or fail: if you take the Advanced aiming for C1 but perform at B2, you still receive a valid B2 certificate.
| Component | General / for Teachers | Advanced |
|---|---|---|
| Core (Grammar & Vocabulary) | 25 + 25 questions · 25 min | 25 + 25 questions · 25 min |
| Reading | 4 parts · 35 min | 4 parts · 60 min |
| Listening | 4 parts · 40 min every recording can be played twice | 4 parts · 30 min ⚠️ Parts 3 and 4 are played only ONCE |
| Writing | 4 parts · 50 min from 1–5 words up to a 120–150 word formal email | 3 parts · 45 min no word-level part; ends with a 180–220 word article |
| Speaking | 4 parts · 12 min | 4 parts · 10 min includes a 90-second presentation |
| Total time | ~2 h 40 | ~2 h 50 |
The Listening difference is the one that hurts. In General you can replay every recording a second time. In Advanced you can only do that in Parts 1 and 2 — Parts 3 and 4 play once, and you get 20 seconds to read the options before Part 3 starts. Also note the Reading: the Advanced one takes almost twice as long.
The British Council publishes the cut scores in the appendix of its «Aptis Scoring System» technical report. Each skill is marked out of 50, and these are the scores at which each level starts:
| Skill | General — B2 / C1 | Advanced — C1 / C2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | 34 | 42 | 38 | 50 |
| Reading | 38 | 46 | 40 | 50 |
| Writing | 40 | 48 | 44 | 50 |
| Speaking | 41 | 48 | 44 | 50 |
Two things worth knowing. First, your overall CEFR level is the rounded average of your four skill levels — three B2s and one B1 still give you B2, but one B2 and three B1s give you B1. Second, the Core component can push a skill up a level: if a skill falls just below a cut score, the system checks your Grammar & Vocabulary result and, if it is strong, awards the higher level. It only ever raises your level, never lowers it.
Sources: British Council, «Aptis ESOL General / Advanced Test format overview 2023» and «Aptis Scoring System» v2.1 (TR/2024/002).
Whatever the requirement, read your recipient's exact wording before booking — the certificate you need is decided by the university, employer or authority that asks for it.
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