Can You Fail Aptis? Scoring and Pass Marks Explained

There is no pass or fail in Aptis. You get a level for each skill. But you can still land below the level you need, and that hurts just the same. Here is how the level is calculated, what score you need, and what to do if you fall short. Back to home.

What you receive at the end

• Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking: a score from 0 to 50 and a level (A1, A2, B1, B2 or C).
• Core (grammar and vocabulary): only a score, with no level.
• If you take all four skills: a global score (maximum 200) and a global level. These are given only if you take all four skills.

How the global level is calculated

It does not come from adding points. The British Council calculates it as the rounded average of your four skill levels. Examples from its own table:

Listening B2, Reading B2, Writing B2, Speaking B1 gives a global level of B2. With higher levels it works the same way: two B2 and two B1 also give B2. One B2 and three B1 leave the global level at B1.

Many people say your global level "equals your weakest skill". This is not what the British Council calculates. Skills balance each other. Also, a person with fewer points can have a higher global level, because what counts is the level of each skill, not the sum of the scores.

The trap: some requirements look at each skill

The certificate lists each skill, and many institutions ask for a level in each one. If they ask for B2 in all four, a B1 in Speaking puts you out, even if your global level is B2. Check what the institution asks for: only the global level, or each skill.

Cut-off scores for Aptis General (out of 50)

This is the score where each level starts:

Aptis for Teachers has the same cut-offs since the 2023 revision. Teens uses the General cut-offs except in Listening. The B2 cut-off is not the same in all four skills, so aiming for "about 33 points" everywhere is not enough in Reading, Writing and Speaking.

If you take the Advanced

Its range goes from B1 to C2, so there is no A1 or A2. Below 22 in Writing or Speaking, there is no level to report.

Core can raise your level

If your score in a skill falls just below a cut-off, the system looks at your Core result. If your Core is strong, the system can move you up to the next level. So two people with the same score in a skill can receive different levels.

Why candidates fall short

• Each task aims at one level. In General Writing, Part 3 aims at B1 and only Part 4 aims at B2. In Speaking, Part 4 is the only part that can give C1.
• Not answering what is asked. In Writing Part 3, raters mostly value relevant content and task completion. The scale counts how many of the three questions you answered.
• Writing too many words. In Writing Part 2, the most common mistake is to go over 30 words and fill the text with errors.
• Not knowing the format. In General Listening, every part can be heard twice. Part 3 asks whether an opinion is expressed by him, by her, or by both.
• Leaving Core for the end. It is the only part that can raise your level in the other skills, so give it time.

What to do if you do not reach the level

1. Read the report skill by skill. Write down the level and score of each one.
2. Use the tables to calculate how many points you miss in your weakest skill. If you need B2 in Writing and scored 36, you miss 4 points, not "a level".
3. Train that skill with its real format, task by task. Measure yourself with a practice exam before you book another date.

Can you retake Aptis? And only one skill?

According to the official British Council FAQ (July 2023):

• Retaking the exam: the British Council recommends that you improve your language skills first. The only restriction it mentions is for Aptis Advanced: you can register only for an exam date at least 3 months after your last Advanced. For the General, it gives no waiting period and no maximum number of attempts.
• Retaking one skill: no. "Skills cannot be taken separately. You will have to sit the complete exam again."
• Results: published 48 to 72 hours after the exam date, not counting weekends and public holidays. The paper certificate is printed in the 10 working days after publication and sent by courier.
• Expiry: the certificate does not expire. Each institution decides how old a certificate can be.

Can you appeal your score?

Yes. There is a review of results (Enquiry on Results), with three conditions:

• The complete exam is reviewed. Single skills are not accepted.
• You must ask within 8 weeks of the exam date.
• The British Council does not let you see or review your answers at any time.

The fee is not in that FAQ, so check it on the British Council website. This information is from 2023. Confirm the current deadlines before you act.

In our view, a good check is three complete practice exams in which you reach the cut-offs every time. It does not guarantee the official result. Core is a quick place to start.

Frequently asked questions

What score do I need for B2 in Aptis General? 34 in Listening, 38 in Reading, 40 in Writing and 41 in Speaking, out of 50. Core gives no level, but it can move you up if you are just below.

Is my global level the level of my weakest skill? No. It is the rounded average of the four levels. But if an institution asks for a level in each skill, a lower one can put you out.

When do results arrive? 48 to 72 hours after the exam, not counting weekends and public holidays (British Council FAQ, 2023).

Can I retake only Speaking or Writing? No. You must sit the complete exam again.

Does the certificate expire? No, but each institution decides how old a certificate can be.

Test yourself now: take a practice exam in your browser and compare your score with the cut-offs above. Our practice score is an estimate, not an official result.

Sources

British Council "FAQs Aptis ESOL" (18 July 2023); "Aptis Scoring System" v2.1 (technical report TR/2024/002, CEFR cut-off annex); Aptis General technical manual; rating scales report TR/2017/001. The General tables were revised in 2020 and the for Teachers table in 2023.

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