Aptis ESOL is the British Council's CEFR-aligned English test: computer-based, fast, and offered in dozens of countries to certify a level from A1 to C2. Where it is accepted (universities, employers, public bodies) depends on each institution and country — it is not a UK visa/immigration test.
Aptis ESOL is a British Council English test that measures your level against the CEFR (the A1-C2 scale). You take it on a computer at a supervised centre, it covers the four skills plus Grammar and Vocabulary, and you usually get results in 48-72 hours. There is no pass or fail — it certifies the level you demonstrate.
Every Aptis test combines a core component with the four language skills:
The whole test takes roughly two to two and a half hours and is sat in a single supervised session on a computer.
There are two main variants for adults, calibrated for different level ranges:
Not sure which one you need? Read Aptis General vs Advanced — what each one certifies.
General, Advanced and for Teachers share the same 5 components and are all taken on a computer (Speaking is recorded with a microphone — no examiner in front of you). What changes is the level calibration and, above all, the number of tasks in Writing and Speaking:
| Component | General / for Teachers | Advanced |
|---|---|---|
| Grammar & Vocabulary (Core) | 50 questions · 25 min | ~50 questions · 25 min |
| Reading | 4 parts · 50 min | 4 parts · ~45 min |
| Listening | 17 tasks · ~40 min | 11 tasks · ~30 min |
| Writing | 4 parts · ~50 min | 3 parts · ~45 min |
| Speaking | 4 tasks · ~12 min | 3 tasks · ~12 min |
| Level measured | A1 to C (no C1/C2 split) | B1 to C2 (splits C1/C2) |
The difference that catches everyone out: General has 4 Writing parts and 4 Speaking tasks; Advanced has 3 and 3, but the tasks are longer and harder (an article, a formal email to an authority, speculating about images). Don't prepare Advanced as if it were "a harder General" — the format is different. For Teachers uses the same format as General (4+4), with classroom-based task contexts.
Source: British Council — Aptis ESOL Test Format Overview.
Your report is detailed — not a simple "pass/fail":
Grammar & Vocabulary, Reading and Listening are machine-marked; Speaking and Writing are marked by qualified examiners. More on results and timing →
The hard part of self-study isn't the exam fee — it's feedback: knowing whether your Speaking is C1 or still B2, and whether your Writing uses the right structures. The AptisBot Telegram bot gives you a question bank, mock tests and AI feedback on Speaking and Writing, free.
Measure your real level in a few minutes.
📲 Open @AptisEnglish_botAptis® is a registered trademark of the British Council. This page is an independent project and is not affiliated with the British Council. Recognition varies by country and institution — see British Council — Aptis ESOL recognition.