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AptisAdvancedCandidateGuideJune 2020www.britishcouncil.org/aptis
2Aptis Advanced Candidate GuideIntroducing the Aptis testAptis is an innovative global English assessment tool from the British Council taken on acomputer. It is a suite of English tests for adults and young adults, which can be used toassess English language ability in all four skills – reading, writing, listening and speaking.Aptis tests do not test at a single level. Instead, they include a range of questions, whichare designed to allow candidates to show their best ability. The test results are reportedon a numerical scale (0–50) and as a level on the Common European Framework ofReference for Languages (CEFR).There are four variations of Aptis tests.1. Aptis GeneralTests from A1 to C on the CEFR and is suitable for most test-takers.2. Aptis AdvancedTests English language ability from B1 to C2 on the CEFR and is for higher level test-takers.3. Aptis for TeachersTests from A1 to C on the CEFR and is designed for teachers.4. Aptis for TeensTests from A1 to C on the CEFR and is for candidates between 13 and 17 years of age.The purpose of this guide is to help you prepare for the Aptis Advanced tests. An overviewof each component is provided followed by detailed descriptions and advice on how tobest prepare. You’ll also find tips on how to practise for the test and information on howthe test is marked. There is also a section at the end for available accommodations thatcan be made for test takers with special needs.
3Aptis Advanced Candidate GuideContentsIntroducing the Aptis test2Test structure5Aptis General test structure6Aptis Advanced core test (grammar and vocabulary)8Sample grammar questionsSample vocabulary questions910Aptis Advanced reading test12Reading part 1: Opinion matchingReading part 2: Long text comprehensionReading part 3: Reading for global understandingReading part 4: Reading across two texts13131414Aptis Advanced listening test15Listening part 1: Identifying factual informationListening part 2: Identifying opinion and attitudeListening part 3: Understanding an extended spoken textListening part 4: Understanding an extended story16161717Aptis Advanced writing test18Writing part 1: Three written responses to questionsWriting part 2: Formal writingWriting part 3: Article for website publication202225Aptis Advanced speaking test28Speaking part 1: Describe, compare and provide reasons and explanations30Speaking part 2: Discuss personal experience and opinion in relation to an abstract topic 33Speaking part 3 and 4: Presentation and question on your presentation36
4Aptis Advanced Candidate GuideHow to take the online test39Speaking test voice recording40Aptis for all42Final checklist43Useful web resources43More information43
5Aptis Advanced Candidate GuideTest structureAptis Advanced consists of five components: core (grammar and vocabulary), reading,listening, writing and speaking.You may be taking one skill component (for example, listening) or all four skill components(reading, listening, writing and speaking) depending on the requirements by yourorganisation or institution.
6Aptis Advanced Candidate GuideAptis Advanced test structureTestTest designActivityFormatCorePart 1GrammarSentence completion.3-option multiple choicePart 2VocabularyWord matching (similarSets of 5 target words withmeaning).10 options25minutesMatch words to definitions.Sentence completion.Word pairs or wordcombinations (wordscommonly used together).ReadingPart 160OpinionMatch people’s opinions7 statements matched to 4matchingto statements.people’s opinionsLong textMatch headings to7 paragraphs and 8comprehensionparagraphs.headingsReading for globalSelect a word or phrase5 gaps and 3 options perunderstandingto complete gaps.gapReading acrossSelect word or phrase to6 gaps and 3 options pertwo textscomplete gaps.gapminutesPart 2Part 3Part 4ListeningIdentifyingListen to a monologues4-option multiple choice30Part 1factualand dialogues toListen twiceminutesinformationidentify the correctinformation.Part 2Part 3Identifying opinionListen to a monologue3-option multiple choiceand attitudeto identify opinion and2 items per monologueattitude.Listen twiceUnderstanding anListen to a dialogue to3-options: man/woman/extended spokenidentify which speakersbothtextexpress which opinions.6 items per dialogueListen oncePart 4Understanding anListen to a monologue3-option multiple choiceextended storyto identify information.4 items per monologueListen once
7Aptis Advanced Candidate GuideTestTest designActivityFormatWritingPart 1Three writtenRespond to written30-40 words for each45responses toquestions on a socialquestionminutesquestionsnetwork-type website.Formal writingWrite an email in responsePart 2120-150 wordsto a short email and somenotes (provided).Part 3Article for websiteWrite an informative andpublicationinteresting text on a topic180 -220 wordsusing notes provided.SpeakingDescribe, compareDescribe two contrasting45 seconds for each10and providepictures and answer tworesponseminutesreasons andadditional questions.explanations.Discuss personalAnswer three questions1 minute to prepareexperience andon an abstract topic.2 minutes response timeSelect and develop points60 seconds preparationfrom a list of for/against90 seconds presentationPart 1Part 2opinion in relationto an abstracttopicPart 3Presentationideas related to a topic.Part 4Question on yourRespond to a follow-upNo preparation timepresentationquestion related to the45 seconds to respondtopic in Part 3.
8Aptis Advanced Candidate GuideAptis Advanced core test(grammar and vocabulary)The core in Aptis Advanced consists of two parts. The first part assesses your knowledgeof English grammar. The second part assesses your knowledge of English vocabulary.PartDescriptionPreparationGrammarIn this part of the test, you will answerTo know which parts of grammarPart 125 questions.are tested, see the British Council /EAQUALS core inventory. This is freeAll 25 questions are in the format of aand available online at:3-option multiple british-council-eaquals-core-Complete a sentence by choosing theinventory-general-englishcorrect word.One great way to prepare for thegrammar test is to use the BritishCouncil’s LearnEnglish mmarVocabulary There are 25 questions in this part of the test.To help you prepare for this part of thePart 2test, the LearnEnglish website has gamesThere are a number of question types:and activities to help you improve yourvocabulary.Word matching: find a word with ahttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/meaning similar to the target word.vocabularyWord definition: match a definition to theAnother useful tip is to take note ofcorrect word.interesting words or word combinationswhen you read English texts.Word usage: complete a sentence bychoosing the correct word.Word pairs or word combinations:select the most common combinationsof words.
9Aptis Advanced Candidate GuideSample grammar questionsHere are some examples:He me that the machine was broken.toldspokesaidMy boss says that I to finish the report by Friday.musthaveshouldMy new computer works faster than my old one.manymoremuchI have worked for this company I left university.sinceafterfromJohn: She’s French, isn’t she?Ahmed: No, she’s from Belgium.exactlyactuallyanywayZeynep: I really don’t feel like going to see that movie tonight.Peter: Ok. we can go next week instead.MaybeHoweverNevertheless
10 Aptis Advanced Candidate GuideSample vocabulary questionsIn the first question type, you need to match words with similar meanings from a list ofoptions. To do this, click on the arrows and choose the similar word.Here is an example:For the next question type, you need to match a definition to a word. Click on the arrowand choose the word that matches the definition.Here is an example:
11Aptis Advanced Candidate GuideThe next question type asks you to complete a sentence using a word from a list.The final question type asks you to identify a word from a list that is commonly used withthe given word.
12 Aptis Advanced Candidate GuideAptis Advanced reading testThe test assesses your reading ability. The tasks start at B1 level and become more difficult asthe test progresses. You have 60 minutes to complete the four parts.PartDescriptionPreparationOpinionmatchingIn this part, you will match people’sRead all four opinions before trying toopinions to statements. You will readanswer the questions. Remember, thePart 1four people’s opinions on the samesame person can be used for more thantopic. Then you need to read sevenone answer.statements and decide which person’sopinion matches each statement.To prepare, look at the commentssection in online media and practiseThis part tests your ability to read andsummarizing the main opinions.understand short texts.Long textcomprehensionIn this part, you will read a long textRead the whole text quickly. Then(about 750 words). You will also readcarefully read the headings. Do alleight headings. The task is to matchthis before starting the task. Look forPart 2seven of the headings to paragraphsclues to connect the headings to thein the text. There is always an extraparagraphs; these might be similarheading that does not fit with anywords, ideas or topics.paragraph.To prepare, read magazine articles andfind the main idea for each paragraph.Readingfor globalunderstandingThis is a short text of around 300 wordsMake sure you read the whole textwith missing gaps. You must choose thebefore trying to answer. This isn't aright word or phrase from the drop-downgrammar test so all the options can fitto complete the gap.grammatically into the sentence. YouPart 3need to understand the whole text tochoose the correct one.Readingacrosstwo textsPart 4You have two short texts on the sameYou need to read both texts beforetopic. You need to fill in the blank withanswering as all of the options arethe appropriate phrase.grammatically possible, so you canonly choose the right one if you haveunderstood both texts.
13 Aptis Advanced Candidate GuideSample reading questionsReading part 1: Opinion matchingIn this part, you match four people’s opinions to seven statements by selecting the correctperson from the drop-down list.Reading part 2: Long text comprehensionIn the second part, you match an appropriate heading to each paragraph of a single text.
14 Aptis Advanced Candidate GuideReading part 3: Reading for global understandingIn the third part, you choose the right word or phrase from the drop-down to complete thegap.Reading part 4: Reading across two textsFor the final part, you need to fill in the blank with the appropriate phrase.
15 Aptis Advanced Candidate GuideAptis Advanced listening testThe Advanced listening test has four parts. You have 30 minutes to complete the four parts.PartDescriptionPreparationIdentifying In this part, you will listen to five shortfactualrecordings of monologues or dialoguesinformation and answer one question for eachVisit the British Council's LearnEnglishPart IdentifyingopinionandattitudeIn this part, you will listen to threeUse the fact that you can listen twice torecordings of monologues and you willyour advantage here. Read through thehave to answer two questions for eachquestions before you listen. Then, onrecording.your first listen, select your answers andPart 2website for lots of very useful activities,tips, apps and podcasts:listen a second time to confirm.Understanding anextendedspokentextIn this part, you will hear a discussionYou will only hear the recording oncebetween a man and a woman. Onand you have 20 seconds to readthe screen you will see a number ofthrough the options before it starts.expresses which opinion: the man, theMake sure you know what informationPart 3woman, or both the man and the woman.you are listening for.opinions. You will need to identify whoUnderIn this part, you will hear two separatestanding an monologues. You will need to select theextendedcorrect answers from a table.storyYou will only hear each monologue once.Part 4table.The information in the monologue doesnot appear in the same order as the
16 Aptis Advanced Candidate GuideSample listening questionsRemember that if you'd like to hear a question for a second time, just click on the Playbutton ( ). The system will not allow you to listen more than twice. For part three and fouryou will be able to hear the recording just once.Listening part 1: Identifying factual informationYou listen to a short monologue or dialogue and identify specific information.Listening part 2: Identifying opinion and attitudeYou listen to three separate monologues and answer two questions for each recording.
17 Aptis Advanced Candidate GuideListening part 3: Understanding an extended spoken textYou listen to short conversations with two speakers to identify the opinions of thespeakers.Listening part 4: Understanding an extended storyYou listen to a monologue to identify four key pieces of information.
18 Aptis Advanced Candidate GuideAptis Advanced writing testThere are three parts to the writing test. You will interact in a social media-type writtenconversation, write an email and write a short article for an online publication. All writingtasks are marked by examiners.Make sure you fully understand the questions. Plan what you are going to write and thenedit your writing before clicking to the next question.The most common mistakes include:not answering the questions (going off-topic)writing too much but with poor grammar, spelling and punctuationnot using a variety of sentence structuresnot writing in sentences or paragraphs.The total time allowed for the writing test is 45 minutes.
19 Aptis Advanced Candidate GuidePartDescriptionPreparationThreeIn this part, you will have a social network
Aptis Advanced core test (grammar and vocabulary) The core in Aptis Advanced consists of two parts. The first part assesses your knowledge of English grammar. The second part assesses your knowledge of English vocabulary. Part Grammar Part 1 Vocabulary Part 2 Description In this part of the test, you will answer 25 questions. All 25 questions are in the format of a 3-option multiple choice .
