Test Format for the APTIS Test
Besides language proficiency certificates such as VSTEP, IELTS, TOEIC, TOEFL, students International School can also participate in the APTIS exam offered by the British Council. Students who achieve a B2 APTIS certificate are recognized by Hanoi National University as meeting the language proficiency requirements for English programs within the university.
APTIS is an English proficiency test that assesses all four language skills – Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing. In addition, candidates must complete a Grammar and Vocabulary test. Each section of the exam consists of multiple questions with increasing difficulty levels. The exam evaluates English proficiency levels from A1 to C of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).
All parts of the exam are done on a computer and the results are returned quickly.
1. Grammar & Vocabulary Test Section (50 questions – 25 minutes)
| No. | NUMBER OF QUESTIONS/TASKS | TASK TYPES | TASK REQUIREMENTS |
| Part 1 | Grammar (25 Questions) | Sentence Completion | Multiple choice questions with three options for each question. |
| Part 2 | Vocabulary (25 Questions) | Word definition Sentence Completion Word matching (words commonly used together). | Multiple sets of words. Each set consists of 5 target words, with 10 options. |
2. Reading (25 questions – 35 minutes)
| No. | NUMBER OF QUESTIONS/TASKS | TASK TYPES | TASK REQUIREMENTS |
| Part 1 | Sentence comprehension | Choose a word to complete each sentence | Multiple choice questions with three options for each question. |
| Part 2 | Text cohesion | Put sentences in the correct order to make a complete text | There are 2 questions. Each question consists of 6 sentences that are not in the correct order. |
| Part 3 | Opinion matching | Match people’s opinions or preferences about certain topic to the statements provided | There are 4 opinions from 4 people, and 7 statements. Match the opinions with the appropriate statement. |
| Part 4 | Long text comprehension | Match suitable headings to paragraphs in a long text. | There is a long text (about 750 words) consisting of eight paragraphs. You are provided with eight headings. Your task is to match seven of the headings to seven of the paragraphs in the text. |
3. Listening (25 questions – 40 minutes)
| No. | NUMBER OF QUESTIONS/TASKS | TASK TYPES | TASK REQUIREMENTS |
| Part 1 | Information recognition | Identify specific information | Multiple choice questions with three options for each question. |
| Part 2 | Information matching | Matching specific information to people’s opinions | 6 pieces of opinions and 4 people |
| Part 3 | Inference – discussion | Identifying opinions | Multiple choice questions with three options for each question. |
| Part 4 | Inference – longer monologues | Identify the speaker’s opinion or point of view on two aspects of the topic | Two longer monologues, 2 multiple choice questions with three options for each monologue |
4. Writing (50 minutes)
| No. | NUMBER OF QUESTIONS/TASKS | TASK TYPES | TASK REQUIREMENTS |
| Part 1 | Word-level writing | Writing responds in single word or short phrases | Each answer contains 1-5 words |
| Part 2 | Short text writing | Writing sentences answering information about yourself | Sentences containing 20-30 words |
| Part 3 | Three written responses to questions | Writing sentences answering questions other members of the club or group on a social network platform | 30-40 words for each answer |
| Part 4 | Formal and informal writing | Writing two emails in response to some information you have received from the club or group. | 40-50 words for informal email 120-150 words for formal email |
5. Speaking (12 minutes)
| No. | NUMBER OF QUESTIONS/TASKS | TASK TYPES | TASK REQUIREMENTS |
| Part 1 | Sentence comprehension | Answering three questions about yourself and your interests | 30 seconds for each answer |
| Part 2 | Describe, express opinion and provide reasons and explanations | Describing one photograph and answering two questions on the topic of the photographs | 45 seconds for each answer |
| Part 3 | Describe, compare and provide reasons and explanations | Describing two photographs and answering two questions on the topic of the photographs | 45 seconds for each answer |
| Part 4 | Discuss personal experience and opinion on an abstract topic | Answering three questions on a single topic | 1 minute to prepare and 2 minutes to talk |
