Aptis test format | British Council

If you are taking an Aptis test, it is important to familiarise yourself with the test format and task types so that you can show your best performance on the test day.

How long does the Aptis test take to complete?

The total duration of the Aptis test depends on the components you are taking. The maximum allowed time for each component for the Aptis General test is:

Grammar and vocabulary: 25 minutes
Speaking: 12 minutes
Writing: 50 minutes
Reading: 35 minutes
Listening: 40 minutes.

The timings for some components may differ if you are taking other variants such as Aptis Advanced, Aptis for Teachers or Secondary English Test. Please check the pages for each component for more information.

Preparation materials

Watch the introductory videos for each of the components and check out the preparation tips. You can also take a demo test, download the Aptis General and Aptis Advanced candidate guide.

For more general preparation and useful exercises, we have plenty of free resources on our Learn English website where you can practise and improve your English skills.

Grammar and vocabulary Aptis test

Find out how the test is structured. Read our tips, watch the video and take a demo test.

Reading Aptis test

Find out more about the different reading task types, check our tips, watch the video and take an Aptis reading demo test.

Listening Aptis test

The Aptis Listening test focuses on different aspects of real-life listening. Find out what to expect and take a demo test.

Writing Aptis test

The Aptis Writing Test takes up to 50 minutes to complete and contains four tasks. Read our writing tips, watch the video and take an Aptis writing demo test.

Speaking Aptis test

The Aptis speaking test assesses your ability to communicate in English in real-life situations. It takes about 12 minutes and is divided into four sections.