You will listen to four recorded texts – monologues and conversations by a range of native speakers – and write the answers to a series of questions.
These include questions that test your ability to understand main ideas and detailed factual information, as well as the opinions and attitudes of the speakers.
They also test your ability to understand the purpose of what is said and to follow the development of ideas.
A variety of voices and native-speaker accents is used during the test, and you will hear each section only once.
The Listening component is the same for both Academic and General Training versions.
Section 1
A conversation between two people set in an everyday social context, such as a conversation in an accommodation agency.
Section 2
A monologue set in an everyday social context, like a speech about local facilities.
Section 3
A conversation between up to four people set in an educational or training context, such as a university tutor and a student discussing an assignment.
Section 4
A monologue on an academic subject, like a university lecture.
The Reading component comprises 40 questions. A variety of question types is used to test a wide range of reading skills. This includes reading for gist, main ideas, detail, skimming, understanding logical argument and recognising writers’ opinions, attitudes and purpose.
Reading - Academic version
The Academic version includes three long texts, which range from the descriptive and factual to the discursive and analytical. The texts are authentic and are taken from books, journals, magazines and newspapers. These have been selected for a non-specialist audience but are suitable for anyone entering undergraduate or postgraduate courses, or seeking professional registration.
Reading - General Training version
The General Training version requires you to read extracts from books, magazines, newspapers, notices, advertisements, company handbooks and guidelines. These are materials you are likely to encounter on a daily basis in an English-speaking environment.
Writing - Academic version
The Writing component of the Academic version includes two tasks.
The topics are of general interest to, and suitable for, anyone entering undergraduate or postgraduate studies or seeking professional registration.
Task 1
You will be presented with a graph, table, chart or diagram and are asked to describe, summarise or explain the information in your own words.You may be asked to describe and explain data, explain the stages of a process, how something works or describe an object or event.
Task 2
You will be asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem.
Responses to both tasks must be written in a formal style.
Writing - General Training version
The Writing component of the General Training version includes two tasks, which are based on topics of general interest.
Task 1
You will be presented with a situation and asked to write a letter requesting information or explaining the situation. The letter may be personal, semi-formal or formal in style.
Task 2
You will be asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem. The essay can be slightly more personal in style than the Academic Writing Task 2 essay.
The Speaking component assesses your use of spoken English and takes between 11 and 14 minutes to complete. Every test is recorded.
The Speaking component is the same for both Academic and General Training versions, just like the Listening component.
Part 1
You will be asked to answer general questions about yourself and a range of familiar topics, such as your home, family, work, studies and interests. This part lasts between four to five minutes.
Part 2
You will be given a card that asks you to talk about a particular topic. You will have one minute to prepare before speaking for up to two minutes.
The examiner then asks you one or two questions on the same topic to finish this part of the test.
Part 3
You will be asked further questions connected to the topic in Part 2. These questions give you an opportunity to discuss more abstract issues and ideas.
This part lasts between four to five minutes.
The Speaking component is delivered in such a way that your responses would be spontaneous.
