What is Aptis ESOL?
Aptis ESOL is a four-skills, computer-based English test, developed by the British Council and delivered in supervised face-to-face test sessions. Aptis ESOL is based on the Aptis testing methodology, which has been validated in studies by independent researchers, and is trusted by governments, educational institutions, employers and organisations in more than 85 countries.
Aptis ESOL is regulated by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) – the UK government body that regulates qualifications, examinations and assessments in England.
Aptis ESOL is also recognised by public bodies and institutions in a number of countries where official certification of English language proficiency is required. Click here to see the full list.
Aptis ESOL provides proof of candidates’ ability to communicate in English at all levels from A1 to C2 on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).
Who can benefit from Aptis ESOL?
For individuals
You can use Aptis ESOL to certify your English level according to the CEFR and meet the language requirements of recognising organisations.
Aptis ESOL gives you:
- an Ofqual-regulated certificate from the British Council at an affordable price
- convenient test dates and locations
- quick and accurate results in just 48 hours
- a secure way to verify your test results with recognising institutions via a digital verification platform
- supervised testing on a computer
- user-friendly test format.
You can take Aptis ESOL in public examination sessions in England, Portugal, Spain, Italy and Vietnam, if you need to certify your English language level with local recognising institutions.
For organisations
Flexibly delivered to meet your specific needs, Aptis ESOL can assess the level of English of your students, employees or candidates, benchmarking them to the CEFR to ensure they meet your level requirements. Supervised face-to-face delivery and our innovative marking system ensure accuracy, eliminate bias, and guarantee the reliability of results.
Why choose Aptis ESOL?
- regulated by Ofqual
- validated by research
- secure delivery
- flexible testing options
- reliable, recognised proof of level at an affordable price
- quick and accurate results in just 48 hours
- a digital result verification system based on secure blockchain technology.
Aptis ESOL variants
Aptis ESOL is available in the following variants:
- Aptis ESOL General – A General English proficiency test for candidates over 16 years old. It tests levels from A1 to B2 on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). Candidates demonstrating a level above B2 are awarded a C1.
- Aptis ESOL Advanced – Tests language proficiency from B1 to C2 on the CEFR. Tasks are more complex and designed to distinguish between C1 and C2 level candidates.
- Aptis ESOL for Teachers – Adapted for the educational context, with test content that relates to teachers and the scenarios they come across every day. It has the same format as Aptis ESOL General and tests levels from A1 to B2 on the CEFR. Candidates demonstrating a level above B2 are awarded a C1.
Aptis ESOL has the same testing methodology and format as the Aptis test. Find out more in the Prepare for Aptis section.
To familiarise yourself with the test format, please refer to our test format overviews.
Choose your country to find out more:
England | Italy | Portugal | Spain | Vietnam