Aptis ESOL (British Council)
Aptis ESOL is the British Council English test. You take it on computer in supervised sessions at a test centre. It tests grammar and vocabulary and the four skills, with a score from 0 to 50 and a CEFR level for each skill.
Practise each part for free
The test at a glance
- Core25 grammar questions and 25 vocabulary questions in 25 minutes
- ListeningAbout 40 minutes; you can hear each recording 2 times
- Reading4 parts in 35 minutes
- Writing and Speaking50 minutes and about 12 minutes, all on computer
- ResultsWithin 48 to 72 hours, with an electronic certificate
- Fee in Spain€95 (General) and €110 (Advanced), recommended fee
Which variant do you need?
| Levels | For | |
|---|---|---|
| Aptis ESOL General | A1 to B2 (C1 if you perform above B2) | General English, for candidates over 16 |
| Aptis ESOL Advanced | B1 to C2 | Higher levels: tells C1 and C2 apart |
| Aptis ESOL for Teachers | A1 to B2 (C1 if you perform above B2) | Teachers: same format as General, with teaching content |
You can take one component or all of them, depending on what your institution asks for. Before booking, check which variant and level it accepts.
The parts of Aptis ESOL General
| Part | What you do | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Core | 25 grammar sentences with three options and 25 vocabulary questions: synonyms, definitions, word usage and word combinations | 25 min |
| Reading | Complete sentences in an email, put sentences in order in two texts, match the opinions of four people and choose headings for a text of about 750 words | 35 min |
| Listening | 17 tasks with 20 recordings: specific information (numbers, times, places), matching speakers, opinions of a man and a woman, and two longer monologues | about 40 min |
| Writing | Four parts about a club: one-word answers, a text of 20 to 30 words, three replies of 30 to 40 words and two emails, one informal (40 to 50) and one formal (120 to 150) | 50 min |
| Speaking | Four recorded parts: personal questions (30 s each), describe a photo and compare two (45 s per question) and an abstract topic (2 min, with 1 min to prepare) | about 12 min |
In Advanced the tasks and timings change: Listening 30 min, Reading 60 min, Writing 45 min and Speaking in 3 parts.
Scores and levels
Each skill gets a score from 0 to 50 and a CEFR level. If you take all four skills, you also get an overall level and a total score out of 200. The core has no level of its own: its score helps decide the level when a skill falls just below a threshold.
The thresholds differ by skill, so scores are not compared across skills. Our practice shows only your number of correct answers.
Booking, fees and results in Spain
You book with the British Council at a test venue in your city. The recommended fee is €95 for General and for Teachers and €110 for Advanced.
- ID: passport, national ID card or biometric residence permit, with a photo and valid on the test day; bring the same document to the session.
- Results: by email 48 to 72 hours after the test, not counting weekends and public holidays.
- Certificate: electronic only; institutions can check it with its QR code or link.
- Review: you can request an Enquiry on Results up to 8 weeks after the test, for €55.
What it is used for in Spain
According to the British Council, Aptis ESOL is recognised by 16 autonomous communities, more than 40 universities and CRUE, the Spanish universities' rectors' conference, and it appears in public-sector exam (oposiciones) and education calls. Check your call for the variant and level it accepts.
Good to know
- Validity: the official pages state no expiry date; ask the institution how recent a result must be.
- No certificate: below A1 (B1 in Advanced) you receive a report, not a certificate.
- Listening: in General you can hear each recording once or twice.
- Writing: keep to the word limits; the screen has a word counter.
- Regulation: the test is regulated by Ofqual, the exams regulator in England.
Independent practice
Our texts, recordings and tasks are our own and follow the public Aptis ESOL General format; some ordering and drop-down tasks are answered here by choosing an option. Your result is a practice estimate, not an Aptis score. FreeExamPath is not affiliated with the British Council.
Official information
- British Council Spain: Aptis ESOL (in Spanish)
- Aptis ESOL General: format and official practice tests (in Spanish)
- Dates, fees and venues in Spain (in Spanish)
- Results and certificates (in Spanish)
- Institutions and public-sector exams that recognise Aptis ESOL (in Spanish)
- British Council: Aptis ESOL variants
Questions about the Aptis test
How much does the Aptis test cost in Spain?
The British Council recommended fee is €95 for Aptis ESOL General and for Teachers, and €110 for Advanced.
How long is the Aptis test?
In General: core 25 min, Listening about 40, Reading 35, Writing 50 and Speaking about 12. You can take only the components you need.
When do I get my results?
Within 48 to 72 hours of the test, not counting weekends and public holidays. The certificate arrives by email.
Are these official Aptis tests?
No. They are FreeExamPath's own exercises in the test format, and FreeExamPath is not affiliated with the British Council. The official practice tests are on the British Council website.
Official sources (9)
- Aptis ESOL — British Council España — britishcouncil.es, checked 19 October 2026
- Prepárate para Aptis ESOL General — British Council España — britishcouncil.es, checked 19 October 2026
- Reserva tu examen: Fechas, tasas y sedes de examen Aptis ESOL — British Council España — britishcouncil.es, checked 19 October 2026
- Aptis ESOL: Resultados y certificados — British Council España — britishcouncil.es, checked 19 October 2026
- ¿Qué instituciones y oposiciones reconocen Aptis ESOL? — British Council España — britishcouncil.es, checked 19 October 2026
- Aptis ESOL — British Council — britishcouncil.org, checked 19 October 2026
- Aptis ESOL: How to read the score report (PDF) — British Council — britishcouncil.org, checked 19 October 2026
- Aptis ESOL General – Test format overview (PDF, 2024) — British Council — britishcouncil.org, checked 19 October 2026
- Prepárate para Aptis ESOL Advanced — British Council España — britishcouncil.es, checked 19 October 2026