My sister gap in a bank in the city centre.
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Correct answer: C — works
Why? With he, she or it, the present simple adds -s: 'she works'. 'Work' is for I, you, we and they; 'working' needs 'is'.
Aptis grammar and vocabulary practice test with answers
50 original questions in the Aptis ESOL General core format: 25 grammar questions with three options and 25 vocabulary questions (synonyms, definitions, usage and word combinations), every answer explained. In the test, vocabulary answers are chosen from drop-down lists.
About these questions
All texts, names, places, dates and prices are invented for practice. FreeExamPath is independent and not affiliated with the British Council. These exercises are not official Aptis material, and your result is a practice estimate, not an Aptis score.
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Part 1: grammar
Choose the word or words that best complete each sentence (three options).
There gap two cafés near the station.
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Correct answer: B — are
Why? 'Two cafés' is plural, so we say 'there are'. 'There is' is for one thing.
We gap to the beach last Sunday.
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Correct answer: A — went
Why? 'Last Sunday' is a finished time in the past, so we use the past simple 'went'. The present perfect cannot go with 'last Sunday'.
I can't talk now – I gap dinner.
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Correct answer: B — 'm cooking
Why? The action is happening now, so we use the present continuous: 'I'm cooking'.
This flat is gap than the one we saw yesterday.
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Correct answer: C — bigger
Why? Short adjectives make the comparative with -er: 'bigger than'. 'More big' is wrong, and 'biggest' is the superlative.
How gap money do you need for the trip?
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Correct answer: A — much
Why? 'Money' is uncountable, so we ask 'how much'. 'How many' is for countable nouns such as 'euros'.
You gap wear a helmet on a motorbike – it's the law.
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Correct answer: A — must
Why? A rule or law is an obligation, so we use 'must'. 'May' gives permission or possibility, and 'needn't' means it is not necessary.
I gap in this town since 2019.
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Correct answer: C — have lived
Why? With 'since' and a situation that started in the past and continues now, we use the present perfect: 'I have lived'.
If it rains tomorrow, we gap the picnic indoors.
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Correct answer: B — 'll have
Why? This is a real possibility in the future (first conditional): 'if' + present, then 'will' + verb.
The museum, gap opened in 1990, is free on Sundays.
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Correct answer: B — which
Why? The clause between commas adds extra information about the museum. In this kind of clause we use 'which', not 'that'.
She asked me where gap.
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Correct answer: B — I worked
Why? In a reported question the word order is like a statement (subject + verb) and the tense moves back: 'where I worked'.
The report gap by the end of the week.
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Correct answer: C — will be finished
Why? The report does not finish anything itself; someone finishes it. So we need the passive: 'will be finished'.
You gap have told me about the meeting earlier. Why didn't you?
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Correct answer: A — should
Why? 'Should have' + past participle criticises something that did not happen. 'Must have' would mean you are sure it happened, and 'can have' is not used here.
A: You haven't seen my keys, gap? B: Sorry, no.
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Correct answer: B — have you
Why? After a negative sentence the question tag is positive and uses the same auxiliary: 'You haven't …, have you?'
A: I didn't enjoy the concert. B: Neither gap I.
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Correct answer: C — did
Why? To agree with a negative past sentence we use 'Neither' + the same auxiliary in the past: 'Neither did I'.
By the time we arrived at the cinema, the film gap.
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Correct answer: C — had already started
Why? The film started before we arrived, so the earlier action uses the past perfect: 'had already started'.
I'd rather you gap smoke in the car.
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Correct answer: C — didn't
Why? After 'I'd rather' + another person, we use a past form to talk about the present or future: 'I'd rather you didn't'.
gap the bad weather, the match went ahead.
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Correct answer: A — Despite
Why? 'Despite' is followed by a noun ('the bad weather'). 'Although' needs a full clause, and 'However' starts a new sentence.
If I gap about the strike, I would have taken the train.
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Correct answer: C — had known
Why? This is an imagined past situation (third conditional): 'if' + past perfect, then 'would have' + past participle.
Hardly gap the house when it started to rain.
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Correct answer: A — had we left
Why? When a sentence starts with 'Hardly', the subject and auxiliary change places: 'Hardly had we left …'.
She denied gap the documents from the office.
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Correct answer: B — taking
Why? The verb 'deny' is followed by the -ing form: 'deny taking'.
It's high time the council gap something about the traffic.
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Correct answer: C — did
Why? After 'It's high time' + subject, we use a past form, even though we mean the present: 'it's high time the council did'.
Not until the results were published gap how close the vote had been.
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Correct answer: C — did we realise
Why? A sentence that begins with 'Not until …' inverts the main clause: auxiliary before subject, 'did we realise'.
The new manager, gap experience in retail is considerable, starts on Monday.
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Correct answer: B — whose
Why? We need a word that shows possession: the manager's experience. That word is 'whose'.
gap you need any help, just give me a call.
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Correct answer: C — Should
Why? 'Should you need …' is a formal way of saying 'If you need …'. 'Would' and 'Had' do not make a conditional with 'need' here.
Part 2: vocabulary – word matching
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to the word in capitals. In the exam you choose from a drop-down list of words.
Choose the word closest in meaning to ENORMOUS: gap
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Correct answer: A — huge
Why? 'Enormous' means very big, like 'huge'. 'Tiny' is the opposite.
Choose the word closest in meaning to PURCHASE: gap
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Correct answer: B — buy
Why? To 'purchase' something is a more formal way of saying to 'buy' it.
Choose the word closest in meaning to RAPID: gap
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Correct answer: A — fast
Why? 'Rapid' means happening at great speed, like 'fast'. 'Steady' means regular, not quick.
Choose the word closest in meaning to ACCURATE: gap
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Correct answer: B — correct
Why? 'Accurate' means exact and without mistakes, so it is closest to 'correct'.
Choose the word closest in meaning to REQUIRE: gap
Choose the word closest in meaning to CEASE: gap
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Correct answer: C — stop
Why? 'Cease' is a formal word for 'stop'. 'Begin' is the opposite.
Part 2: vocabulary – word definitions
Choose the word that matches the definition. In the exam you choose from a drop-down list of words.
gap = a person whose job is to look after people who are ill, especially in a hospital
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Correct answer: B — nurse
Why? A 'nurse' looks after ill people. A 'patient' is the person who is ill, and a 'pharmacist' prepares and sells medicines.
gap = a piece of paper that shows you have paid for something
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Correct answer: B — receipt
Why? A 'receipt' proves you have paid. A 'recipe' tells you how to cook something.
gap = to say that you are unhappy or not satisfied with something
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Correct answer: C — complain
Why? To 'complain' is to say you are not satisfied. To 'explain' is to make something clear.
gap = the money you pay regularly to live in a flat or house that belongs to someone else
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Correct answer: B — rent
Why? 'Rent' is the regular payment for using someone else's home. A 'loan' is money you borrow, and a 'tip' is extra money for good service.
gap = worried and nervous about something that might happen
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Correct answer: C — anxious
Why? 'Anxious' means worried about what might happen. 'Ashamed' is about something bad you did, and 'jealous' is about wanting what others have.
gap = to make something smaller in size, amount or price
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Correct answer: B — reduce
Why? To 'reduce' is to make something smaller or less. To 'remove' is to take away, and to 'replace' is to put something new in its place.
Part 2: vocabulary – word usage
Choose the word that best completes each sentence.
Could you gap me your pen for a moment?
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Correct answer: A — lend
Why? You 'lend' something to another person; the other person 'borrows' it from you. So: 'Could you lend me …?'
Our train was gap for two hours because of the snow.
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Correct answer: C — delayed
Why? A train that leaves or arrives late is 'delayed'. Events and meetings are 'postponed' to another day.
The hotel is in a very gap location – the station and the old town are both five minutes away.
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Correct answer: B — convenient
Why? A 'convenient' location is easy and practical to reach. 'Comfortable' describes beds or chairs, and 'confident' describes people.
Can you gap the difference between these two photos?
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Correct answer: C — tell
Why? The fixed expression is 'tell the difference' (notice how two things are different).
The company plans to gap fifty new staff next year.
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Correct answer: B — recruit
Why? To 'recruit' staff is to find and employ new people. To 'retire' and to 'resign' are what workers do when they leave.
Sales have gap by 20% since January.
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Correct answer: B — risen
Why? 'Rise' does not take an object: sales 'have risen'. You 'raise' something (prices), and 'arise' means a problem appears.
He was gap for the job because he had no experience.
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Correct answer: B — rejected
Why? A candidate is 'rejected' for a job. We 'refuse' an offer or 'deny' a claim, but we do not 'refuse' or 'deny' a person for a job.
Part 2: vocabulary – word combinations
Choose the word that is most often used together with the words in the sentence.
There was a lot of heavy gap on the motorway this morning.
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Correct answer: A — traffic
Why? 'Heavy traffic' means a lot of cars. We say 'high speed' and 'strong sun', not 'heavy'.
I can't come out tonight – I have to gap my homework.
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Correct answer: B — do
Why? In English we 'do' homework, not 'make' or 'take' it.
Can you buy a gap of bread on your way home?
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Correct answer: A — loaf
Why? A whole bread is 'a loaf of bread'. We say 'a bar of chocolate' and 'a sheet of paper'.
Please pay gap to the safety instructions.
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Correct answer: A — attention
Why? The fixed combination is 'pay attention to' (prestar atención).
Driving without insurance means you are breaking the gap.
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Correct answer: C — law
Why? We say 'break the law'. You 'commit a crime', and you cannot 'break' the police.
She always keeps her gap, so I believe she will come.
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Correct answer: A — promises
Why? We 'keep a promise' (do what we said we would do). 'Keep truths' and 'keep lies' are not used.
Official practice tests
Practise with the official practice tests too: the British Council offers a free practice test for each Aptis ESOL General component, with answer keys.
- Aptis ESOL General: Prepárate para Aptis ESOL General