Aptis Candidate Guide (Computer Version) © British Council 2013 1 Candidate Gui

Aptis Candidate Guide (Computer Version) © British Council 2013 1 Candidate Guide Computer Version July 2013 Aptis Candidate Guide (Computer Version) © British Council 2013 2 This Guide is for Aptis candidates who wish to prepare for the test tests. There is more information about the test, as well as interactive demonstration versions (demo tests) to be found on the Aptis website (www.britishcouncil.org/exams/aptis). The Guide first gives a brief overview of the test. It then looks at each of the tests in turn, offering advice on how best to approach the items and describing how the test is scored. Aptis Candidate Guide (Computer Version) © British Council 2013 3 CONTENTS The British Council ........................................................................................................................................... 4 Introducing the Aptis Test ............................................................................................................................ 5 Aptis Test Structure ......................................................................................................................................... 5 Quick Guide to the Aptis Tests .................................................................................................................... 6 Aptis Core Test ................................................................................................................................................... 7 Sample Grammar Questions ......................................................................................................................... 8 Sample Vocabulary Questions .................................................................................................................. 10 Getting to grips with the online test ...................................................................................................... 13 Aptis Reading Test ........................................................................................................................................ 15 Sample Reading Questions ........................................................................................................................ 16 Aptis Listening Test ...................................................................................................................................... 22 Sample Listening Questions ...................................................................................................................... 23 The Aptis Writing Test................................................................................................................................. 25 Sample Writing Tests ................................................................................................................................... 26 The Aptis Speaking Test .............................................................................................................................. 33 Sound Recording ............................................................................................................................................ 34 Speaking Scale ................................................................................................................................................. 36 Aptis Candidate Guide (Computer Version) © British Council 2013 4 The British Council The British Council creates international opportunities for the people of the UK and other countries and builds trust between them worldwide. We call this work cultural relations. We are on the ground in six continents and over 100 countries bringing international opportunity to life, every day. Each year we work with millions of people, connecting them with the United Kingdom, sharing our cultures and the UK’s most attractive assets: English, the Arts, Education and our ways of living and organising society. We have over 75 years’ experience of doing this. In line with our Royal Charter, we aim to bring high quality English materials to every learner or teacher who wants them around the world. We work with governments to transform whole education systems to increase opportunity and employability through English. We train teachers by radio, web and broadcast in developing and post conflict countries. We also deliver English teaching and testing. All over the world, people want greater educational opportunities to enhance their lives and employment prospects. We live in a globalised world so our focus in education is on bringing an international dimension to education in schools, technical colleges and universities, on raising educational standards by sharing the UK's expertise, and on encouraging the best international students to study in the UK. The British Council’s high profile work in English, the Arts and Education & Society helps hundreds of millions of people worldwide to learn about and experience creativity and excellence from the UK. Millions of talented people of all ages – but particularly younger people – engage face-to-face and online with us learning English, developing new skills, experiencing life and study in the UK and earning UK qualifications. Thousands of policymakers, academics, business people, researchers, artists, sportspeople, scientists, curators, creative entrepreneurs, and teachers work through us to develop policy, professional standards and participation in English, the Arts, Education and civil society. In the process, they create new opportunities and possibilities for the UK and their own countries. By teaching and testing English, changing the way we see each other through the Arts, offering international education opportunities and sharing the UK’s ways of living and organising our society we create opportunity, trust, prosperity and security for the people of the UK and the many other countries we work in around the world. Go to www.britishcouncil.org for more information on the British Council. Aptis Candidate Guide (Computer Version) © British Council 2013 5 Introducing the Aptis Test Aptis is a new and innovative global English assessment tool from the British Council. It is an English test for adults and young adults, which can be used to assess ability in all four English skills - speaking, listening, reading and writing. It also allows organisations and individuals to develop specific English skills, with the ability to test just one skill, e.g. listening only (combined with the core grammar and vocabulary component). Aptis is usually taken on a computer, but the Core Test, the Reading Test and the Writing Test can all be taken using the more traditional pen & paper test. From late 2013, it will be possible in many parts of the world to take the Speaking Test and the Listening Test using a phone while the new iPad and tablet versions will also appear in late 2013. Level Aptis does not test at a single level. Instead, it includes a range of questions, which are designed to allow the candidate to demonstrate his or her best ability. The test results are reported either on a numerical scale (0-50) or reported as a Common European Framework of Reference for languages (CEFR) level. Recognition Aptis is not a recognised test. It cannot be used for visa, university entrance or other immigration purposes. The test is designed to be used within institutions or companies, so the results are only of value to you within the client institution or company. Aptis Test Structure Aptis consists of five components, Core (grammar & vocabulary), Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking. Different clients decide which components are needed for their situation, so you, the candidate, may be preparing to take a single component package (e.g. Core + Reading) a two-component package (e.g. Core + Reading + Listening) a three component package (e.g. Core + Reading + Listening + Writing) or a four component package (Core + Reading + Listening + Writing + Speaking). In fact, there are 15 possible combinations: Aptis Candidate Guide (Computer Version) © British Council 2013 6 Quick Guide to the Aptis Tests Test Test Design Format Activity Core 25 minutes Part 1 Grammar Complete a sentence or phrase. Complete a short dialogue. Three-option multiple choice. Part 2 Vocabulary Word usage. Word matching (similar meaning). Word pairs or word combinations (words commonly used together). Match words. Sets of five target words with ten options. Reading 40 minutes Part 1 Sentence comprehension Choose words to complete sentences. Five, three-option multiple choice questions, focusing on grammar, vocabulary and sentence-level understanding. Part 2 Text cohesion Put sentences into the correct order. Re-order a series of sentences to form a story Part 3 Short text comprehension Text completion using appropriate words, focusing on text-level understanding. Select words from a list to form a short text. Part 4 Long text comprehension A long text with a series of headings to be matched to each paragraph (with distractors). Matching, focusing on global text level understanding, and integrating heading to main text. Listening 25-50 minutes Part 1 Word and number recognition Listen to a short input (in the form of a phone message) to identify specific information. Four-option multiple choice for each item (may be listened to twice). The minimum time (listening once) is 25 minutes. Part 2 Literal meaning Listen to short conversations with two speakers or to monologues to identify specific information. Part 3 Inference meaning Listen to short conversations with two speakers or to monologues to identify speaker attitude, intention, mood etc. Writing 40 minutes Part 1 Word level writing Complete basic personal information on a form. Form completion Part 2 Short text writing Personal information questions. 20-30 words Part 3 Three written responses to written input Respond to written input on a social network-type website. 40 words for each question Part 4 Formal and informal text writing Write an informal email to a friend and a more formal email. Both emails are in reaction to information about a change. 50 words for part 1 120 - 150 words for part 2 Speaking 11 minutes Part 1 Personal information Respond to three personal information questions. 30 seconds for each response Part 2 Description of picture and comparison with own situation Describe a picture and answer two related questions. 45 seconds for each response Part 3 Describe, compare and speculate. Two contrasting pictures presented. Answer three questions of increasing difficulty. 45 seconds for each response Part 4 Discuss personal experience or opinion in relation to an abstract topic. Picture prompt – though picture is not central to answering the task. Answer three questions related to a single topic. One minute preparation time Two miniutes response time Aptis Candidate Guide (Computer Version) © British Council 2013 7 Aptis Core Test The Core Test consists of two parts. The first assesses your knowledge of the grammar of English. The second part assesses your knowledge of English vocabulary. To know what parts of grammar to expect in the test see the British Council/EAQUALS Core Inventory. This is free, and is available online at: http://clients.squareeye.net/uploads/eaquals2011/documents/EAQUALS_Britis h_Council_Core_Curriculum_April2011.pdf As with the other tests, it is really helpful to practice before taking the test by taking the demo tests on the Aptis website: www.britishcouncil.org/exams/aptis Test Design Description Preparation Part 1 Grammar In this part of the test, you will be presented uploads/Litterature/ aptis-candidate-guide.pdf

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