Aptis – English language test
Aptis ESOL. A new, computer-based, Ofqual-accredited English test from the British Council.
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. For more information, please visit the British Council website.
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).
- 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.
How much does it cost?
The UK test taker fee is £79.
Appeals
The test taker can apply for an appeal in the following two instances:
• appealing an Enquiry on Result
• appealing results that were suspended or withheld.
The appeals procedure is not concerned with making judgments about test takers' work in the test. An appeal does not involve re-marking or re-assessment, although further re-marking may result from an appeal if it is found that procedures have not been satisfactorily followed.
Appeals will be reviewed and assessed by Exams Business Assurance Appeals Team. This team of experts sits fully independent of operational lines, reporting via Head of Business Assurance, Security and Risk, to Director Exams. This independence ensures objectivity in the Appeals process.
Appeals should be submitted within 21 days after the inquiry on results or after they receive a notification that their results were cancelled or withheld.
For more information about the Atis ESOL appeals process, please get in touch at exams@ihbristol.com.
Enquiry on Results
A test taker can request their test to be re-marked for any reason by paying a fee. This request may be made at any point up to eight weeks after the test day and will follow the Enquiry on Result (EOR) process.
Test takers may only ask for re-marking of the entire test, and not a single component.
For the Grammar and Vocabulary, Reading, and Listening components, checks are conducted to ensure components have been marked accurately by the system. For the Speaking and Writing components, tests are re-marked by Senior Examiners.
The process of re-marking speaking and writing test components takes two to seven days from export into the marking system to export back to TestReach. Re-marked test results are considered final. Original marks can still be viewed within TestReach.
If the re-marked components result in the overall CEFR level increasing to a higher CEFR level, a new test report will be issued, and the test taker’s fee returned.
The EOR fee is only reimbursed, and a new test report form is issued if the overall CEFR level increases after the test is re-marked. If the re-marked components result in the overall CEFR level remaining the same or decreasing to a lower CEFR level, then the test taker is informed and the EOR fee is retained. If a CEFR level changesin a single component but the overall CEFR level stays the same, the EOR fee is retained.
Complaints
If you have a complaint to make about your exam, please contact us at exams@ihbristol.com. If you make your complaint on the test day, please ensure to make it in writing, and hand it to the test day supervisor.
For complaints to be made to the British Council, please follow this link to their complaints page.
Cancellations
Test takers can cancel their test registration at any time by contacting the centre.
The test taker’s right to receive a refund will depend on how far in advance they cancel their test registration. For this purpose, the ‘Test Date’ is the calendar day of the test as stated in the booking confirmation.
1. Cancellation within 14 days of registration: If a test taker cancels their registration within fourteen calendar days of their booking confirmation, they will receive a full refund and no administration fee will apply. Alternatively, a test taker can move their test free of charge to any other available time at any other venue and location within the accredited country.
2. Cancellation outside the 14 days cooling-off period but no later than 48 hours prior to the Test Date: If a test taker cancels their registration outside the 14-day cooling off period but before 48 hours prior to the Test Date, they will receive partial refund (75% of the test fee). Alternatively, a test taker can transfer their test to any other available time at any other venue and location within the accredited country with 25% admin fee.
3. Cancellation made within 48 hours prior to the test and outside the 14-days cooling-off period: If a test taker cancels their Aptis ESOL test registration within 48 hours prior to the Test Date and outside the cooling-off period, no refund will be issued. In addition, no transfers to another time will be permitted.
4. Special Circumstances: If a test taker has not cancelled their test registration within the deadlines set out above and/or did not show up for the test, then any refunds and test date changes will normally be not accepted. However, under special circumstances, a free refund/transfer will be granted provided relevant documents are submitted within 4 weeks after the test date by the test taker. If the special circumstance is accepted and the test taker still wishes to sit a test, a free transfer is possible to any selected time/venue/location within the accredited country.
Deadline for results and certificate delivery
The results are available in the system within 48 hours after the test date. The hard copy of the test taker’s report is available within 7 days after the results have been released.
A report is produced electronically that provides information about overall CEFR levels and component CEFR levels and scores. A bar chart is produced to display this information in a visual format. A brief description of CEFR levels appears on the back of the report.
Once the results are available the test taker will receive an email with their results. The email will notify the test taker on how they will receive their test report form.
The email will also provide information about how to enquire about results and a description of the relevant procedure and fees involved.
Aptis test results and test taker reports do not have an expiry date. They provide evidence that a test taker demonstrated language skills at a specified level on a particular date.
Special Arrangements
The British Council is committed to ensuring that Aptis tests are accessible and fair, and they attempt to make reasonable arrangements for all test takers with special needs.
If you have a disability or a special need, you need to contact the local Aptis team at least four weeks before your test date. You will need to provide medical evidence that meet the following criteria:
• issued within the last two years
• be legible and either in English or in a local language
• be an original document on headed paper and bearing the name, relevant qualification(s), signature of a recognised practitioner and a stamp
• give a clear statement of the test taker’s disability
• make it clear how the disability justifies special arrangements.
What type of special arrangement and support we can offer to the test taker?
Modified test materials
If you require modified test materials due to hearing or visual impairments, you may be eligible for modified exam materials, including:
• Braille papers (Grade 1/un-contracted or Grade 2/contracted)
• large print: custom font size on A3 or A4 print both depending on your needs
• listening materials: special needs CD
• speaking materials: Braille or large print written prompt or large print visual prompt
• an amanuensis (a person who will write down your answers)
• a reader
• a scribe/copier (verbatim transcript).
Administrative arrangements (e.g. extra time)
If you require administrative arrangements, youmay be able to request special administrative arrangements, including:
• extra time: 25-100 per cent extra time depending on your needs
• supervised breaks during the test
• a separate room
• separate invigilation.