Test
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TEST FORMAT

The Oxford Test of English is a multi-level, general English proficiency test which assesses the ability to understand and communicate effectively in English, reporting at three CEFR levels: B2, B1, and A2.

The test covers all four skills: Speaking, Listening, Reading, and Writing.

The Reading and Listening modules are computer adaptive, which means that the test adjusts the difficulty of questions based on the test taker’s responses, making the test more motivating, shorter, and giving a more precise measurement than traditional proficiency tests.

The Speaking and Writing modules use task randomization, making each test an individualized experience.

ModulePartsTasksItemsTiming (minutes)
Speaking4615Approximately 15
Listening41220Approximately 30
Reading492235
Writing22245
TOTAL142959Approximately 2 hours
Part 1Part 2Part 3Part 4
Speaking
Interview
Eight questions on everyday topics 		Voicemails
Two voicemails in response to two different situations		Talk
Short talk on an issue or scenario		Follow-up questions
Six follow-up questions on the theme of the Part 3 talk
Listening
Multiple choice – picture options
Five short monologues/ dialogues each with one 3-option multiple-choice question with picture options		Note-completion
A longer monologue with five 3-option multiple-choice note-completion questions		Matching opinions with people who say them
A longer dialogue with five 3-option multiple-choice questions focussing on identifying opinion		Multiple choice
Five short monologues/ dialogues each with one 3-option multiple-choice question
Reading
Multiple-choice questions on short texts
Six short texts from a variety of sources, each with one 3-option multiple-choice question		Multiple matching
Six profiles of people to match with four longer text descriptions		Gapped sentences
Six extracted sentences are inserted into a longer text		Multiple-choice questions on a longer text
Four 3-option multiple-choice questions
Writing
Email
Written response to an input email
80 – 130 words
20 minutes		Essay or article/review
Essay OR article/review on a topic typical of classroom discussion
100 – 160 words
25 minutes

Speaking

The Speaking module tests:

  • responding appropriately to questions
  • giving factual information
  • organizing extended discourse
  • describing, comparing, contrasting, speculating, and suggesting.

Listening

The Listening module tests:

  • identifying main meaning
  • global and local meaning
  • identifying opinion and attitude
  • understanding implied meaning, interaction, and pragmatics.
  1. Top bar shows progress through the module.
  2. Test takers can read and hear instructions.
  3. Test takers see the remaining time.
  4. Test takers can adjust the volume for each task.
  1. Top bar shows progress through the module and remaining time for each task. Test takers can change their responses within the time allowed.
  2. Test takers can listen to the recording twice.
  3. Test takers can adjust the volume for each task.
  4. The ‘Next’ button takes the test taker to the next question. There is no option to go back to the previous question. The test will move automatically to the next task when the time allowed has elapsed.

Reading

The Reading module tests:

  • careful reading
  • expeditious search reading
  • local and global meaning
  • inference
  • understanding attitude, opinion, and writer purpose
  • understanding reference and meaning in context.

Writing

The Writing module tests:

  • giving information
  • expressing and responding to opinions and feelings
  • inviting, requesting, and suggesting
  • writing to develop and argument
  • narrating and describing
  • writing to persuade or suggest.
  1. Top bar shows progress through the module and remaining time for each task.
  2. ‘Answered’ shows the status of a question. Test takers can change their answers within the allowed time per task.
  3. The ‘Next’ button takes the test taker to the next question. There is no option to go back to the previous question. The test will move automatically to the next task when the time allowed has elapsed.
    1. Top bar shows progress through the module and remaining time for each task.
    2. Test takers type in their response.
    3. Automatic word counter.
    4. The ‘Next’ button takes the test taker to the next question. There is no option to go back to the previous question. The test will move automatically to the next task when the time allowed has elapsed.

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