- Working time
- About 85 minutes
- Sections
- 4, always in the same order
- Scores
- 1 to 6, in half bands
- Adaptive
- Reading and Listening
The four sections
| Section | Time | Items | Tasks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | About 30 min | About 50 | Complete the Words, Read in Daily Life, Read an Academic Passage |
| Listening | About 29 min | About 47 | Listen and Choose a Response, Conversation, Announcement, Academic Talk |
| Writing | About 23 min | 12 | Build a Sentence, Write an Email, Write for an Academic Discussion |
| Speaking | About 8 min | 11 | Listen and Repeat, Take an Interview |
Adaptive Reading and Listening
Reading and Listening each have two stages. Your result in the first stage decides whether the second is easier or harder. Only the harder second stage can lead to the top bands. Writing and Speaking are the same for everyone.
The 1 to 6 band scale
Each section gets a band from 1 to 6 in half steps, and the overall score is the average of the four, rounded to the nearest half band. Each band lines up with a level on the CEFR, the European scale many universities use.
| Band | CEFR level | Roughly |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | C2 | Near-native control |
| 5 to 5.5 | C1 | Strong for most graduate programmes |
| 4 to 4.5 | B2 | Common undergraduate requirement |
| 3 to 3.5 | B1 | Independent but limited |
| 1 to 2.5 | A1 to A2 | Basic |
For about two years, score reports also show a comparable 0 to 120 score, so universities can compare with older results. Use the Quvo score converter to translate between the scales.
More everyday English
The old test was almost entirely academic. The new one adds notices, emails, announcements and conversations from daily life. Your preparation should include both kinds of English.
Where to go next
- Pick the section you find hardest and open its guide.
- Follow the recommended learning path for a week-by-week plan.
- Take one full timed test early to find your weakest task type.
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