100+ Free Aptis General Practice Questions

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Reading (Text cohesion): Choose the linking word for the gap: "I wanted to go to the beach. ____, it started to rain."

Moreover

Therefore

Because

However

to track

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Key Facts: Aptis General Exam

Aptis ESOL General is the British Council's flexible, computer-based English test covering grammar, vocabulary, reading, listening, writing and speaking; it reports a 0-50 score and a CEFR level (A1-C) per skill with no fixed pass mark.

Sample Aptis General Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your Aptis General exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Choose the correct option to complete the sentence: "My sister ____ to work by bus every day."

A.goes

B.go

C.going

D.gone

Explanation: With a third-person singular subject like "my sister" in the present simple, the verb takes an -s ending, so "goes" is correct. The present simple describes habits and routines that happen every day.

2Choose the correct option: "There ____ any milk left in the fridge."

A.aren't

B.isn't

C.wasn't many

D.weren't

Explanation: "Milk" is an uncountable noun, so it takes a singular verb, and "any" is used in negative sentences. "There isn't any milk" is the correct present-tense negative form.

3Choose the correct option: "If it rains tomorrow, we ____ the picnic."

A.cancel

B.would cancel

C.will cancel

D.cancelled

Explanation: This is a first conditional sentence describing a likely future result. The structure is "if + present simple, will + base verb", so "will cancel" is correct.

4Choose the correct option: "She has lived in Madrid ____ 2015."

A.for

B.during

C.from

D.since

Explanation: "Since" is used with a specific point in time, such as a year, to show when an action started. With the present perfect "has lived", "since 2015" means from that year up to now.

5Choose the correct option: "This is the ____ film I have ever seen."

A.better

B.best

C.goodest

D.more good

Explanation: "Best" is the superlative form of "good" and is used to compare one thing with all others in a group. The phrase "the best film I have ever seen" is a common superlative structure.

6Choose the correct option: "I'm tired because I ____ all day."

A.work

B.am working

C.have been working

D.worked yesterday

Explanation: The present perfect continuous "have been working" links a recent ongoing activity to its present result, here the speaker's tiredness. It emphasises the continuous effort up to now.

7Choose the correct option: "You ____ smoke in the hospital; it is against the rules."

A.don't have to

B.needn't

C.wouldn't

D.mustn't

Explanation: "Mustn't" expresses prohibition, meaning something is not allowed. Because smoking is against the rules, "mustn't smoke" correctly shows it is forbidden.

8Choose the correct option: "The report ____ by the manager last week."

A.was written

B.wrote

C.has written

D.is writing

Explanation: This sentence needs the passive voice because the report receives the action. The past simple passive is formed with "was/were + past participle", so "was written" is correct.

9Choose the correct option: "____ you like a cup of tea?"

A.Do

B.Are

C.Would

D.Will

Explanation: "Would you like...?" is the standard polite way to offer something. It is more polite than "Do you want...?" and is common in service and social situations.

10Choose the correct option: "He asked me where ____."

A.did I live

B.do I live

C.I am live

D.I lived

Explanation: In reported (indirect) questions, the word order follows a statement: subject before verb, with no auxiliary "do/did". So "where I lived" is correct after "He asked me".

About the Aptis General Exam

The Aptis ESOL General test is a flexible, computer-based English proficiency test developed by the British Council and regulated by Ofqual. It assesses up to four skills (reading, listening, writing and speaking) plus a compulsory core component of grammar and vocabulary, with candidates able to take one skill or all four depending on an organisation's requirements. The core component contains 25 grammar and 25 vocabulary multiple-choice items, while the Reading test has four parts and the Listening test has around 25 multiple-choice items, each progressing from easier to harder tasks across CEFR levels A1 to C. Results are reported both as a numerical score from 0 to 50 for each skill and as a CEFR level, with an overall CEFR level awarded when all four skills are taken. Aptis is used by governments, employers and institutions in more than 85 countries to benchmark English for study, work and selection. This free practice set focuses on the multiple-choice components: core grammar, core vocabulary, reading and listening.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

Core 25 minutes, Reading 35 minutes, Listening 40 minutes, Writing 50 minutes and Speaking about 12 minutes; the full four-skills test takes a little over 2 hours 40 minutes.

Passing Score

No fixed pass mark. Each skill is scored 0-50 and reported as a CEFR level (A1-C); an overall CEFR level is given when all four skills are taken. The required level is set by the receiving organisation.

Exam Fee

Set locally by the British Council; the General test usually costs about USD 80-120 (around GBP 65-95) for the full four skills plus core, with single-skill bookings cheaper. (British Council)

Aptis General Exam Content Outline

30%

Core Grammar

Twenty-five 3-option items on tenses, conditionals, modals, articles, prepositions, comparatives, relative clauses and reported speech across A1 to C.

20%

Core Vocabulary

Synonyms, word-definition matching, word usage in context, and word pairs or collocations that are commonly used together.

20%

Reading

Sentence comprehension gap-fill, text cohesion sentence ordering, opinion matching, and long-text heading-to-paragraph comprehension.

30%

Listening

Information recognition, information matching, opinion matching and monologue comprehension, all multiple choice with recordings playable up to twice.

How to Pass the Aptis General Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: No fixed pass mark. Each skill is scored 0-50 and reported as a CEFR level (A1-C); an overall CEFR level is given when all four skills are taken. The required level is set by the receiving organisation.
Exam length: 100 questions
Time limit: Core 25 minutes, Reading 35 minutes, Listening 40 minutes, Writing 50 minutes and Speaking about 12 minutes; the full four-skills test takes a little over 2 hours 40 minutes.
Exam fee: Set locally by the British Council; the General test usually costs about USD 80-120 (around GBP 65-95) for the full four skills plus core, with single-skill bookings cheaper.

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

Aptis General Study Tips from Top Performers

1In the core grammar section, read the whole sentence before choosing, since later words often signal the correct tense or structure.

2Build vocabulary in groups by learning synonyms, definitions and common collocations together rather than as isolated words.

3For Reading text-cohesion tasks, look for linking words and pronouns that show which sentence must come first or last.

4Practise reading question headings and opinions before the text so you know exactly what information to search for.

5In Listening, use the preparation time to predict numbers, names or keywords, and remember you can play each recording up to twice.

6Time yourself against the official limits (25, 35 and 40 minutes) so you can flag and return to difficult items without running out of time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Aptis ESOL General test?

Aptis ESOL General is a computer-based English proficiency test from the British Council that assesses grammar, vocabulary, reading, listening, writing and speaking, reporting results on a 0-50 scale and the CEFR (A1-C).

How is the Aptis General test structured?

It has a compulsory core component of 25 grammar and 25 vocabulary multiple-choice items, plus Reading (four parts), Listening (around 25 items), Writing and Speaking. Candidates can take one skill or all four.

Is there a passing score for Aptis General?

No. Each skill is scored from 0 to 50 and mapped to a CEFR level (A1-C). Taking all four skills gives an overall CEFR level. The minimum level required is set by the organisation you are applying to.

How long does the Aptis General test take?

The core takes 25 minutes, Reading 35 minutes, Listening 40 minutes, Writing 50 minutes and Speaking about 12 minutes. The full four-skills test takes a little over 2 hours 40 minutes.

What CEFR levels does Aptis General cover?

Aptis ESOL General targets the A1 to C range. Tasks start easier and become harder so the test can place candidates from beginner through advanced within a single sitting.

How much does the Aptis General test cost?

The fee is set locally by the British Council, but the full four-skills General test typically costs around USD 80-120 (roughly GBP 65-95), with single-skill bookings priced lower.