Exam structure

The Oxford Test of English assesses four skills: oral expression, listening comprehension, written expression, and reading comprehension. The candidates are given a time limit to complete each of these tasks. The reading and listening modules are adaptive.

The test adapts to the candidate’s responses, meaning that each exam is a unique and motivating experience. This makes the test shorter and more precise than traditional linear exams. The speaking and writing modules offer individualised tasks that have been reviewed by experienced assessors.

More information

Listening (listening comprehension)
The material used in the listening comprehension module has been adapted from real sources. The extracts simulate conversations and speeches commonly heard in various modern English-speaking contexts.

The listening comprehension module consists of four parts:

• Understanding the main meaning
• Identifying details
• Local and global meaning
• Identifying opinion and attitude
• Understanding inferred meaning, interaction, and pragmatics

Speaking (oral expression)
The texts and extracts used in the four sections of the reading comprehension module vary in length and complexity, and all are real examples. The reading comprehension module consists of four parts:

• Careful reading
• Skimming to locate information
• Specific and global meaning
• Inference and deduction of meaning from the text
• Author’s attitude, opinion, and purpose
• Understanding reference and meaning in context

Writing (written expression)
In the written expression module, participants demonstrate their accuracy in the use of vocabulary and grammar, as well as their ability to structure and synthesise texts.

It consists of two parts. In the second part, participants may select the task that best suits their performance.

Participants must be able to:

• Provide information
• Express or respond to opinions and feelings
• Invite, request, and suggest
• Write to develop an argument
• Write to persuade or suggest
• Narrate and describe

Results
Test results are available within a maximum of 14 days. They are presented in a clear and informative report format, showing the candidate’s level in each of the four skills separately and overall, in accordance with the levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

How was the Oxford Test of English created?
The Oxford Test of English was designed and developed over several years, with particular attention paid to each stage in order to ensure its reliability, accuracy, alignment with the CEFR, and overall exam quality.