Key Facts
| Linguaskill results availability | from three working days of taking the test |
|---|
Figures correct at the time of writing. Confirm current fees and deadlines with the school or university directly.
Linguaskill is an online English test from Cambridge University Press & Assessment that uses computer-adaptive technology and AI to place a candidate between B1 and C2 on the CEFR. Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking are separate modules, so an organisation or an individual can choose which skills to test. Because the Reading and Listening questions adapt to each answer, the test has no fixed paper to learn, and preparation centres on the task types and the published criteria.
What is Linguaskill and who runs it?
Linguaskill is a modular, online and on-demand English exam from Cambridge University Press & Assessment that certifies a learner's level for education institutions and organisations. Colleges, universities and language schools use it to measure English for admission, progression or graduation, whilst employers use it to check the English of their workforce and of job applicants.
Individual test takers also use the certificate to show their level for study, work or progress tracking. The exam is powered by AI and computer-adaptive technology, and it assesses ability from B1 to C2 on the CEFR.
What is the difference between the General and Business versions?
The General version tests everyday English, whilst the Business version tests the English of the workplace.
The versions share the same four modules. In Writing, the second part is an essay in the General version and a report in the Business version. Employers choose between them according to whether the job role requires everyday English or English for a business setting.
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Enquire about this tutorHow is the test structured?
The test has four modules, Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking, and each skill can be taken separately. Reading and Listening are adaptive: each answer helps the computer estimate the candidate's level and choose the next task, and the test ends once enough questions have been answered to identify the level accurately. Each takes about 40 minutes with a maximum of 59 minutes, and the number of questions varies.
Reading tasks include multiple-choice gap-fill, open gap-fill, missing paragraph and missing sentence completion, and multiple text matching across four texts. Listening tasks include multiple choice, sentence completion with no more than three words per space, and multiple matching of monologues.
What happens in the Writing and Speaking modules?
Writing lasts 55 minutes and is typed on a keyboard, with an email in Part 1 and an essay or report in Part 2. The email has a recommended minimum of 50 words and carries 25% of the score; the essay or report has a recommended minimum of 250 words and carries 75%.
Speaking takes about 16 minutes on a computer with a microphone and headphones, and the responses are recorded. Three unmarked warm-up questions lead into five marked sections: a one-minute presentation on three bullet points, a 40-second summary of a meeting or tutorial extract, three follow-up questions, a recommendation based on a text message and extra information, and an argument presentation and evaluation. Writing and Speaking use hybrid marking, combining human examiners with auto-marking technology.
How are Linguaskill results reported?
Results are reported on the CEFR and on the Cambridge English Scale, with a certificate and a score report for each candidate. The certificate gives in-depth reporting on each module taken and an average score for the modules at B1 or higher, and the back carries Can do statements describing what a candidate can do at their level.
The Scale gives finer detail within each CEFR level: B1 covers 140 to 159, B2 covers 160 to 179, C1 covers 180 to 199 and C2 covers 200 to 210. Organisations can also view group results.
Can Linguaskill be taken at home or in a centre?
The test can be taken either in a centre with an invigilator or at a remote venue with online invigilation, and AI monitoring runs in both settings. Employers describe it as testing that can run at any venue, even at home.
A remote candidate needs a headset with a boom microphone, because built-in computer microphones are not allowed, and a webcam of 640x480. The computer must also meet the hardware and network requirements that Cambridge lists for centres. Anyone testing for an organisation should check which delivery mode it accepts before booking.
How should candidates prepare for a test with no fixed paper?
Preparation for an adaptive test starts with the task types and the published assessment criteria, because the exact questions differ for every candidate. Take the free sample tests first, remembering that the Reading and Listening samples are shorter than the real test, are not adaptive and give no result. Then read the Writing and Speaking criteria PDFs, which show what each CEFR level requires.
Give the most time to Part 2 of Writing, since the essay or report carries 75% of that module's score. Draft to the 250-word recommendation, then compare the draft with the criteria, and use Write & Improve for feedback. For Speaking, practise the 40-second summary and the one-minute presentation against a timer, record yourself, and use Speak & Improve before moving to a full timed run.
Fixed-format Cambridge exams repeat set papers and timings, so past papers work well for them. Here, practise Reading and Listening across a spread of levels, since the test keeps adjusting until it finds yours. Linguaskill Online Tutor, the Linguaskill Trainer book with its practice tests and the lesson plans offer extra practice.
Related guides
- Cambridge English exams, A2 Key to C2 Proficiency
- B1 Preliminary (PET)
- B2 First (FCE)
- B2 First Writing with model answers
- C1 Advanced (CAE)
- C1 Advanced Writing with model answers
- C2 Proficiency (CPE)
English tuition for adults with Taylor Tuition
Adults who come to us for English usually know the situation they need it for, whether that is a job, a test or daily life in the UK, so lessons start with a level check against the CEFR scale and are then built around the tasks the learner actually faces.
English for adults is taught one-to-one or in small groups, at every level from beginner (CEFR A1) to proficient (C2), online or in person in central London. Fees start from £50 per 50-minute session and depend on tutor level, there is no registration fee and the initial consultation is free. Employers can book programmes for staff and are invoiced directly.
Read more about our Cambridge English exam tutors, or send an enquiry and we will come back with tutor recommendations.
For IELTS, see our IELTS preparation tutors.
Frequently asked questions
- Can candidates take just one Linguaskill module?
- Yes. The test is modular, so Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking can each be taken separately, and an organisation chooses the combination that suits it. A candidate can also retake any one of the four skills to try to improve a score.
- What does Not reported mean on a Linguaskill certificate?
- Not reported appears against a module when the candidate's score falls below the B1 reporting range for that module. Not taken appears against any module that was not sat. The certificate also gives an average score across the modules scored at B1 or higher.
- Do the Linguaskill sample tests work like the real test?
- Only in part. The free sample tests cover Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking for both versions, but the Reading and Listening samples are shorter than the real test, are adaptive in neither case and do not provide a result. They show the task types, so use them for familiarity and for checking answers against the guidance.
- Which version is the right one to take for a job application?
- The choice depends on whether the role needs everyday English or English for a business setting, and the employer usually states which. Linguaskill Business tests English for a business setting, so it suits roles where workplace communication is tested.
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