In the globalized world that we live in today, being able to prove your English proficiency is almost always essential. More and more institutions worldwide are adopting policies policies in order to
guarantee a minimum English language level in most universities and workplaces. . One particular field of work that is greatly affected by these procedures is education. As teachers are responsible for the instruction of the country’s future workforce, it is imperative that their levels of English are on par with the global standard before they begin educating.
However, there are obvious challenges to this demand. How can English language teaching be assessed most effectively? Since there are so many language tests on the market, it is difficult to have a standardized measure and make comparisons between and among educational institutions. With this in mind, the APTIS for Teachers was designed.
What is the APTIS for Teachers?
The APTIS for Teachers is a language proficiency test designed by the British Council as a more tailored version of the APTIS General Test. In this way, it follows the same format as the original. It is comprised of five components that test Core Skills: Grammar and Vocabulary as well as Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking. There are a variety of tasks within each module and each section has a specified time limit. In total, the test runs about 2 hours and 40 minutes. Despite this, Ministries of Educations or private language schools can opt for a modified version of the test to examine the skills that they find to be the most necessary. Depending on the purposes of the institution, the APTIS for Teachers can be computer- or paper-based or a combination of both.
How does the APTIS for Teachers differ from the APTIS General?
The content of the material is what makes this exam unique. The subject matter is specifically related to situations that be recognizable to an educator. By tailoring the themes and topics to the target audience, test-takers are not disadvantaged by unfamiliar content. Accordingly, their results can portray a more accurate reflection of their actual language skills.
How is the APTIS for Teachers scored?
Like the APTIS General Test, the APTIS for Teachers is scored in the same manner. Candidates who finish the test receive results in 7-10 business days following the exam. The Candidate Report outlines an individual score out of 50 for the Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking parts respectively, and a Final Overall Score out of 200. Alongside this, each individual component is assigned a corresponding CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) level, adjusted for weight within each section, as well as an overall CEFR standing. The test evaluates CEFR levels from A1 (Basic User) to a C (Proficient User), but does not make the distinction between C1 and C2.
Additionally, the Grammar and Vocabulary component is assigned a score out of 50. While this value is present on the exam report, it does not directly contribute to the sum of the Overall Final Score. Instead, it serves as a measure of placing the overall CEFR ranking should candidates find themselves between two levels.
Who should take APTIS for Teachers?
In general, APTIS for Teachers is ideal for those working in an educational setting, whether that be a publicly-funded state school or a private language institution.
- English Teachers
As it presents real-life situations that would occur in the classroom, APTIS for Teachers is ideal for English teachers. By studying for this exam, educators would be revising essential Grammar and Vocabulary tailored to their duties, and become more confident with their English language skills in context. With this certification, employers would be able to trust that their prospective teachers are able to conduct their job to the best of their ability.
- Teachers of other subjects
As many countries nowadays require their educators to have a minimum level of English, it is also useful for measuring the English proficiency of those teaching other subjects such as history, science, geography etc. This is especially useful if these subjects are taught using CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning), combining the instruction of a subject matter in English, versus in the native language of the teacher and students.
- Teachers-in-training
APTIS for Teachers can also be taken by students who are training to become certified teachers. This exam would give them the competitive edge necessary in the job market.
What are the benefits of taking the APTIS for Teachers?
There are benefits for both the institutions that require prospective employees to take APTIS for Teachers as well as for the teachers themselves.
For institutions
- Credibility in offering a British Council certification to your repertoire, reflecting the validity of your institution in association with a leading company in language-training
- Reliability in results as the test is completely standardized
- Professional development of staff members
For test-takers
- Increased confidence in English language skills, supported by an official document.
- Identification of strengths and weaknesses
- An additional certification to add to your CV.
Where can I take APTIS for Teachers?
The APTIS for Teachers is available across the world in countries such as China, Czech Republic, and Colombia to name a few.
In fact, it has already seen major success in some places, as outlined below.
The Punjab Education and English Language Initiative (PEELI) in Pakistan has used it to set a minimum standard of English in their 56,000 schools. By using the APTIS for Teachers, they have been able to standardize their teacher recruitment process and develop educational policy.
Another example comes from Rwanda, which has used the APTIS for Teachers as a measure to first assess the level of English proficiency in their school systems and then improve the quality of teaching.
Currently, the APTIS for Teachers has already been adopted by several education boards in Spain as a minimum requirement for teachers.
