In this article we will provide you with sample questions, model answers, general tips and strategies to prepare for APTIS speaking test.
This article will:
- Briefly explain the nature of the test
- Look at example questions
- Discuss the writing skills required
- Discuss common problems
- Give you tips and advice
- Provide your with strategies to use preparing for your exam and on exam day
What is the APTIS Writing Test?
In this part of the APYIS exam, you need to show how well you can use your English in familiar situations such as replying to a text, responding to emails, giving advice, writing a complaint etc. All the parts are generally linked with a common theme.
The theme may be that you have joined an organization, such as a club or group, and you send various texts and emails and contribute to questions or requests from the group. Your responses are then scored by an examiner.
The maximum time allowed for the reading component for each APTIS variant is:
Aptis General and Aptis for Teens – 50 minutes
Aptis Advanced – 45 minutes
Aptis for Teachers – 55 minutes
Part 1: Word-level writing
In this part, you need to answer using single words or short phrases to five text messages from another member of the club or group.
Part 2: Short text writing
In the second part, you will respond to a request for information from the club or group by writing sentences. You must write 20 to 30 words. Because you only have 20 to 30 words you need to concentrate on writing sentences that answer the message or request. In this section, you will be marked on accurate grammar, punctuation and spelling.
Part 3: Three written responses to questions
You must answer three questions from other members of the club or group on a social network site. You are expected to write approximately 40 words for each response.
Part 4: Formal and informal writing
Here you write two emails in response to some information you have received from the club or group.
You are asked to write a short informal email of 40 to 50 words to a friend, and a longer formal email of 120 to 150 words to a person in authority.
Both emails use the same topic but you need to use different language (see register below).
You will be assessed on how accurately you write and your flexibility with the English language, so check your writing and use a wide range of vocabulary, grammar and cohesive (linking) words.
For the further details please visit British Council website here.
APTIS Writing Test: Example Question
Part 1: You are joining a technology club. Fill out the form. Write short answers (1-5 words) for each message. You have 3 minutes.
What is your name? ____________________________________________
What do you do _______________________________________________
Where do you live? _____________________________________________
What is your favourite device?_____________________________________
What’s your favourite colour?______________________________________
Part 2: You are a new member of the technology club. Fill out the form. Answer the question in 20-30 words. You have 7 minutes.
Please tell us about what you use technology for most often and why:
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Part 3: You are speaking to fellow members of the technology club in a group chat. Respond to them in full sentences (30-40 words per answer). You have 10 minutes.
Alicia: Hey! Welcome to the group. Can you tell us about your first electronic device?
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Kalyn: I’m pretty addicted to social media. I use it every day! What social media sites do you usually use?
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Connor: I heard that the club is going to start meeting once a week, instead of once a month. What is your opinion on this?
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Part 4: You received this email from the president of the technology club.
Dear member,
We are writing to inform you that the trip to the science centre to see the robotics display has unfortunately been cancelled. Although many of you were looking forward to this excursion, we did not reach the necessary number of participants to continue. However, we hope to reschedule this event for next month. Please let us know if you would like a refund or if you would like to hold your spot for the new date.
Write a short email to your friend (about 50 words). Tell your friend your feelings about this and what you plan to do. You have 10 minutes.
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Write an email to the president of the club (about 120-150 words). Tell them your thoughts about this and what you would like to do. You have 20 minutes.
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
If you would like to access to more simulated APTIS writing tests then please visit our exam library here.
Top Tips For The APTIS Writing Test:
Tip 1: Analyse the question
Like in all exams you will lose points if you answer the question incorrectly or do not answer every point. You must achieve the task that the questions ask. For example, a letter of complaint usually explains the problem and then the solution you want. If you don’t do both, you will lose points.
Tip 2: Use the right register.
This is the level of formality, friendliness, politeness you use when you write. Knowing and being able to use the correct register when you write (and speak) shows that you can use English well. Using the correct register is more likely to get you the solution you want and so, it is also important for task achievement.
Tip 3: Plan carefully.
Your writing needs to be well planned. If it is disorganised it will be difficult to read and understand. That will affect your task achievement and your cohesion, and you will lose marks. We will look at making writing plans when we look at the individual writing parts.
Tip 4: Use paragraphs.
English writing is typically written in paragraphs and in most cases the formula is: one topic to one paragraph, change the topic, new paragraph! You also need an introduction and a conclusion. It isn’t usual to introduce topics or add topics to introductions and conclusions (look in section 4 writing for more information).
Tip 5: Master linking words.
We looked at how important these are in speaking and they are more important in writing. You will need to know a good range of linking words to write clearly and cohesively and ‘cohesion’ is worth 25% of the marks. Remember the words that: Sequence, contrast, give examples, give results, refer back, change the topic, sum up.
Tip 6: Learn ‘standard phrases and expressions.
When we write in English, we use similar phrases for particular situations. For instance, when we introduce our letter we may say ‘I am writing to you in connection with/with regard to…’ Once you know these, you can use them as a framework and add the appropriate words around them.
Tip 8: Know the correct spelling.
English spelling is difficult but when you learn the standard phrases, you can also learn the spelling. This will make spelling easier. We will look at other difficult words which occur often later. UK English and USA English sometimes have different spellings. It is not important which one you use but you should be consistent in every question.
Tip 9: Know the word count.
You lose marks if you write too little and waste time if you write too much (it isn’t counted). Therefore, you should know how many words should write and how long you have for each question. Then you can practice them at home. Remember that formal sentences are generally longer than informal sentences.
Tip 10: Read model answers.
Doing this will give you a good idea of what to expect. Think about the things the examiners are looking for and look at how accurate the grammar is. Ask yourself ‘is it cohesive and clear?’ ‘Is the vocabulary wide-ranging or repetitious?’ and ‘is it well planned?’.
Tip 11: Know the common topics.
Often the question is ‘Say why you are interested in/why you like…’ or you may be asked to describe something or your feelings about something. Often the topics are similar to the speaking topics and it is a good strategy to learn vocabulary related to those.
TIP 12: Stay on topic
This is again about answering the question and affects task achievement. If you are asked for an opinion you should give one. If you have to say, for example, why you are applying to join a club. Then you should write about clubs in general.
Tip 13: Give your personal opinion
This is a way you can add more information. Imagine that you are explaining what you think to someone you know (remember the ‘opinion’ phrases). It is important that your opinions are not too controversial. If you strongly believe something which may upset people. Sorry, don’t give it.
Tip 14: Get used to the timings
Make sure that you know how long you have for each part and don’t go over that time. Practice ant home with a timer will stop you getting any horrible surprises. If you know an APTIS examiner or trainer speak to them and ask them what you need to do to improve.
Tip 15: Know how the exam is scored
Look at where you will receive most marks and concentrate there. Don’t spend ten-minutes on Part 1 because you will only get a few marks and it only checks if you are above A1 level.
Tip 16: Start Practice Tests Slowly
Many teachers advise students to practice for the APTIS test ‘under exam conditions’. This means you do the practice test in one hour without any help, just like in the exam. This is poor advice for students who have just started preparing for the test. By doing the test under exam conditions you put too much pressure on yourself. You don’t give yourself time to reflect on how to answer specific question types, spot patterns in questions and how you answer them, note down common vocabulary and notice how much time you spend answering certain questions. It also does not give you a chance to analyse your mistakes. Once you have practiced several tests slowly, you can then practice them under exams conditions.
Tip 17: Finish in time
You don’t get any marks for blank spaces, so always write something. Even if you think it’s bad, and you might be surprised, it is better than nothing.
Tip 18: Check your work
It is easy to lose points for making silly mistakes. Check what you have written. Look at spelling and punctuation. For grammar check- prepositions/dependant prepositions/verb noun agreement/countable and uncountable/tenses.
Tip 19: Do a 24-hour English warm up
It takes most APTIS students 10-15 minutes to ‘warm-up’ and perform to the best of their ability on test day. Just like an athlete needs to warm up before a sporting event, you also need to warm up before your APTIS exam.
Therefore, you should speak, write, read and listen to English for 24 hours before your APTIS Speaking test. Your family and friends might think you are crazy, but it will make a huge difference to your score!
Tip 20: Try as many as practice APTIS tests
Doing practice tests will help you build your concentration levels and your instinct. More than that, practice will improve your English and help you with the timings you need to complete the test with the best result. If you would like to increase your APTIS score by practicing more APTIS tests then please check the exam library in our website here. There you will find largest simulated APTIS test database. Totally free with no registration (we won't even ask for your email).
Standard Expressions And Phrases For APTIS
We will discuss which phrases you will need for each different part of the test in the individual sections. Below are some of the ones you should learn.
*Note: Most of these expressions have a dependant preposition and are followed by a specific verb form. Make sure that you know the full expression.
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Informal |
Formal |
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Introduction/saying why you are writing |
|
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I’m writing to you because… |
I am writing to you in connection with… |
|
This is about… |
I am writing to you concerning… |
|
|
I am writing to + inf… |
|
|
With regard to… |
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Requesting help |
|
|
Can you give me a hand with… |
Could you assist me with… |
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Could you help me with… |
I would be grateful if you could + inf… |
|
Please help me with… |
Would you mind +verb + ing. |
|
|
I wonder if you would mind + verb + inf |
|
Explaining a problem/complaining |
|
|
The problem I’ve got is… |
I have some difficulty with… |
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I’m having a problem with… |
I am experiencing a problem with… |
|
The… is not working/right… |
I would like to express my dissatisfaction with… |
|
I’m not happy about… |
The product is completely unsatisfactory because… |
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Giving reasons |
|
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Because… |
This is a result of… |
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This is down to… |
Because of this I am (unable to)… |
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Making suggests |
|
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Why don’t you + inf… |
It would be a good idea to + inf… |
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Just + inf… |
Perhaps you could + inf… |
|
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Would it be possible to + inf…? (question form) |
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Expressing thanks |
|
|
Thanks, a lot for… |
I’d like to express my thanks for… |
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Cheers… |
I am grateful for… |
|
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I very much appreciate you + verb + ing |
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Giving good/bad news |
|
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I’m happy to let you know (that)… |
I am pleased to advise you (that)... |
|
I’m pleased to say (that)… |
It is a pleasure to tell you (that)… |
|
I’m sorry to let you know (that)… |
I am sorry to advise you (that)... |
|
I’m sad to say (that)… |
I regret having to tell you (that)… |
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Closing |
|
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(I’ll) Speak to you soon. |
I look forward to hearing from you soon. |
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Catch you later. |
I look forward to meeting you soon. |
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Later’s (V. informal). |
I look receiving a reply from you soon. |
Greetings and Finishing
There are specific conventions about starts and finishes to letters in English. Most of them only apply to UK English and most of them apply to formal letters. However, it is worth knowing them.
With emails the convention is more open and with informal emails there is no convention.
|
Greetings |
Endings |
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Dear Ms. (female), Dear Sir or Madam,
For letters when you do not know the person’s name. |
Yours faithfully,
For letters when you do not know the person’s name.
|
|
Dear John/Joanne Dear Mr./Ms. Smith
For letters when you know the person’s name. |
Yours sincerely,
For letters when you know the person’s name.
|
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Dear Sir (male), Dear Ms. (female), Dear Sir or Madam, Dear John/Joanne, Dear Mr./Ms. Smith,
For more formal emails.
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Kind regards, Best regards,
For more formal emails.
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As I said earlier, we will look at what techniques you need will need and give you tips on how to answer questions in each part in separate sections.
