In this post, we will provide you with writing practice tests, model answers and tips to prepare for “APTIS for Teens”.
The APTIS for Teens is an English language proficiency test designed by the British Council. It serves as a more specific variant of the APTIS General Test. In this way, it follows the same format as the original. There are 5 components to the exam: Grammar and Vocabulary, Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking, each with an allotted time limit. Within each section, there are a variety of question-types and tasks to complete.
While the complete test’s duration is approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes, educators can make the choice of offering a shorter modified exam to their students, which would only evaluate a student’s Grammar and Vocabulary plus one, two, or three of the skills.
If you would like to know more about APTIS for Teens, please read our article here.
For further details please visit the British Council website here.
APTIS For Teens: Writing Practice Test #1
Part 1: You are joining a homework club. Fill out the form. Write short answers (1-5 words) for each message. You have 3 minutes.
What is your name? ____________________________________
What school do you go to?_______________________________
What grade are you in? _________________________________
What is your favourite subject? ___________________________
How many hours do you study per week? ___________________
Part 2: You are a new member of the homework club. Fill out the form. Answer the question in 20-30 words. You have 7 minutes.
Please tell us about what subject you find difficult and why:
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Part 3: You are speaking to fellow members of the homework club in a group chat. Respond to them in full sentences (30-40 words per answer). You have 10 minutes.
Nadia: Hey! Welcome to the group. Can you tell us why you are joining the club?
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Julia: At my school, we take 4 classes a day. What about your school?
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Michael: I heard that the club will have a mandatory uniform. What is your opinion on this?
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Part 4: You have decided to enter an essay-writing competition! The theme of the essay is Homework.
Homework is an essential part of learning.
Write your essay in response to the statement (220-250 words). Remember to include an introduction and conclusion.
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If you would like to access more simulated APTIS writing tests then please visit our exam library here.
APTIS For Teens: Writing Practice Test #2
Part 1: You are joining an international club. Fill out the form. Write short answers (1-5 words) for each message. You have 3 minutes.
What is your name? ____________________________________
Where are you from? ___________________________________
What grade are you in?__________________________________
What is your favourite subject? ___________________________
What did you do last weekend?____________________________
Part 2: You are a new member of the international club. Fill out the form. Answer the question in 20-30 words. You have 7 minutes.
Please tell us about why you want to join the international club:
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Part 3: You are speaking to fellow members of the international club in a group chat. Respond to them in full sentences (30-40 words per answer). You have 10 minutes.
Marisol: Hey! Welcome to the group. Can you tell us about a country you would like to learn about and why?
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Melih: I really like trying foods from other cultures. What is one special food from your country?
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Connor: I heard that we can host an international day for all of the students. What is your opinion on this?
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Part 4: You have decided to enter an essay-writing competition! The theme of the essay is Studying Abroad.
Everyone should study abroad.
Write your essay in response to the statement (220-250 words). Remember to include an introduction and conclusion.
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APTIS For Teens: Example Answer To Practice Tests #1
Part 1: You are joining a homework club. Fill out the form. Write short answers (1-5 words) for each message. You have 3 minutes.
What is your name? i.e. My name is Alta.
What school do you go to? I go to George Washington High School.
What grade are you in? I am in the 9th grade.
What is your favourite subject? My favourite subject is Physics.
How many hours do you study per week? I study 5 hours a week.
Part 2: You are a new member of the homework club. Fill out the form. Answer the question in 20-30 words. You have 7 minutes.
Please tell us about what subject you find difficult and why:
I think English is the most difficult subject for me. The vocabulary and grammar is very different from my native language, Russian.
Part 3: You are speaking to fellow members of the homework club in a group chat. Respond to them in full sentences (30-40 words per answer). You have 10 minutes.
Nadia: Hey! Welcome to the group. Can you tell us why you are joining the club?
Hi Nadia! I am joining the club to get some help with my English homework. I am not very good at it, especially writing and speaking. I think it will be good to practice with other people.
Julia: At my school, we take 4 classes a day. What about your school?
Wow, Julia. That is so different from my school. Here, we take 8 classes a day. However, they are only 30 minutes long. I like it because we see different teachers but we usually get a lot of homework.
Michael: I heard that the club will have a mandatory uniform. What is your opinion on this?
I like that idea. We already wear a uniform to school, so it makes sense that we continue to wear a school uniform at a school club. This way, we can focus on homework, not on our clothes.
Part 4: You have decided to enter an essay-writing competition! The theme of the essay is Homework.
Homework is an essential part of learning.
Write your essay in response to the statement (220-250 words). Remember to include an introduction and conclusion.
Homework has always played an important role in education since the beginning of schools. Nowadays, many people believe that homework is an important part of learning. However, others contend that it is unnecessary and a waste of students’ precious time. This essay will look at both sides of the argument to evaluate which is true.
It is believed that students need to do homework to check their understanding. Although students spend five to six hours of their days in lessons, that is not enough time to fully grasp the information. Let’s take math as an example. Students will study some formulas in their lessons and do a few exercises from their textbooks. Not only do they have teachers to answer their questions when they do not understand, but they also have their classmates for additional support. However, this is not enough time to be able to memorize the content and function beyond this timeframe. For this reason, homework is essential.
On the other hand, students need time to develop their hobbies and talents. At high schools in my country, students typically get three to four hours of homework each night. As a result, they cannot commit to extra-curricular programs or have part-time jobs. This has a negative effect on students who are unable to get real-life experience or some pocket money.
All in all, I think that the cons of homework outweigh the pros. Students are not just meant for studying. They should be able to have time to practice their other interests as well.
APTIS For Teens: Example Answer To Practice Tests #2
Part 1: You are joining an international club. Fill out the form. Write short answers (1-5 words) for each message. You have 3 minutes.
What is your name? My name is Carlos Santiago.
Where are you from? I am from Quito, Ecuador.
What grade are you in? I am in grade 11.
What is your favourite subject? My favourite subject is art.
What did you do last weekend? I hung out with my friends.
Part 2: You are a new member of the international club. Fill out the form. Answer the question in 20-30 words. You have 7 minutes.
Please tell us about why you want to join the international club:
I would like to join the international club so that I can meet students from different cultures. Additionally, I can share my traditions and customs with others.
Part 3: You are speaking to fellow members of the international club in a group chat. Respond to them in full sentences (30-40 words per answer). You have 10 minutes.
Marisol: Hey! Welcome to the group. Can you tell us about a country you would like to learn about and why?
Hi Marisol! I would like to learn more about Japan. I am a fan of anime, so it would be nice to learn some words and grammar to watch it in the original language.
Melih: I really like trying foods from other cultures. What is one special food from your country?
Me too! In Ecuador, we have a delicacy that we eat on special occasions called ‘Cuy’. It’s actually guinea pig. I know it’s a bit strange, but it’s really delicious especially on the barbecue.
Connor: I heard that we can host an international day for all of the students. What is your opinion on this?
I think that is a wonderful idea. Teaching other students about our traditions and cultures would be so much fun. We could have a show including singing and dancing, and even cook different foods for students to taste.
Part 4: You have decided to enter an essay-writing competition! The theme of the essay is Studying Abroad.
Everyone should study abroad.
Write your essay in response to the statement (220-250 words). Remember to include an introduction and conclusion.
There are differing opinions on whether a student should study abroad. While some believe that this is a crucial part of education, others maintain that it is a waste of time. This essay will address both sides of the issue to determine which is best.
It is widely believed that studying abroad is beneficial for all students. By spending time in a different country, one can learn many new things. For example, if a student studied another language, they would be able to practice it with locals. What’s more is that they would be able to fully immerse themselves in a new culture and experience customs and traditions. This total cultural exchange might also shape their perspective of the world and give them new insights.
However, spending a semester in a foreign country has its downfalls. Firstly, it can be costly. Not only do students have to pay for their course’s tuition, but also for their rent, utilities and expenses. Without financial help from a parent, young people might struggle to support themselves. Secondly, they might feel culture shock. It is not uncommon for a student to miss the comforts of home, their family or their food. If a student cannot speak the language, they would surely feel isolated and be unable to complete necessary daily tasks.
All in all, studying abroad could be a useful way for a young person to develop. However, it is not for everyone.
Top 10 Tips For The APTIS Writing Test
Tip 1: 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 2: 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 that 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 3: Improve your typing speed.
Unless you opt paper-based version, APTIS writing test is computer-based. So the faster you type the better. Just make sure your typing speed isn’t too slow.
Tip 4: 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 5: 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 6: 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 from 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 7: 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. Remember you can "flag in" option. You can always come back to a question where you had a doubt.
Tip 8: 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 9: 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 10: Practice makes perfect!
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).
