All the exams in the Oxford Test of English suite are certified by the University of Oxford. The quality of the Tests is endorsed by one of the world’s leading educational institutions.
The Oxford Test of English is a new, high-quality general English proficiency test. It has been developed and validated by Oxford University Press and independent experts.
Certified by the University of Oxford
The Oxford Test of English gives Test Takers an externally validated statement of their proficiency in English, certified by the University of Oxford.
100% online
It is modern in style and content, relevant for today’s learners. It is 100% online and takes approximately 2 hours.
Aligned to the CEFR
The Test is independent of any curriculum or course and is aligned to the CEFR, providing external international credibility.
Discover the full suite of general English proficiency tests in the Oxford Test of English
Content adapted to the interests and experiences of 12- to 16-year-olds.
A more academic and professional focus for higher-level Test Takers.
About the exam
Are you going to university? Changing courses? Going away on Erasmus? Or planning the next step in your career?
Here are just a few reasons why you should take the Oxford Test of English:
The Oxford Test of English gives Test Takers an externally validated statement of their proficiency in English, certified by the University of Oxford.
The Test can be taken when it's really needed and in any module combination: Speaking, Reading, Listening, and Writing. All four skills are assessed in approximately 2 hours.
Individual modules can be later re-taken, and the Report Card will always show the latest and best result.
The task scenarios replicate real-life language usage in social, work, and study situations.
The Oxford Test of English is available to book throughout the year at a time that suits you.
Book your test at an Approved Test Centre by following these easy steps:
- Find your nearest test centre by clicking on the list below.
- Contact your local approved Test Centre to see when test sessions are available and book.
- Remember to prepare for the test with our free preparation materials. Check below ‘Get ready for the Test!’ section and try the test demo.
The Test covers all four skills: Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing. Test Takers are given a time limit to complete the tasks.
Reading and Listening modules are adaptive, which means the Test adjusts according to the Test Taker’s responses, making each test a unique and motivating experience.
It also makes the Test shorter and more accurate than traditional paper-based tests.
Speaking and Writing modules offer the Test Taker individualized tests, marked by trained Assessors.
With the Oxford Test of English, your overall level of English is certified by the University of Oxford. Test takers receive same-day results for Reading and Listening, then Speaking and Writing results are typically received within 5 working days. Sign in to your account to see your results and print out your certificate.
Please note, your Oxford Test of English Advanced Certificate shows your best results for your Oxford Test of English Advanced modules only. Results from any Oxford Test of English or Oxford Test of English for Schools tests that you have taken are shown on a separate Certificate of Proficiency.
Read the Understanding Results guide to fully understand your certificate.
Results are valid for life.
The Oxford Test of English has been designed and developed over several years, with great care taken at each stage to ensure reliability, accuracy, alignment to CEFR, and quality.
Read the Oxford Test of English Test Specifications for a detailed description of the development process.
The following letter marks the University’s endorsement and certification of the Oxford Test of English.
A letter from the University of Oxford
Download and read useful documents for the Oxford Test of English.
Overview of every module
All the Oxford Test of English exams consist of four modules: Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing. The Listening and Reading modules are computer-adaptive, whereas the Speaking and Writing modules are randomized with questions selected at random from the item bank. The Speaking and Writing modules are marked by trained, expert assessors.
The table below shows the approximate length, number of parts, structure and content in each module for the Oxford Test of English.
The Speaking module has five parts. It takes approximately 15 minutes.
| Part | Task type | Number of questions | Task format | Testing focus | Detailed timing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | Interview | 6 (plus two unassessed) | Eight questions on everyday topics |
| Preparation time: none Response time: Questions 1 and 2: 10 seconds per question Questions 3–8: 20 seconds per question |
| Part 2 | Voicemails | 2 | Two voicemails in response to two different situations |
| Preparation time: 20 seconds Response time: 40 seconds |
| Part 3 | Talk | 1 | Short talk on an issue or scenario |
| Preparation time: 30 seconds Response time: 1 minute |
| Part 4 | Follow-up questions | 6 | Six follow-up questions on the theme of the Part 3 talk | As in Part 3, plus:
| Preparation time: none Response time: 30 seconds per question |
The Listening module has four parts. It takes approximately 30 minutes. Test takers can listen to each audio twice.
| Part | Task type | Number of questions | Task format | Testing focus | Detailed timing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | Multiple choice – picture options | 5 | Five short monologues/ dialogues each with one 3-option multiple-choice question with picture options | Listening to identify:
| time to answer = length of audio plus an additional 10 seconds |
| Part 2 | Note completion | 5 | A longer monologue with five 3-option multiple-choice note-completion questions | Listening to identify:
| time to read the task = 30 seconds; time to answer = length of audio plus an additional 15 seconds |
| Part 3 | Matching opinions with people who say them | 5 | A longer dialogue with five 3-option multiple-choice questions focussing on identifying opinion | Listening to identify:
| |
| Part 4 | Multiple choice | 5 | Five short monologues/ dialogues each with one 3-option multiple-choice question | Listening to identify:
| time to answer = length of audio plus an additional 10 seconds |
The Reading module has four parts. It takes up to 30 minutes.
| Part | Task type | Number of questions | Task format | Testing focus | Detailed timing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | Multiple-choice questions on short texts | 6 | Six short texts from a variety of sources, each with one 3-option multiple-choice question | Reading to identify:
| 6 questions x 1 minute 20 seconds |
| Part 2 | Multiple matching | 6 | Six items to match with three profiles of people OR six profiles of people to match with four longer text descriptions | Expeditious search reading at local and global levels to identify:
| 8 minutes |
| Part 3 | Gapped sentences | 6 | Six extracted sentences are inserted into a longer text | Reading to identify:
| 11 minutes |
| Part 4 | Multiple-choice questions on a longer text | 4 | Four 3-option multiple-choice questions | Reading to identify:
| 8 minutes |
* In these parts of the Reading module the task type and number of questions that the test taker gets will depend on their level.
The Writing module has two parts. It takes up to 45 minutes. The tasks in both parts are compulsory.
| Part | Task type | Number of questions | Task format | Testing focus | Detailed timing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | 1 | Written response to an input email. 80—130 words. |
| 20 minutes | |
| Part 2 | Essay or Magazine article/review | 1 | Essay OR Magazine article/review on a topic typical of classroom discussion. 100—160 words. | Essay
| 25 minutes |
Get ready for the Test!
Preparation material
Advice and resources to have you feeling comfortable and confident on the day of the test.
Online demo
The demo gives you a realistic experience of what it’s like to take the Test. We recommend using one of the following browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Safari or Edge.
Accessing the demo doesn’t count as registering for the Test and you will not receive results or a certificate.
Testimonials
Some of our Oxford Test of English Test takers have shared their experiences of the test and how it has helped them achieve their goals.
Watch their testimonials below to find out more.
“You take the test in two hours, you have the results typically in 5 days, and the price is good” – Marina Rodrigo Lozano, test taker, Spain
“I absolutely recommend the Oxford Test of English because it takes just two hours, and you’ll have it your whole life” – Francisco Liébana Castelló, test taker, Spain
“I could focus on my English instead of learning how to take a test” – Valeria Garro Abarca, test taker, Costa Rica
Recognition
The Oxford Test of English is proud to be recognized by a growing number of universities, educational institutions and organizations across Spain and around the world.
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