Skip to content

Aptis ESOL Listening Test: Overview

Overview of the Aptis Listening Test

Aptis ESOL Listening Test: Overview

This post will give you an overview of what you can expect when you take the Aptis ESOL Listening Test. We also give you some helpful tips on how to do this part of the exam successfully.

We’re going to look at the Listening tests for Aptis ESOL General and Aptis ESOL for Teachers here. [Click here for Aptis ESOL Advanced Listening.]

The only noticeable difference between the two Listening tests is the content, which is designed specifically for teachers.  As always with Aptis ESOL for Teachers, the questions relate to an educational context, dealing with themes and scenarios that teachers come across every day. We’ve included British Council screen grabs from both exams for each part of the test, so that you can see the differences.

The practicalities

You do this listening test individually (unlike the Cambridge exams, where you take the test in a group). Headphones which are supplied by the exam centre. You’ll hear each recording twice. To listen to the recording, all you have to do is click on the ‘Play’ button.

What the Aptis ESOL Listening Test consists of

There are four parts to the Listening, and four task-types.  These get progressively more challenging. It takes approximately 40 mins to complete this component of the exam. 

All the tasks focus on different aspects of real-world listening. There are 17 recordings in total.

We’ve included screenshots of each part of the test so that you can see what the exam looks like.

So let’s have a look at the four task-types.

Listening Part One: Information Recognition

In the first part of the exam you’ll be tested on listening for specific information. You have to choose an answer, as in the screenshot below. The missing information is often a time, a phone number or a place. The recording is normally in the form of a message or a very short dialogue.

Aptis ESOL Listening Part 1
British Council example: General
Example of Aptis for Teachers Listening part 1
British Council example: for Teachers

Here are some sample practice exercises for Part One of Aptis ESOL General Listening Test.

Listening Part Two: Information Matching

In the next section you’ll listen to four short monologues on a certain topic or theme by four different people . You need to match each speaker to a piece of information.

Aptis ESOL Listening Part 2
British Council example: General
Example of Aptis for Teachers Listening part 2
British Council example: for Teachers

Listening Part Three: Opinion Matching

In this part you will hear a discussion between a man and a woman. On the screen you will see a number of opinions, and you need to identify who gives which opinion: the woman, the man, or both of them.

British Council example: General
Part 3 Aptis for Teachers Listening Test
British Council example: for Teachers

Listening Part Four: Monologue Comprehension

In the fourth and final part of the listening, you’ll hear two people discussing a topic and expressing certain opinions about it. Your task will be to identify who expresses which opinion: the man, the woman, or both of them.

To help you answer the question, you should listen carefully to the speakers’ intonation and tone. This should help you to identify their attitude and answer the question.

Aptis ESOL Listening Part 3
British Council example: General
British Council example: for Teachers

Our tips on how to be successful in the Aptis ESOL Listening Test

Read the questions carefully before listening; it’s vital to know what you are listening for.

Listen out for synonyms (words with the same or similar meaning).

Listen to the whole recording before choosing your answer.

Use the second listening to check your answers.

Answer every question –­ don’t leave anything blank. If you’re not sure, then guess!

Next Steps

We’ll soon be uploading General Listening Test 1, so make sure you’ve signed up for our newsletter, and you’ll be the first to know.

Meanwhile, keep practising for the other components of the Aptis ESOL tests. You’ll find the links to all our Practice Tests in the Guide.

And remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel too!

17 thoughts on “Aptis ESOL Listening Test: Overview”

    1. Hi Nasiba – we haven’t done that yet, when we have time we’ll add some. Though the tips for the Aptis General will help, all that’s different is the content (the listenings are about things which are related to schools/education). If you join our newsletter you’ll be notified when we upload new material. All the best John and Chris.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.