Convenient, flexible testing puts you in control

The Cambridge English Skills Test General is an online, on-demand, modular test of general, everyday English for adult learners aged 16+.

It tests all four English skills (Speaking, Writing, Reading and Listening) from A1 to C1 on the CEFR, the international scale of English ability. Results are ready in 48 hours

Meeting your testing needs

The Cambridge English Skills Test General has been designed to meet the internal testing needs of higher education institutions and employers.

Higher education institutions

Universities, colleges and private language schools can use the test to place learners onto a language course or programme, provide end of course/year testing, for mid-year testing or to check readiness to take IELTS or Linguaskill.

Employers

You may need your employees to have a certain level of English to meet the needs of your business. The Cambridge English Skills Test can be used to establish training needs or place employees on learning
courses.

Why choose Cambridge English Skills Test General?

The Cambridge English Skills Test General has been designed to meet the internal testing needs of higher education institutions and employers.

Results you can trust

Accurate results you can trust to make decisions confidently

Adaptive

One test for all abilities from A1-C1 makes the test ideal for mixed-ability groups

Fast results

AI-powered for results within 48 hours

Quick and easy

Simple set-up and automarking save you time and resource

Getting your learners ready for the test

Help your students to familiarise themselves with the test by using our free preparation resources.

Test designs and specifications

These materials will help you understand more about the research behind the test.

Cambridge English Skills Test General: Overview

Cambridge English Skills Test General: Speaking

Cambridge English Skills Test General: Listening

Cambridge English Skills Test General: Reading

Cambridge English Skills Test General: Writing

Cambridge English Skills Test General: Adaptive Testing

Cambridge English Skills Test General: Standard setting

Cambridge English Skills Test General: Consequential validity

Explore more about the test

Help your students to familiarise themselves with the test by using our free preparation resources.

Teachers and academic managers will have access to a powerful results dashboard to monitor the performance of groups of candidates, for example, a class or a school. It will allow the comparison of one class with another class, or one class over time, and it can be done by overall CEFR level or by language skill.

Candidates will receive a Results Report showing the scores they have achieved in each module and overall. The Report features can-do statements, which describe what the learner could be expected to do at their ability level.

The test is divided into four language skills modules of differing length:

Reading – 30-40 mins* (approx.)

Listening – 30-40 mins* (approx.)

Writing – 45 mins

Speaking – 16 mins

*The Reading and Listening modules are adaptive, which means they end when the algorithm establishes the test-takers level. Maximum test length is 59 mins.

Cambridge will provide standard best practice guidelines for administering the test securely and make periodic checks for systematic malpractice. There will also be integrated AI lite remote invigilation running during the test.

Reading and Listening modules are automarked for immediate results. Writing and Speaking are marked by AI and human examiners for results within 48 hours.

Computer adaptive testing is the process by which the test adapts to the performance of the candidate. Future questions become harder or easier depending on whether the candidate answers a question correctly or incorrectly. The test continues until the algorithm is confident that it has determined the candidate’s ability level. Adaptive testing means that one test is suitable for candidates of all levels, making it ideal for mixed-ability groups. It also means that the test is
completely personalised for a more motivating

Support is available via our Support Site, where we have interactive articles that cover all administrative functionality and give advice on the use of hardware such as headphones and webcams.

There is also a 24/7 Helpdesk

Yes. We offer modified materials for access arrangements, including:​

  • Extra time​
  • Braille papers​
  • Enlarged print papers​
  • Brail and written prompts​
  • Hearing impaired versions
  • Screen reader versions​

No, as well as the four skills package, you can choose one or two skills packages (plus a 3-skills package for the Schools version).

No, the different skills modules can be sat at different times or on different days.

My Best Score means that candidates can retake a skills module within six months and their best score will always be the one recorded.

The Cambridge English Skills Test is for internal use only and does not have any external recognition. For recognised English proficiency certification, we offer IELTS, Cambridge English Qualifications and Linguaskill.

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