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Cambridge English Skills Test General helps institutions make confident decisions about learners’ English language ability. Flexible, online and available on demand, it provides reliable results aligned to the CEFR from A1 to C1.
Exam preparation
General
Information for candidates
Exam format
Cambridge English Skills Test General is a flexible, online, modular assessment designed for learners aged 16 and above, which tests:
30-40 minutes* (approx.)
The Reading module assesses a candidate’s ability to understand written English across a range of texts and situations. Tasks are designed to evaluate comprehension, vocabulary and the ability to identify key information and meaning.
*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.
Open Cloze
- A text with 5 gaps, each to be filled with a single grammatical word. The length of the text may range between 60 – 150 words depending on the level.
Multiple-choice Cloze
- A text with 5 gaps each with 3 or 4 multiple choice options (3 at A1-B1, 4 at B2 and above). The length of the text may range between 60 – 150 depending on the level.
Cross Text Matching
- Candidates read across four texts on the same topic in order to find the relevant information to match to prompts or questions. The combined length of all texts may range between 500 – 600 words.
Discrete cloze
- A gapped sentence task with a single 3 or 4option (3 options at A1-B1, 4 options at B2 or above) multiple-choice item.
Reading Discrete with a graphic
- Candidates read a short text e.g. a notice or a message (or at A1 look at a picture) and answer a single 3-option multiple-choice question. Some contextual support is available for the presentation of texts including pro-forma templates such as email screens, post-it notes, text messages, other templates such as notices and labels, and a variety of fonts and text styles.
Gapped Text, Sentences
- Candidates read a long text with five gaps representing extracted sentences. Candidates match the extracted sentences to the gaps, selecting from a set of eight options, five of which are keys while three are distractors.
Gapped Text, Paragraphs
- Candidates read a text from which five sections have been removed and fill each gap by choosing the appropriate paragraph from six options 5 of which are keys while 1 is a distractor. The total text length of the text (i.e. base text plus the six paragraph options) may range between 600 – 700 words.
Comprehension Task with 5 items
- This is a reading comprehension text followed by five 3- or 4-option multiple choice questions (3 options at A1-B1, 4 options at B2 or above). Texts may range between 200 – 600 words depending on level of difficulty.
Comprehension Task with 2 items
- This is a reading comprehension task but with a shorter text and just two 4-option multiplechoice questions. Texts may range between 200 – 250 words depending on level of difficulty.
30-40 minutes* (approx.)
The Listening module assesses a candidate’s ability to understand spoken English in different contexts. Candidates listen to a variety of recordings and complete tasks that test comprehension, attention to detail and understanding of the speaker’s meaning.
*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.
5-item comprehension
- Five multiple-choice questions about an audio, featuring one, two or three speakers. Depending on level, the task will have three or four options per question and the audio will be between 120 and 650 words.
2-item comprehension
- Two multiple-choice questions about an audio, featuring one or two speakers. The task will have three options per question. The audio is between 160 and 260 words depending on the level.
1-item comprehension
- One multiple-choice question about an audio, featuring one or two speakers. The task will have three written options, or three image options. The audio is between 70 and 150 words depending on the level.
Note completion
- A title and five gapped sentences summarising key points from a monologue. The monologue is between 300 and 400 words. Each gap can be completed with up to three words heard in the audio.
One question multimatching
- A series of five themed monologues of approximately 30 seconds each. The same question is asked of each monologue and candidates must select the correct answer for each from a list of eight options.
45 minutes
The Writing module assesses a candidate’s ability to communicate ideas effectively in written English. Tasks evaluate organisation, language use and the ability to respond appropriately to different writing purposes.
Part 1: Email
A short email in response to an input text with guidance on content and structure provided.
Part 2: Scenario
A report, email, article or other appropriate form of extended writing based on brief instructions in the rubric.
16 minutes
The Speaking module assesses a candidate’s ability to communicate clearly and effectively in spoken English. Candidates complete a range of speaking tasks designed to evaluate fluency, language use and communication skills.
Part 1: Talking about yourself
- Candidates answer a series of personal questions about familiar topics such as their interests, studies, daily life and experiences. This task is designed to help candidates demonstrate their ability to communicate information about themselves clearly and confidently in spoken English.
Part 2: Telling a story
- Candidates are shown a sequence of pictures and asked to tell the story they represent. This task assesses the ability to describe events, organise ideas logically and use language to connect different parts of a narrative.
Part 3: Talking about pictures
- Candidates compare, describe and comment on a set of pictures. This task allows candidates to demonstrate their ability to describe visual information, express opinions and discuss similarities and differences.
Part 4: Talking about a topic
- Candidates answer questions and express their opinions on a specific topic. This task assesses the ability to explain ideas, justify opinions and communicate effectively about familiar and everyday issues.
Sample tests
Cambridge English Skills Test General
Use these online sample tests to familiarise yourself with the types of questions used in Cambridge English Skills Test General. These sample tests do not provide a result or save your answers.
Note: The Reading and Listening sample test is not adaptive and is shorter than a real test. The Speaking sample test requires a headphone set and microphone.
Writing is one of the skills which candidates can improve very quickly with the right guidance and tools, so make sure they are equipped to pick up all the extra marks they can!
To help you do this, we have provided sample writing answers for levels A1, B1, B2 and C1 and, covering each part of the exam. Alongside these examples, you will find examiner comments explaining the reasoning behind the level achieved and highlighting the key content that needs to be included.
We also provide two sections of sample answers:
For further reference, you can also download the Writing Assessment Criteria here.
In addition, Write & Improve, a free tool developed by the University of Cambridge to help students improve their written English, is an excellent resource to help you prepare.
Speak & Improve is a great way to practise your speaking skills and get used to the experience of taking an online speaking test like Linguaskill.
The Speaking Assessment Criteria gives you information on what you need to demonstrate in order to reach each CEFR level.
Test designs and specifications
These materials will help you understand more about the research behind the test.