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Linguaskill is an online, adaptative, multi-level test designed to help organisations assess groups of candidates. It offers a complete picture of your candidates’ English abilities, with fast and accurate testing of all four language skills: reading, listening, writing, and speaking.
Exam preparation
Information for candidates
Exam format
Linguaskill is a flexible, modular assessment, which tests:
59 minutes
The Reading module is adaptive, so there is not a fixed number of questions. Each question the candidate answers helps the computer to understand their level better. The test finishes when the candidate has answered enough questions to identify their level accurately.
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 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 4-option multiple-choice item.
Reading Discrete with a graphic
- Candidates read a short text e.g. a notice or a message 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, telephone messages, other templates such as notices and labels, and a variety of fonts and text styles. No other visual support (e.g., an image) is included in the task.
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. Texts may range between 300 – 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 multiple-choice questions. Texts may range between 200 – 250 words depending on level of difficulty.
Up to 59 minutes
The Listening module is adaptive, so there is not a fixed number of questions. Each question the candidate answers helps the computer to understand their level better. The test finishes when the candidate has answered enough questions to identify their level accurately.
5-item comprehension
- Five multiple choice questions, each with four written options based on a script read by one, two, or occasionally three actors. The script is between 400 and 750 words depending on the level.
2-item comprehension
- Two multiple choice questions, each with three written options based on a script read by one or two actors. The script is between 160 and 300 words depending on the level.
1-item comprehension
- One multiple choice question with three written options, or three images, based on a script read by one or two actors. The script is between 120 and 150 words depending on the level.
Note completion
- A title and five gapped sentences summarising key points from a monologue. The monologue is 300 to 400 words depending on the level. Each gap can be completed with up to three words heard in the script and be no longer than 24 characters.
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.
Two question multi-matching
- A series of three themed monologues of approximately 30 – 40 seconds each (90 to 120 words). The same two questions are asked of each monologue and candidates must select the correct answer for each from a list of five options per question. The order of information is not set and so candidates must hold two listening goals in mind for each speaker.
45 minutes
The Writing module asks candidates to input their response using a computer keyboard. A candidate’s response will be examiner marked initially.
Essay (General)
- Weighing up for & against / justify own view
- Discussing and evaluating arguments for and against the proposition
- Stating and justifying own view: indicating extent of agreement with proposition statement
Report (Business)
- Weighing up for & against / justify own view
- Discussing and evaluating benefits and issues of a policy/situation
- Stating and justifying own view: providing recommendations
16 minutes
The Speaking module is taken using a computer with a microphone and headphones. Questions are presented to the candidate through the computer screen and headphones, and their responses are recorded.
Linguaskill Speaking and Linguaskill Business Speaking tests are assessed by using human examiners or market-leading automarking technology, known as hybrid marking.
Warm-up
- The warm-up involves informal, unmarked practice, allowing participants to engage in conversation and build confidence without the pressure of evaluation.
Part 1: Presentation
- Naming/providing context for the targeted topic
- Describing the targeted topic
- Justifying opinion
Part 2.1: Tutorial/meeting summary
- Conveying a minimum of two key points clearly and concisely
- Producing a coherent and cohesive response within the allotted time
Part 2.2: Discussion questions
- Responding to propositions using evaluative and speculative language
- Presenting own ideas with supporting reasons
Part 3: Recommendation
- Evaluating the relevance of visual information using speculative and/or hypothetical language
- Relating recommendation to criteria outlined in text message input
- Providing a final recommendation with justification
Part 4: Critical response
- Giving supporting and counter arguments with justification
- Formulating a chain of reasoned argument
- Rounding off with an appropriate conclusion
Linguaskill General
Linguaskill General tests language used in daily life, making it ideal for university admission or exit, and recruitment for roles in a non-business-specific environment. For example, where the employee needs strong English skills to perform their role effectively, but will not need specialist business terminology. Test topics include studying and working, making future plans, travel and technology.
Linguaskill Business
Linguaskill Business tests English used in a business and corporate setting, and is most suitable for recruitment in organisations where employees are expected to be familiar with the language of business. Test topics include the buying and selling of products or services, the office, business travel and human resources.
Candidate advice sheets with top tips
Read the top tips for Linguaskill, created by Cambridge English assessment specialists to give you the best chance of succeeding in your test:
Note: The above Candidate Advice Sheets also apply to Linguaskill Business.
Sample tests
Linguaskill General
Linguaskill Business
Use these online sample tests to familiarise yourself with the types of questions used in Linguaskill. 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 A2, B1, B2 and C1, 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.
The technical requirements for running a Linguaskill test
Linguaskill is an online test and the equipment used to run the test must meet a series of minimum technical requirements. Centres and candidates are responsible for ensuring that their equipment meets these requirements in order for the test to function correctly. We recommend that you run a practice test in advance of your exam day.
- Processor: Intel i3 processor, M1 equivalent or higher
- RAM: 2 GB
- Operating system: Windows 10 or 11, Apple MacOS 13 (Ventura) and later and Chromebooks running ChromeOS 120+ (for test administration only)
Note: The Cambridge English Test portal and any tests run through it are not currently supported on iOS, Android or Chrome OS devices. - Free hard drive space: 4GB
- Screen resolution: 1280 x 1024
- Sound card: Yes
IMPORTANT: The computer used for the test should NOT have more than one screen.
You must close any other programs (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Skype), computer windows or webpages before to start the test.
It is only allowed to have two windows open in the browser: the one corresponding to the exam and the ProctorExam one.
- Internet bandwidth: 5 Mbps upload and download per candidate (local network speed)
The minimum bandwidth requirements are for each computer running the test. When running multiple tests concurrently on the same internet connection you should ensure this bandwidth is available to each computer. If less than 5 Mbps is available for each candidate, the test may take longer to run.
- Web browser: Chrome or Firefox
Linguaskill with online proctoring: Chrome - Adobe Reader: Latest version (must be able to read PDFs).
Download Acrobat Reader here… - Webcam: Required on all computers and laptops
- Smartphone: For Linguaskill with online proctoring only
- Headphones: Over-ear and closed back – the earpieces of the headphones should cover the entire ear, preferably with good padding for comfort.
- Microphone: A microphone should be attached to the headset, via a ‘boom’ (in other words, on the end of a flexible stalk). The microphone should be noise-cancelling (at a minimum, directional), to increase sound pick-up and to minimise noise pollution on the recordings. The connection should be through a USB or standard stereo connection, as Bluetooth is not supported.
Please do not allow the use of your computers’ built-in microphones, these should be disabled, because they are not of the appropriate type nor of sufficient quality. In addition in Chrome if a candidate mutes their headset mic, Linguaskill will continue recording if there‘s more than one mic enabled on the machine.
- Operating system: Android 5.1+ and iOS 10.0+ smart devices – smartphone or tablet – with a camera are supported. Check your operating system here by using your mobile phone.
Note: Huawei P30 and Google Pixel 3 and newer are not compatible with our app. - Free hard drive space to download the ProctorExam application: 34MB
- Rear camera: Yes
Preparation videos
Watch the Linguaskill Playlist with a series of preparation videos.