Aptis Speaking practice, recorded like the real exam

The 4 parts, and how long you get

Part 1: 3 questions, 30s to speak, aimed at A2. Part 2: 3 questions, 45s to speak, aimed at B1. Part 3: 3 questions, 45s to speak, aimed at B1. Part 4: 3 questions, 60s to prepare, 120s to speak, aimed at B2. Those seconds are the whole difficulty: there is no examiner to wait for you.

Talking to a computer is the actual skill

Nobody nods at you, nobody helps you out when you pause, and the recording stops when the time ends. People who only practise conversation with a teacher are practising a different task. Record yourself and listen back: it is uncomfortable and it is the fastest way to improve.

Filling the time is not the same as answering

The parts that ask about your own experience and then open up to a general opinion are looking for two different kinds of answer. Giving the general opinion twice is a common pattern and it shows. Structure beats fluency here: say what you think, give one reason, give one example, stop.

What score you need

41 out of 50 in Speaking is the B2 cut on the Aptis General. It is scored separately from the rest, so this is not a part you can carry with a good Reading score.

Questions people ask

Is there an examiner in the Aptis Speaking test?

No. You record your answers on a computer with a microphone and headset, and an examiner listens to the recording afterwards.

How long is the Aptis Speaking test?

12 minutes for 4 parts on the Aptis General.

How much preparation time do I get before speaking?

Seconds, not minutes, and it changes by part. That is exactly what you should be practising against a timer.

Can I get feedback on my Aptis speaking practice?

Yes. You record your answer and a real teacher listens to it and tells you what to change, which an automatic score cannot do.