In Vietnam, many students are required to meet specific language requirements for graduation. To meet these standards, students must take standardised tests, and APTIS is increasingly popular among Vietnamese learners. Developed by the British Council, the test is accepted by Greenwich Vietnam University and many other educational institutions.
One core element of the APTIS exam is the Grammar and Vocabulary test. However, this part is often overlooked, as test-takers frequently misunderstand that it does not affect their overall score. In this writing, we will explore several key aspects of the APTIS Grammar and Vocabulary test to understand its crucial role.
What is the APTIS Grammar and Vocabulary test?
The Grammar and Vocabulary test is one of five components of the APTIS test, consisting of two sections. The first part evaluates English grammar knowledge, while the second focuses on vocabulary. Test-takers have 25 minutes to complete 50 questions. The Grammar and Vocabulary test is scored on a scale from 0 to 50, and no CEFR level is awarded for the core element.
Test structure
Part 1: Grammar
The Grammar part includes 25 multiple choice questions, each requiring test-takers to complete a sentence by choosing the correct grammatical option. Test-takers have up to 12 minutes to complete this section. The questions cover a variety of grammatical topics, including verb tenses, conditionals, passive, and more.
Example:
Part 2: Vocabulary
The Vocabulary section also consists of 25 questions, with test-takers having up to 13 minutes to answer all of them. There are different question types:
- Word pairs – match a word to another word of very similar meaning.
Example:
- Word definition – match a word to its definition.
Example:
- Word usage – choose a word to be used in the context of a sentence.
Example:
- Word combinations – combine words that are frequently used together.
Example:
Does the APTIS Grammar and Vocabulary test impact overall score?
On the APTIS certificate, the result for Grammar and Vocabulary is reported differently, with no CEFR level allocated for this section. That is why test-takers mistakenly assume this score does not impact the overall results. However, it plays a vital role in determining the outcome. If a test-taker’s score falls on the threshold between two CEFR levels in a particular skill, the Grammar and Vocabulary score determines the correct CEFR level. For instance, if a test-taker’s speaking score is between B1 and B2, a higher score in the Grammar and Vocabulary test could result in B2, while a lower score could maintain it at B1. Therefore, test-takers should focus on the Grammar and Vocabulary test as the other four assessed skills.
How to get high score in APTIS Grammar and Vocabulary test?
To achieve a high score in the APTIS Grammar and Vocabulary test, it is necessary to strengthen understanding of key grammar rules and expand vocabulary. Here are some useful sources to help improve these areas:
- Book:
- Grammar in Use Intermediate with Answers by Raymond Murphy
- English Vocabulary in Use: Pre-intermediate and Intermediate by Stuart Redman
- English Vocabulary in Use: Upper-Intermediate by Michael McCarthy & Felicity O’Dell
- Website:
