Oxford Test of English facts for kids
| Acronym | OTE |
|---|---|
| Type | Standardized test |
| Administrator | Oxford University Press |
| Skills tested | Speaking, Listening, Reading, and Writing of the English language |
| Purpose | To check the English language level of people who are not native English speakers |
| Year started | 2017 |
| Duration | Speaking: Approx. 15 minutes. Listening: Approx. 30 minutes, Reading: 35 minutes, Writing: 45 minutes, Total: Approx. 2 hours. |
| Score range | 0 to 140. |
| Score validity | Scores are valid for life |
| Offered | At approved test centers when you need it |
| Restrictions on attempts | You can take it two times in any 8-week period, or four times in a year. |
| Regions | Available all over the world |
| Languages | English |
| Prerequisites | None. Made for non-native English speakers. |
| Fee | Check with your local approved test center |
The Oxford Test of English (OTE) is a group of tests that check your English skills. It includes the Oxford Test of English, the Oxford Test of English for Schools, and the Oxford Test of English Advanced.
These tests show how good you are at English using levels from A2 up to C1. These levels are part of a standard called the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), which is used around the world.
Contents
What is the Oxford Test of English?
The Oxford Test of English is a computer-based test for people learning English. It was created by Oxford University Press (OUP), which is part of the famous University of Oxford.
The test helps you prove your English level for things like getting into a university, finding a job, or for travel. It is available in many countries.
History of the Test
The Oxford Test of English was first launched in Spain in 2017. It quickly became very popular there. In 2019, it was launched for the rest of the world. The test has been recognized as a high-quality and fair way to check English skills.
What's in the Test?
The test has four parts, called modules. You can take all four parts at once, or just one at a time. The four modules are: Speaking, Listening, Reading, and Writing.
The Four Parts of the Test
Each part of the test has different tasks to complete.
| MODULE | PART | WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking | 1 | Interview: Answer eight spoken questions about everyday topics. |
| 2 | Voice messages: Record two voice messages for two different situations. | |
| 3 | Talk: Give a short talk about a topic or situation. | |
| 4 | Follow-up questions: Answer six more questions about the topic of your talk. | |
| Listening | 1 | Listen to five short recordings and choose the correct picture for each one. |
| 2 | Listen to a longer conversation and answer five questions about people's opinions. | |
| 3 | Listen to another conversation and match opinions to the people who said them. | |
| 4 | Listen to five short recordings and answer a multiple-choice question for each. | |
| Reading | 1 | Read six short texts and answer one question for each. |
| 2 | Match descriptions of people to different texts. | |
| 3 | Read a longer text that has six sentences missing. You have to put them back in the right place. | |
| 4 | Read a longer text and answer four questions about it. | |
| Writing | 1 | Email: Write an email reply to an email you are given. |
| 2 | Essay or Article: Choose to write either an essay or a magazine article/review. |
A Smart, Computer-Based Test
The Listening and Reading parts of the test are special because they are computer-adaptive. This is like a smart test. It chooses the next question based on your answer to the last one.
If you answer a question correctly, the next one might be a little harder. If you get it wrong, the next one might be a little easier. This helps the test figure out your exact English level very quickly. It also means the test is shorter than many other English tests.
How Your Speaking and Writing Are Graded
For the Speaking and Writing parts, your answers are graded by trained human experts. To make sure the grading is fair, different parts of your test are sent to different graders. They check things like:
- Did you complete the task correctly?
- Is your writing or speaking well-organized?
- How good is your grammar and vocabulary?
- For speaking, how clear is your pronunciation?
There is a special system to make sure all graders mark fairly and give the same scores for the same answers.
Getting Your Results
For the Listening and Reading parts, you see your results right after you finish the test. For Speaking and Writing, the results usually take about 5 days.
You get a report card for each part you take. If you take all four parts, you get a certificate. It shows your score and CEFR level for each skill, plus an overall score and level.
A great feature is that your certificate always shows your best score. If you retake a part and do better, your certificate is updated with the new, higher score. Your results are valid for life, but some universities might ask for a score from the last couple of years.
The table below shows how the scores match the CEFR levels for the different tests.
| Oxford Test of English Scale | Oxford Test of English and Oxford Test of English for Schools |
Oxford Test of English Advanced |
|---|---|---|
| 141–170 | C1 | |
| 111–140 | B2 | B2 |
| 81–110 | B1 | Below B2 |
| 51–80 | A2 | |
| 0–50 | Below A2 |
Keeping the Test Fair
The test has many rules to make sure it is secure and fair for everyone.
- You can only take it at an official test center with trained staff.
- A special secure computer program is used that stops you from opening other websites or apps.
- The graders are trained to spot if someone is not doing their own work.
These rules make sure that the results are real and can be trusted by schools and companies.
Help for Test Takers
If you have special needs, you can ask for help to take the test. This can include things like:
- Extra time to finish a section.
- Breaks during the test.
- Different colors on the screen for people with colour blindness.
Oxford Test of English for Schools
This version of the test was launched in 2020 and is made just for students aged 12 to 16. The test format is the same, but the topics are about things that are more interesting and familiar for people in this age group. For example, in the Speaking part, you will be asked to respond in an informal or neutral way, not a formal business way.
Oxford Test of English Advanced
Launched in 2024, this is a more difficult version of the test. It is for older students who want to go to university or for adults who need English for their jobs. It tests higher English levels (B2 and C1).
