Aptis General Exam — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Which phrase is most useful for introducing a personal example to support your opinion?

On the contrary...
Nevertheless...
To take a personal example... (Correct answer)
In contrast...

Correct answer: To take a personal example...

'To take a personal example' signals that you are about to provide a first-hand experience as supporting evidence.

Question 2: Select the most appropriate word: 'The new employee was _______ to learn all the procedures before starting work independently.'

eager (Correct answer)
reckless
reluctant
idle

Correct answer: eager

'Eager' means enthusiastic and keen, which fits someone who wants to learn procedures before working independently. 'Idle', 'reckless', and 'reluctant' all carry negative or opposite meanings.

Question 3: Which collocation is correct: '___ an opportunity'?

miss (Correct answer)
drop
lose
fail

Correct answer: miss

'Miss an opportunity' is the natural collocation meaning to fail to take advantage of a chance.

Question 4: He can't have left already — his coat is still ___.

here
somewhere
there (Correct answer)
anywhere

Correct answer: there

'There' refers to a previously established or visible location.

Question 5: A passage states: 'The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.' A question asks if the museum is open on Mondays. What is the correct answer?

False (Correct answer)
Not Given
True
Possibly True

Correct answer: False

The text lists Tuesday to Sunday as opening days, which means Monday is excluded — making the statement False.

Question 6: In an APTIS speaking task, you are asked to compare living in a large city versus a small town. Which strategy is most effective?

Refuse to choose and say both are fine.
Say they are exactly the same.
Describe only one option and ignore the other.
State a clear preference, explain why, and briefly acknowledge the appeal of the other option. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: State a clear preference, explain why, and briefly acknowledge the appeal of the other option.

Stating a preference with justification while acknowledging the other option shows opinion expression and balanced reasoning.

Question 7: Not only ___ late, but he also forgot the documents.

was he (Correct answer)
he is
he had been
he was

Correct answer: was he

Fronting 'not only' causes subject-auxiliary inversion in the first clause.

Question 8: An APTIS long text uses passive voice repeatedly: 'Mistakes were made,' 'resources were misallocated.' What effect does this create?

It obscures who is responsible for the described actions (Correct answer)
It assigns clear personal responsibility for failures
It makes the text more informal and conversational
It emphasizes the victims rather than the actions

Correct answer: It obscures who is responsible for the described actions

Passive constructions remove the grammatical subject (agent), making it impossible to identify who performed the actions.

Question 9: The text states: 'Volunteers must be over 18 and available on weekends.' A candidate aged 17 applies. What does the text imply?

The candidate meets all requirements
Age is not mentioned in the text
The candidate only needs to be available on weekends
The candidate does not meet the age requirement (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The candidate does not meet the age requirement

The text specifies a minimum age of 18, so a 17-year-old does not qualify.

Question 10: In an APTIS opinion-matching task, Speaker A says 'the plan is fundamentally flawed' and Speaker B says 'while imperfect, the plan has real potential.' Which statement best compares their views?

A is neutral; B is negative
A is negative; B is overall positive (Correct answer)
Both are positive
Both are negative

Correct answer: A is negative; B is overall positive

'Fundamentally flawed' is strongly negative, whereas 'real potential' despite imperfection is an overall positive assessment.

Question 11: Which phrase correctly introduces an opinion based on personal experience?

Based on my own experience, I've found that... (Correct answer)
The government says...
According to scientists...
It has been proven that...

Correct answer: Based on my own experience, I've found that...

'Based on my own experience' explicitly frames the upcoming statement as personal evidence rather than a general fact.

Question 12: In APTIS picture description, which tense is most commonly used to describe what is currently happening in an image?

Present perfect
Present continuous (Correct answer)
Simple past
Future simple

Correct answer: Present continuous

The present continuous tense (e.g., 'The man is walking') is standard for describing ongoing actions visible in a picture.

Question 13: A passage about biodiversity uses the phrase 'cascade effect' to describe how the loss of one species affects others. What does this term imply?

Only predators are affected when prey species disappear
Biodiversity loss is immediately reversible
The loss of one species triggers a chain of related impacts throughout the ecosystem (Correct answer)
Species loss only affects the species directly above it in the food chain

Correct answer: The loss of one species triggers a chain of related impacts throughout the ecosystem

A cascade describes a series of successive impacts, so 'cascade effect' means one loss sets off a chain of interconnected consequences.

Question 14: In APTIS picture comparison, which word signals a contrast between two images?

Similarly
Likewise
Also
Whereas (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Whereas

'Whereas' is a conjunction used to introduce a contrast between two different situations or images.

Question 15: In an APTIS opinion-matching task, you hear five speakers on university tuition fees. Two think fees should be abolished, two think fees motivate students, and one says fees hurt low-income families. Which group shares the most similar concern?

The two who want fees abolished and the one who mentions low-income families (Correct answer)
All five speakers
Only the speaker who mentions low-income families
The two who think fees motivate students

Correct answer: The two who want fees abolished and the one who mentions low-income families

Both the abolitionists and the speaker concerned about low-income families share a worry about fees being a barrier.

Question 16: Read the passage: 'The new library branch opened last month in the downtown area. It features a children's reading room, a media center with computers, and a quiet study hall. The building was designed by a local architect and uses solar panels for most of its energy needs.' Which detail is NOT mentioned in the passage?

The library offers free Wi-Fi to visitors (Correct answer)
The library has a children's reading room
The building uses solar panels
A local architect designed the building

Correct answer: The library offers free Wi-Fi to visitors

Free Wi-Fi is never mentioned in the passage; all other options are explicitly stated.

Question 17: Which word best matches the definition "to express disapproval of"?

Deprecate (Correct answer)
Praise
Approve
Commend

Correct answer: Deprecate

"Deprecate" means to express disapproval of.

Question 18: Listen to the dialogue and identify where the speakers are likely to be.

At a restaurant
At a bus station
In a library
In a supermarket (Correct answer)

Correct answer: In a supermarket

The dialogue mentions shopping, aisles, and products, which are indicative of a supermarket.

Question 19: Which option correctly uses a pronoun to maintain cohesion? Paragraph: 'Maria submitted her report on Monday. The manager read ___ carefully before the board meeting.'

her
them
it (Correct answer)
those

Correct answer: it

'It' correctly refers to the singular noun 'report,' maintaining clear pronoun-antecedent agreement.

Question 20: A food brand wants to write a Pinterest post. Which type of content performs best on this platform?

Short rants about industry controversies
Visually rich, aspirational content with descriptive, keyword-rich captions (Correct answer)
Breaking news updates with minimal imagery
Purely promotional discount announcements

Correct answer: Visually rich, aspirational content with descriptive, keyword-rich captions

Pinterest is a visual discovery platform where users seek inspiration, so pairing beautiful imagery with searchable, descriptive text drives traffic.

Question 21: What is the definition of the word "ubiquitous"?

Expensive
Rare
Everywhere (Correct answer)
Unusual

Correct answer: Everywhere

"Ubiquitous" means present, appearing, or found everywhere.

Question 22: A paragraph ends with: 'Local farmers reported significant losses.' Which sentence would BEST open the following paragraph to maintain cohesion?

The weather is always unpredictable in rural areas.
These losses prompted the government to introduce emergency subsidies. (Correct answer)
Farmers around the world face many challenges.
Agriculture is one of the oldest human occupations.

Correct answer: These losses prompted the government to introduce emergency subsidies.

'These losses' uses a demonstrative reference to directly link the new paragraph to the previous sentence.

Question 23: Read: 'The athlete trained for six hours a day. ___ this grueling schedule, she won three gold medals at the championship.' Which word or phrase best fills the blank?

Despite
Because of (Correct answer)
Whereas
Although

Correct answer: Because of

'Because of' correctly expresses that the training schedule was the cause of her winning medals.

Question 24: What is the main purpose of using hashtags in social media posts?

To notify all followers about a new post
To categorize content and increase its discoverability by new audiences (Correct answer)
To replace the written caption entirely
To make posts look more colorful and visually appealing

Correct answer: To categorize content and increase its discoverability by new audiences

Hashtags tag content into searchable categories, allowing users outside your follower base to discover your posts.

Question 25: Select the word that correctly completes the sentence: 'The charity relies heavily on _______ donations from members of the public to fund its work.'

reluctant
voluntary (Correct answer)
mandatory
compulsory

Correct answer: voluntary

'Voluntary' means done freely without being required to, which accurately describes donations given willingly by the public.

Question 26: What does 'A/B testing' mean in the context of social media content?

Testing two versions of a post with slight variations to see which performs better (Correct answer)
Alternating between image posts and video posts each week
Publishing the same post on two different platforms simultaneously
Getting feedback from two different team members before posting

Correct answer: Testing two versions of a post with slight variations to see which performs better

A/B testing involves publishing two post variants to compare performance metrics and determine which copy, image, or CTA resonates more.

Question 27: In the following conversation, which sentence provides a justification for an opinion? Alex: "I really don't think we should switch to the new software." Ben: "Why not? From my perspective, it's a huge improvement." Alex: "The user interface is not intuitive, which will slow down our workflow considerably." Ben: "I suppose that could be an issue for some."

"I really don't think we should switch to the new software."
"From my perspective, it's a huge improvement."
"The user interface is not intuitive, which will slow down our workflow considerably." (Correct answer)
"I suppose that could be an issue for some."

Correct answer: "The user interface is not intuitive, which will slow down our workflow considerably."

This sentence gives a specific reason (the user interface is not intuitive) to support the initial opinion that they should not switch software. A justification provides the 'why' behind an opinion.

Question 28: He admitted ___ the money from the register.

stolen
stealing (Correct answer)
to steal
steal

Correct answer: stealing

'Admit' is a verb that must be followed by a gerund (-ing form).

Question 29: In an APTIS task with five speakers on immigration policy, you need to match each speaker to 'supportive', 'opposed', or 'neutral.' A speaker says: 'I don't have a strong view either way — there are valid points on both sides.' This speaker should be labelled:

Supportive
Neutral (Correct answer)
Opposed
Conditionally supportive

Correct answer: Neutral

Explicitly stating no strong view and acknowledging both sides classifies this speaker as neutral.

Question 30: Which phrase would you use to make a polite request in a formal email?

Give me the report.
Could you please send me the report? (Correct answer)
I need this now.
Send the report ASAP.

Correct answer: Could you please send me the report?

Formal requests use polite modal verbs like 'Could you please...' to show respect.

Question 31: A weather forecast states: 'Expect heavy rain in the morning, clearing by early afternoon, with temperatures dropping to 45°F overnight.' What is the overnight temperature?

55°F
45°F (Correct answer)
40°F
50°F

Correct answer: 45°F

The forecast specifically mentions temperatures dropping to 45°F overnight.

Question 32: She's the most talented musician ___ I've ever heard.

which
that (Correct answer)
whom
who

Correct answer: that

After superlatives, 'that' is preferred over 'who' or 'which' in relative clauses.

Question 33: Which phrase is appropriate to use when ending a formal email before the closing?

Hit me up anytime!
Anyway, that's all from me!
I look forward to hearing from you. (Correct answer)
Gotta go now, bye!

Correct answer: I look forward to hearing from you.

'I look forward to hearing from you' is a standard professional phrase used to close the body of a formal email.

Question 34: I suggested ___ the meeting until next week.

postpone
to postpone
postponing (Correct answer)
postponed

Correct answer: postponing

'Suggest' is followed by a gerund (-ing form), not an infinitive.

Question 35: Read the passage: 'The Arctic ice cap is melting at an unprecedented rate. Scientists attribute this primarily to rising global temperatures caused by greenhouse gas emissions. As the ice melts, sea levels rise, threatening coastal cities worldwide. Some researchers predict that Arctic summers could be ice-free within decades.' Which sentence states a PREDICTION?

As the ice melts, sea levels rise, threatening coastal cities worldwide
Some researchers predict that Arctic summers could be ice-free within decades (Correct answer)
The Arctic ice cap is melting at an unprecedented rate
Scientists attribute this primarily to rising global temperatures

Correct answer: Some researchers predict that Arctic summers could be ice-free within decades

The word 'predict' and the phrase 'could be' within decades clearly mark this as a future prediction rather than a current fact.

Question 36: Five sentences are given. Which arrangement creates the most cohesive paragraph? 1. As a result, many species face extinction. 2. Forests cover roughly 31% of the earth's land area. 3. This destruction eliminates habitats and food sources. 4. However, deforestation is reducing that coverage rapidly. 5. Conservationists urge immediate international action.

5, 2, 3, 4, 1
3, 2, 4, 1, 5
1, 3, 5, 2, 4
2, 4, 3, 1, 5 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 2, 4, 3, 1, 5

Sentence 2 sets context, 4 introduces the problem with 'however,' 3 explains the impact, 1 gives the consequence, and 5 provides the call to action.

Question 37: A passage reads: 'Although prices have risen, consumer demand has remained stable.' What relationship does 'although' signal?

Contrast or concession (Correct answer)
Time sequence
Addition
Cause and effect

Correct answer: Contrast or concession

'Although' introduces a contrast between two ideas — rising prices and stable demand are presented as unexpected opposites.

Question 38: In an APTIS reading task, you must match five paragraphs to five headings. What should you do first?

Match based on the longest paragraph
Only read the first sentence of the passage
Read all headings carefully, then read each paragraph to find the best match (Correct answer)
Start answering from the last paragraph

Correct answer: Read all headings carefully, then read each paragraph to find the best match

Reading all headings first gives you an overview of the categories before you analyze each paragraph.

Question 39: I wish I ___ how to play the piano.

would know
knew (Correct answer)
had known
know

Correct answer: knew

'I wish' expressing a present unreal desire uses the simple past tense.

Question 40: In a passage, a paragraph begins: 'To fully appreciate the scale of the problem, consider the following statistics.' What is the function of this sentence?

To conclude the author's argument
To transition into supporting data and signal its interpretive purpose (Correct answer)
To introduce an anecdote about a specific person
To contradict the previous paragraph's claims

Correct answer: To transition into supporting data and signal its interpretive purpose

This sentence is a signposting device that prepares the reader for upcoming data and frames how that data should be understood.

Question 41: Despite ___ tired, she continued working.

to feel
feeling (Correct answer)
feel
felt

Correct answer: feeling

'Despite' is a preposition and must be followed by a noun or gerund.

Question 42: A company wants to announce a flash sale on Twitter/X. Which approach best fits the platform's style?

Share only an image with no text caption
Send a direct message to all followers
Post a concise tweet with a clear call-to-action and relevant hashtags (Correct answer)
Write a 400-word detailed explanation of all sale items

Correct answer: Post a concise tweet with a clear call-to-action and relevant hashtags

Twitter/X favors brief, punchy content with hashtags and a direct call-to-action to drive engagement.

Question 43: What is the opposite of "mitigate"?

Diminish
Intensify (Correct answer)
Relieve
Abate

Correct answer: Intensify

"Mitigate" means to make less severe; its opposite is "intensify," which means to make more severe.

Question 44: After weeks of discussion, the management team was finally able to __________ a decision on the new marketing strategy.

form
get
do
make (Correct answer)

Correct answer: make

The correct collocation is 'make a decision'. This is a very common fixed expression in English. While 'do', 'form', or 'get' might seem logical, they are not the standard verbs used in this phrase.

Question 45: In APTIS Speaking, 'range of vocabulary' refers to which candidate behavior?

Only using vocabulary from the question
Avoiding adjectives and adverbs
Repeating the same words frequently
Using a variety of appropriate words and expressions beyond basic terms (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Using a variety of appropriate words and expressions beyond basic terms

Examiners reward candidates who use varied, contextually appropriate vocabulary rather than repeating simple or basic words.

Question 46: A group member posts: 'Has anyone found good places to practise English near the city centre?' Write a suitable 20–30 word reply. Which option is best?

Yes, there are several language cafés near the main square. The one on Bridge Street is open on weekday evenings and welcomes all levels. (Correct answer)
English is spoken in many places. You could try different locations to see which suits your needs and preferences in terms of convenience.
In response to your inquiry regarding English practice facilities in the central urban area, I can confirm the existence of several establishments.
Yes.

Correct answer: Yes, there are several language cafés near the main square. The one on Bridge Street is open on weekday evenings and welcomes all levels.

Option A is approximately 28 words, provides genuinely useful information, and uses a friendly, natural register appropriate for a group message. The other options are either too short, too formal, or vague without adding real value.

Question 47: A long text contains the sentence: 'The policy, though well-intentioned, produced unintended consequences.' What does the author imply?

Good intentions do not guarantee good outcomes (Correct answer)
The policy was deliberately designed to cause harm
The policy was a complete success
Unintended consequences are always beneficial

Correct answer: Good intentions do not guarantee good outcomes

The concessive clause 'though well-intentioned' separates intention from result, implying positive intentions alone don't ensure positive outcomes.

Question 48: In APTIS Speaking, which of the following demonstrates good use of linking language?

'I like sports. I play football. I also swim.'
'I like sports because sports.'
'Sports. Football. Swimming.'
'I enjoy sports; for example, I play football regularly, and I also swim as a way to stay fit.' (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 'I enjoy sports; for example, I play football regularly, and I also swim as a way to stay fit.'

Linking words like 'for example,' 'and,' and 'as a way to' connect ideas smoothly and show discourse management skills.

Question 49: Which phrase would you use in an informal email to ask a friend for a favor?

Your cooperation in this matter is required.
I would be most grateful if you could oblige.
I hereby request your assistance.
Could you do me a favor and pick me up? (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Could you do me a favor and pick me up?

Informal emails use natural, conversational phrasing like 'Could you do me a favor and pick me up?'

Question 50: Which word is a synonym for 'peculiar'?

odd (Correct answer)
expected
typical
common

Correct answer: odd

'Odd' means strange or unusual, which is synonymous with 'peculiar'.

Question 51: Neither the students nor the teacher ___ ready for the exam.

are
was (Correct answer)
were
be

Correct answer: was

With 'neither...nor', the verb agrees with the subject closest to it ('teacher'), which is singular.

Question 52: A customer service agent says: 'Your order shipped on the 12th and typically takes three to five business days to arrive.' If today is the 12th, when is the earliest expected delivery?

The 17th
The 13th
The 15th (Correct answer)
The 14th

Correct answer: The 15th

Three business days after the 12th (counting 13th, 14th, 15th) gives the 15th as the earliest arrival.

Aptis General Exam

The Aptis test by the British Council assesses English language proficiency across grammar, vocabulary, reading, listening, writing, and speaking components.

Questions

150 min

Time Limit

50%

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