01 March 2013

 

The British Council has launched its new global English assessment tool to evaluate English reading, writing, listening and speaking skills.

However, the business-to-business English assessment service is available to organisations and not individuals.

Its Malaysia exams manager Deep Adhikari said Aptis test was suitable for those 16 years old and above and designed to be flexible, adaptable and accessible to meet client’s needs.

“You can choose which skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) you want to test based on your requirements.

“It can test a single skill or a mix where different components can be taken together,” he said at its official launching at E&O Hotel in Farquhar Street, Penang, on Tuesday.

He added that clients could select the core language knowledge module of grammar and vocabulary and combine it with separate skills modules for accurate and relevant testing that meet their needs.

“There are 15 different Aptis packages available and the test is accessible to different countries and in three delivery modes — online or computer-based, pen and paper, and via telephone,” he said.

Aptis was first launched in the UK on Aug 22 last year and Adhikari said the Malaysian Education Ministry had used Aptis on the development of English language proficiency and teaching methodology with the English Language Teaching Centre.

“Over 5,800 teachers took four skills packages,” he said.

The tool is used around the globe by corporate businesses, government organisations, educational institutions and non-governmental organisations. The test fees range from RM120 to RM400.

 

 

Notes to Editor

For more details: Please call 04-2630330 or email: penang@britishcouncil.org.my.

About the British Council

The British Council creates international opportunities for the people of the UK and other countries and builds trust between them worldwide. We call this cultural relations.

We build trust and understanding for the UK to create a safer and more prosperous world. In terms of our reach and impact, we are the world’s leading cultural relations organisation. Cultural relations is a component of international relations which focuses on developing people-to-people links and complements government-to-people and government-to-government contact. We use English, Arts, and Education and Society – the best of the UK’s great cultural assets – to bring people together and to attract partners to working with the UK. The British Council has over 7,000 staff working in 191 offices in 110 countries and territories.