In this guide
Quick answer
What is Linguaskill? It is an online English test from Cambridge English that measures Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking on the CEFR scale from B1 to C2. Schools, universities and employers use it to check a level quickly. You can sit any module on its own. You can also practise a full timed test for free.
Linguaskill is made by Cambridge English, part of Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Cambridge describes it as an online and on-demand exam, powered by computer-adaptive technology. This page explains what the test covers, how it is scored and what to do before you book it.
What is Linguaskill used for?
Linguaskill is used to certify a person's English level. Cambridge says it is for colleges, universities and language schools that need to make decisions about admission, progression or graduation. Employers use it, often in its Business version, to check the English of their workforce.
Individuals take it too, for study, employment or to track their own progress. Whether a particular university or employer accepts it is their decision, so ask the organisation that wants your result before you book.
What does the Linguaskill exam test?
The exam tests four skills in four separate modules. Because it is modular, an organisation can ask for only the skills it needs. You can take one module or all of them. Cambridge publishes these durations for the revised test.
| Module | Time | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | About 40 minutes, up to 59 | Adaptive tasks, so the number of questions is not fixed |
| Listening | About 40 minutes, up to 59 | Adaptive tasks, so the number of questions is not fixed |
| Writing | 55 minutes | An email of at least 50 words, then an essay or report of at least 250 words |
| Speaking | 16 minutes | A presentation, an audio summary, follow-up questions, a recommendation and an argument for and against |
Reading and Listening are adaptive. The computer chooses the next question from your earlier answers, so the test is shorter than a fixed paper of the same range. Writing and Speaking are not described as adaptive.
The email is worth 25% of the Writing score and the longer task 75%. Linguaskill has no grammar and vocabulary module of its own. Grammar and vocabulary are tested through the four skills. Our page on the Linguaskill exam format goes through every task type.
What is the difference between Linguaskill General and Business?
General tests everyday English and Linguaskill Business tests English used at work. The format and timings Cambridge publishes are the same. What changes is the topics. In Writing the second task also differs, as it is an essay in General and a report in Business.
Choose the version your result is for. Match it to what the person asking for your result wants to see. A university usually wants General. An employer may ask for Business.
How is Linguaskill scored?
Linguaskill uses the Cambridge English Scale. Each module gets its own score and CEFR level. There is no pass or fail. Cambridge's results page does not set a pass mark. It gives these score bands.
| CEFR level | Score |
|---|---|
| B1 | 140 to 159 |
| B2 | 160 to 179 |
| C1 | 180 to 199 |
| C2 | 200 to 210 |
You receive a certificate with a score and level for each module you took. If you take more than one module the certificate also shows an average. When a module comes out below B1, Cambridge says the score is not reported and the module does not appear on the certificate.
Older web pages still show a scale that starts at 82. That describes the earlier version of the test. Today the published bands start at B1. For more on how the numbers work, see Linguaskill results explained.
How long do Linguaskill results take?
Cambridge says results are available from three working days after the test. The exact wait depends on the size of the session and whether you sit the test at a centre or remotely. For a session of up to 500 candidates, Cambridge gives 3 to 5 working days at a centre and 6 to 8 remotely.
Your centre tells you the date that applies to you. Do not plan around a faster promise from a third-party page.
How can you prepare for Linguaskill?
Start with the official samples, then add timed practice. Cambridge's online sample tests give no result and do not save your answers. Cambridge also says the Reading and Listening sample is not adaptive and is shorter than a real test. They show you the screens but they do not tell you your level.
Cambridge sample tests
- Show what each module looks like
- Give no result and save no answers
- Reading and Listening are shorter and not adaptive
Linguaskill Academy
- Runs the modules back to back with the official timings
- Gives an approximate score and level for each module
- Writing practice gives scores by criterion
- Speaking practice records you so you can listen again
Linguaskill Academy is free and was built from Cambridge's published task specifications. You can try a single module first. The Reading practice with all its task types is a good place to begin. Each of the other modules has its own page. You can read more about how we made it on About us.
Practise like the real test
All four modules at the official length. Free, no account needed.
Is Linguaskill a proper English certificate?
Yes. Cambridge says candidates receive a certificate with in-depth reporting on the modules they took. Linguaskill became a certificated exam with the revised version.
Is Linguaskill the same as IELTS?
No. Linguaskill is a Cambridge English test that is computer-adaptive and modular, with results on the Cambridge English Scale. IELTS is a different test with its own band scores, so check which one the organisation asks for.
Can you take Linguaskill at home?
That depends on the centre. Cambridge's results page mentions remote sessions, so remote delivery exists, but the centre decides whether it offers it.
How many questions are in Linguaskill?
Cambridge does not give a fixed number for Reading and Listening because both are adaptive. It does give the time, about 40 minutes with a maximum of 59.
Sources
- Cambridge English, Linguaskill, https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/in/exams-and-tests/linguaskill/, accessed 25 October 2026.
- Cambridge English, Linguaskill test formats and task types, https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/in/exams-and-tests/linguaskill/information-about-the-test/test-formats-and-task-types, accessed 25 October 2026.
- Cambridge English, Linguaskill results, https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/in/exams-and-tests/linguaskill/results, accessed 25 October 2026.
- Cambridge English, Linguaskill preparation, https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/in/exams-and-tests/linguaskill/preparation/, accessed 25 October 2026.