What You Need to Know About Kaplan Test of English

If you’re an international student looking to study a Masters or PhD abroad, you might need an English language test to show your proficiency.

There are a number of tests available, so it’s important for you to check which ones your university accepts, and which would best suit you.

Kaplan Test of English (KTE) is an online adaptive test, which assesses the four key language skills – reading, writing, listening and speaking. You take the test at home which means you don’t have to book an appointment or travel to a test centre. As long as you have the right technical set up (more on that later), you can take it at any time, night or day.

You’ll be emailed your results in 2-5 days, and then it’s up to you to send them to universities. Bonus – this means there’s no limit on the number of universities you can send them to, and there’s no extra charge (like there are with other tests).

Think Kaplan Test of English might be right for you? We’ve covered everything you need to know about it, including how it works, how much it costs and who accepts it so you can make an informed decision and get going!

Who accepts Kaplan Test of English?

KTE isn’t as widely accepted as some others (such as TOEFL and IELTS ) but over 120 institutions in the UK, the US and Australia accept it.

It’s worth checking for any conditions set by your university as some may only accept KTE results for a Masters course or a specific subject. It’s really important to check this with your university before taking the test.

KTE results are valid for two years.

What does Kaplan Test of English involve?

You’ll be assessed in four skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking.

• Section 1: Listening and reading – multiple choice questions based on presentations, debates, articles and reports. This section is untimed.
• Section 2: Writing – you will be given 35-40 minutes to complete an essay task.
• Section 3: Speaking – you’ll have 10-15 minutes to complete between 3-5 tasks such as answering questions and describing images.

The test is taken online, at home and has adaptive elements which means that the questions will adapt to your level as you move through the exam.

What do I need to take Kaplan Test of English?

Because you take the test at home, you need a good computer set up. You’ll want a computer, stable internet connection, webcam and either speakers or headphones, as well as a quiet and well-lit room. It would be a good idea to test all of this before sitting down to take the test so you don’t have any technical issues.

You will also need a government-issued photo ID.

How can I prepare for Kaplan Test of English?

As this is a test of English, the best way to prepare is to practice! Practice speaking with a friend or reading articles in English, both in your head and out loud. Perhaps listen to an English-language podcast, and write some of your messages in English too. The questions in the test are multiple-choice, so practice with this question type can help you prepare.

You’ll be able to take a free practice test before taking the real thing so try not to worry too much!

How is Kaplan Test of English scored?

The reading and listening sections of the test are automatically graded within the testing platform. The speaking and writing sections are graded by human markers who will be marking your answers based on overall response, linguistic range and accuracy, fluency, coherence and cohesion.

It’s really important that you check your university accepts KTE and what score is required for your course before you pay for your test.

Below are some tables showing general comparisons between KTE, IELTS and TOEFL as these are the most common alternative tests.