English for university · Updated October 2026

Oxford ELLT practice test: sample questions and the 2026 format

The Oxford ELLT changed in 2026: three reading texts instead of two, a summary task in writing, note completion in listening and no preparation time before you speak. Much of the practice material online still shows the old test. Try three reading questions in the new task shapes below, then see how every module works, how it is scored and where to practise for free.

Checked against Oxford International, October 2026About 2 hours 20 minutes in allScored 0 to 12 per skill

Try the sample questions

The Oxford ELLT at a glance

The Oxford English Language Level Test is an online English test that universities use for admission, mostly in the UK, Canada and the US. Every figure below comes from oxfordellt.com and Oxford International’s published documents, checked in October 2026.

What it is	An English test for university admission: reading, listening, writing and speakingOxford English Language Level Test, launched in 2020 and once called the OIETC ELLT
Who runs it	Oxford International Digital Institute, part of Oxford International Education GroupNot the same exam as the Oxford Test of English, which is made by Oxford University Press
Two ways to take it	Digital, at home on your own laptop; Global, at an approved test centreSame content and the same certificate
Modules	Reading 40 min, Listening 25 min, Writing 50 min, Speaking about 20 to 25 minSpeaking is live with an examiner over Zoom, on a separate booked slot
Score	Levels 0 to 12 for each skill and overallLevel 6 is published as equal to IELTS 6.0, level 7 to IELTS 6.5
Fee	£120Express speaking with results in 12 working hours is £80 more
Results	Usually within 48 hours of the speaking test
Valid for	18 months from the date the result is issued
Accepted by	Over 300 institutions, says Oxford InternationalMore than 100 in the UK, 90 in the US and 70 in Canada
UK visa	Not a Secure English Language Test (SELT)Used by universities for admission; check with yours if your visa route needs a SELT

What changed in 2026

In May 2026 Oxford International published revised content for all four modules, for both the Digital and Global versions. The timings barely move; the tasks do. Its May 2026 sample tests and its speaking guide already use the new format, so that is what this page describes. Some older pages on the official site still show the previous format, which is why guides elsewhere disagree.

Module	Before	From 2026
Reading	2 texts of 400 to 600 words, 32 multiple choice questions	3 texts of about 200, 400 and 500 to 600 words: paragraph order, phrase gap-fill, then multiple choice. 30 questions worth 32 points.
Listening	Three recordings, all multiple choice or speaker matching	Same three recordings, but the second is now note completion: you write a word or phrase.
Writing	One essay of 190 to 260 words in 45 minutes	Two tasks in 50 minutes: summarise a 170 to 200 word text in 80 to 100 words (30%), then an essay of 190 to 250 words (70%).
Speaking	A presentation on a topic you prepared for 15 minutes	No preparation time: 45 seconds to read an unseen topic, then 2 to 3 minutes answering up to three prompts.

Check the date on any practice test. Material made before mid-2026 trains the wrong speaking skill: a prepared 3 to 5 minute presentation instead of answering an unseen prompt after 45 seconds. It also skips the summary task, which is now 30% of your writing mark.

The Oxford ELLT format, module by module

On the Digital version you take Reading and Listening in either order, then Writing, and then speak to an examiner on a slot you book afterwards. The test is not adaptive: every candidate gets the same task types, and the questions run from A2 to C1 in difficulty.

Reading

40 minutes3 texts, 30 questions

Text 1, about 200 words at B1: put the paragraphs in the right order.
Text 2, about 400 words at B2: fill gaps in the text with the right phrase from a list.
Text 3, 500 to 600 words at C1: multiple choice comprehension questions.
Twenty-eight questions are worth one point. Two C1 inference questions are worth two, so the module is marked out of 32.

What the marking rewards. Following how a text is built (linking words, pronouns that point back), finding main ideas and details, vocabulary in context, and telling what the writer implies from what the text actually states.

Listening

25 minutes3 recordings, 8 questions each

Recording 1, a monologue played once: multiple choice.
Recording 2, a monologue or dialogue played twice: complete notes with a word or short phrase. This is the C1 task and the one that changed in 2026.
Recording 3, several short speakers played twice: match each speaker to an item or idea.

What the marking rewards. Gist, key detail and exact information from academic-style talk, the speaker’s purpose and attitude, and moving what you hear into notes accurately. Spelling matters in the note completion task.

Writing

50 minutes2 tasks

Task 1: read a short text of 170 to 200 words and summarise it in 80 to 100 words. It carries 30% of the writing mark.
Task 2: an essay of 190 to 250 words in response to a prompt. It carries 70%.
No dictionary, thesaurus or translator is allowed in any module.

What the marking rewards. Paraphrasing rather than copying, clear organisation and paragraphing, arguments supported with examples, and range and accuracy of grammar and vocabulary. A live examiner marks it, and the same examiner then talks to you about your essay.

Speaking

About 20 to 25 minutes4 stages

Stage 1: a short personal chat and an identity check with your passport. Not marked.
Stage 2: the examiner shows you a short text on a topic you have not seen. You get 45 seconds to read it, then answer up to three prompts (factual, comparative, hypothetical) for about 2 to 3 minutes.
Stage 3: 5 to 7 minutes of questions about the essay you wrote, like a discussion with a tutor.
Stage 4: the examiner shows an image for 15 seconds, then leads a 5 to 7 minute discussion that starts from it.

What the marking rewards. Stages 2, 3 and 4 count equally. The examiner listens for extended, organised answers, justifying and clarifying your views, coping with follow-up questions, fluency and pronunciation. The 2026 change removed the prepared presentation, so spontaneous speech is what is tested now.

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Oxford ELLT practice questions

One reading question for each of the three 2026 text types, written by Mocko in the same task shapes. Pick an answer to see why it is right.

Writing, Task 1

Summarise this in 80 to 100 words

Many universities now record their lectures and put the recordings online. Supporters argue that recordings help students who are ill, who work part-time or who are studying in a second language, because they can pause, replay difficult sections and check their notes. Some studies have found that students who use recordings to revise, rather than to replace attendance, achieve slightly higher marks. Critics point to a different pattern. When recordings are available, attendance at lectures often falls, and the students who stop coming are not always those who need flexibility most. Lecturers also report that a half-empty room produces fewer questions, which changes the session for everyone who does attend. A recording also captures what was said, but not the informal conversations before and after a lecture, where students often clear up misunderstandings. Most institutions have therefore chosen a middle path. Recordings are provided, but students are encouraged to treat them as a revision tool, and some courses now track attendance at seminars rather than lectures, because discussion is the part that is hardest to replace.

Give the main argument on each side and the conclusion, in your own words. Copying whole phrases from the text and adding your own opinion both cost marks in a summary.

Writing, Task 2

Essay, 190 to 250 words

Some people believe every university student should be required to study at least one subject outside their main field. Others think students should concentrate only on their chosen discipline. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Write it as if you will have to defend it, because you will: Stage 3 of the speaking test is 5 to 7 minutes of questions about your essay.

Speaking, Stage 2

Studying abroad: read for 45 seconds, then answer

More students than ever take their degree outside their home country, and universities now compete hard to attract them.

Factual: what are the main reasons students choose to study in another country?
Comparative: how is studying abroad different from studying at a university at home?
Hypothetical: if your university offered you a free year abroad, would you take it? Why?

Speaking, Stage 4

Image shown for 15 seconds: a crowded university library during the exam period

What do you remember about the picture?
Why do so many students prefer to study in a library rather than at home?
Should university libraries stay open 24 hours a day? Who would benefit, and who would pay?

Time yourself: 50 minutes for both writing tasks together, and record your speaking answers so you can hear the pauses an examiner hears.

Oxford ELLT scores and what they mean

You get a level from 0 to 12 for each skill, and the overall level is the average of the four. Reading and Listening levels come from your raw score; Writing and Speaking are marked by the examiner against rubrics. Oxford International publishes this equivalence table to IELTS, TOEFL iBT and the CEFR.

Oxford ELLT	IELTS	TOEFL iBT	CEFR
12	9.0	118	C2
11	8.5	115	C2
10	8.0	110	C1
9	7.5	102	C1
8	7.0	94	C1
7	6.5	79	B2
6	6.0	60	B2
5	5.5	46	B2
4	5.0	35	B1
3	4.5	32	B1
2	4.0	0 to 31	B1
1	3.5	0 to 31	A2
0	3.0	0 to 31	A2

Highlighted: levels 6 and 7, the two most common university requirements.

What universities ask for

University	Oxford ELLT requirement
University of PlymouthUK	Undergraduate 6, postgraduate 7, at least 5 in every skill
Sheffield Hallam UniversityUK	6, 7 or 8 where a course asks for IELTS 6.0, 6.5 or 7.0, at least 5 in every skill
Heriot-Watt UniversityUK	From 6 (at least 5 in every skill) to 7 (at least 6), by course
University of StrathclydeUK	Degree entry: 6 overall, at least 5 in every skill
Edinburgh Napier UniversityUK	Taught courses 6 (at least 5), research degrees 7 (at least 6)
University of WolverhamptonUK	Undergraduate 6 (no skill below 5), postgraduate 7 (no skill below 6)
Ontario Tech UniversityCanada	7, or 8 for Education and Nursing, from the January 2025 intake

From each university’s own page, October 2026. Requirements change by course and intake, and some universities add rules of their own: the University of Edinburgh, for example, wants all four skills from one sitting and does not accept the Skill Retake.

Not a SELT. The Oxford ELLT is not on the Home Office’s list of Secure English Language Tests. Universities that accept it use it for your admission; where a UK visa route needs a SELT, such as many pre-sessional and below-degree courses, it will not do. Ask the university which applies to your course before you book.

Booking, fees, results and retakes

The test costs £120 in either version, and the whole thing can be done in a few days, which is most of its appeal. Results normally arrive within 48 hours of the speaking test and stay valid for 18 months.

Booking Digital

Register with your passport and a selfie, both of which go on the certificate. Paying buys a licence that must be used within 30 days. Take Reading and Listening in either order, then Writing, then book Speaking, normally at least 24 hours ahead.

At home, but watched

Reading, Listening and Writing are recorded through your webcam, microphone and a shared screen, with a room scan, and flagged moments are reviewed by people. Speaking is live on Zoom from a laptop or desktop, not a phone. Only an original, valid passport is accepted as ID.

Global, at a centre

Everything in one sitting on a centre computer, with speaking over Zoom from the centre. Arrive 25 minutes early with your passport. Centres are mostly in India, Pakistan and Nigeria, with others in the UK, UAE, China and Nepal.

Express, when the deadline is close

For £80 on top of the fee, Digital candidates can book speaking 2 to 24 hours ahead and get results within 12 working hours, UK time. Slots depend on examiner availability, and an Express slot has no free reschedule.

Retakes

You can sit the full test up to 3 times, each on a new licence. Since January 2026 a Skill Retake lets you redo one part within 10 days of your results: Reading £50, Listening £50, Writing and Speaking £70. The new score replaces the old one even if it is lower, and not every university accepts it.

Refunds, rescheduling and appeals

No refund once you have started any part. One free speaking reschedule if you move it more than 24 hours ahead; £30 inside 24 hours or for a missed slot. Writing and Speaking marks can be appealed within 14 days of results for £30.

How to prepare for the Oxford ELLT

The best free material comes from the test owner itself, and it is already in the new format. Use it first, then spend your time on the two things it cannot give you: feedback on your writing, and a real person asking you questions.

Do the official sample tests first

Oxford International publishes sample tests for all four modules with answers, audio and scripts, including a May 2026 set in the new format. Do one under exam timing before anything else, so you know where you stand.

Use the free Prep+ course

Oxford ELLT Prep+ became free in March 2026. It has mock exams with instant feedback on reading and listening and videos from examiners. It does not mark your writing or speaking for you.

Read for structure, not just meaning

Two of the three reading tasks are about how a text fits together: paragraph order and phrases that complete a sentence. Underline linking words and pronouns as you read. They carry most of the answers.

Practise summaries against a word count

The summary is 30% of your writing mark and has a hard range of 80 to 100 words. Practise on short articles: one sentence per main idea, your own words, no opinion, then count.

Speak without preparing

The 2026 speaking test gives you 45 seconds, not 15 minutes. Practise answering a factual, a comparative and a hypothetical question on a topic you have never seen, out loud and timed.

Know your essay before you speak

Stage 3 is a discussion of the essay you wrote. Reread your argument in your head before the speaking test, and be ready to give an example, defend a point or admit a weakness in it.

Official sample tests (oxfordellt.com)Free Oxford ELLT Prep+Official speaking guide

Where Mocko fits, honestly

We do not have full Oxford ELLT mock tests yet; the questions above are all there is today. We are building them in the 2026 format, with the writing summary and essay marked and speaking practice that asks you unseen questions. What is live on Mocko now is English, French and Spanish exam prep, including the Versant test, which trains the same skills of speaking and writing under time pressure. If you want Oxford ELLT practice here, tell us at the bottom of this page.

Oxford ELLT: frequently asked questions

What is the Oxford ELLT?

The Oxford English Language Level Test is an English test for university admission, run by Oxford International Digital Institute. It tests reading, listening, writing and speaking, can be taken at home (Digital) or at a test centre (Global), and reports a level from 0 to 12 for each skill and overall. It is not the Oxford Test of English, which is a different exam from Oxford University Press.

Where can I find an Oxford ELLT practice test?

Start with the free official material: sample tests with answers and audio on oxfordellt.com, including a May 2026 set in the new format, and the free Oxford ELLT Prep+ course from Oxford International, which has mock exams with instant feedback on reading and listening. The three reading questions on this page are in the same task shapes and you can answer them without signing up.

What changed in the Oxford ELLT in 2026?

In May 2026 Oxford International revised all four modules. Reading moved from two texts to three, with paragraph ordering and phrase gap-fill tasks. Listening’s second task became note completion. Writing became two tasks: an 80 to 100 word summary plus an essay. Speaking dropped the prepared presentation in favour of an unseen prompt with 45 seconds to read it. The official sample tests and speaking guide already use the new format.

How is the Oxford ELLT scored?

Each skill gets a level from 0 to 12, and the overall level is the average of the four. Reading and Listening levels come from your raw score; Writing and Speaking are marked by a live examiner against rubrics. Oxford International publishes an equivalence table: level 6 matches IELTS 6.0 and level 7 matches IELTS 6.5.

What Oxford ELLT score do I need?

It depends on the university and the course. A common pattern in the UK is 6 overall with at least 5 in every skill for undergraduate entry, and 7 with at least 6 for postgraduate, which mirrors IELTS 6.0 and 6.5. Always check the course page, because some universities ask for more, some have rules on one sitting, and some do not accept the Skill Retake.

How much does the Oxford ELLT cost?

£120 for either Digital or Global. Express speaking, with results within 12 working hours, is £80 on top. A Skill Retake costs £50 for Reading or Listening and £70 for Writing and Speaking. Some partner universities publish discount codes for their applicants.

Is the Oxford ELLT accepted for a UK visa?

It is not a Secure English Language Test (SELT), so it cannot be used where the Home Office requires one. Universities that accept it use it to decide on your admission, and for degree-level study some say it can support your application. For pre-sessional and below-degree courses they usually ask for a SELT. Ask the university before you book.

How long does the Oxford ELLT take and when do I get results?

Reading is 40 minutes, Listening 25, Writing 50 and Speaking about 20 to 25, so a little over two hours in all. On Digital, speaking is on a separate slot you book at least 24 hours ahead. Results normally arrive within 48 hours of the speaking test, or within 12 working hours with Express, and stay valid for 18 months.

Can I take the Oxford ELLT at home?

Yes, that is the Digital version. You need a laptop or desktop with a webcam and microphone, a quiet room you can show on camera, and your original passport. Reading, Listening and Writing are monitored through recording and screen sharing; Speaking is a live Zoom call with an examiner. Phones are not allowed for any part.

Is the Oxford ELLT easier than IELTS?

It is shorter, usually cheaper, bookable at short notice and taken at home. The tasks are not easier in themselves: the 2026 reading module goes up to C1 texts, and speaking now has no preparation time. What makes it feel different is the speaking stage about your own essay, which rewards being able to explain and defend what you wrote.

Fees, formats and university requirements change. Everything here was checked against Oxford International and university pages in October 2026, but your university and oxfordellt.com are the authority for your own application.