Testing & assessments
Tests are available for healthcare professionals, medical students and University of Bath students.
All language test candidates should prepare for the test. Even people who are very good at English can find the test difficult because they have never done language tests before.
You need to know as much as you can about what the test is like and how to do a language test.
Make sure you read the basic test description below, look at the sample test provided or order Official UBELT Practice Tests, and follow the recommendations in the Language Learning section.
Test commissioners
A test commissioner is the person or organisation who requests, books, and pays for the test directly with UBELT. This is the person who receives the official results and the test certificate.
UBELT Tests can be commissioned by employers, candidates, universities and language schools.
Test times and locations
There are three ways to access testing: University of Bath campus based test events (monthly and weekly), UBELT hosted Overseas test events and Away test events (events hosted by a third party):
Monthly test events, at the University of Bath, are pre-scheduled on a Saturday each month throughout the year. Places must be booked online and are available on a strictly first-come-first-served basis.
Weekly test events, at the University of Bath, can be booked for any Tuesday starting at 11am. Places must be booked online and are available on a strictly first-come-first-served basis.
UBELT hosted Overseas test events are held throughout the year.
Apply to take the UBELT Test now
Away Tests are for individuals or groups which a candidate or agent or employer organises. These tests may take place anywhere within Europe including the UK (including at the University of Bath).
Please contact the UBELT Office for dates.
What are the parts of the test?
The test parts and timings are:
- Writing - 20 minutes - Whole group
- Reading - 30 minutes - Whole group
- Listening - 35 minutes - Whole group
- Speaking - 15 to 18 minutes - Individual
On a test day, you must expect extra time for practicalities such as turnaround time between the parts and the waiting time between the individual speaking tests.
What is the test content?
The topics and style of the test reflect the requirements of work situations in the U.K. For example, reading texts are similar to those found in professional magazines or on the Internet.
Topics deal with everyday and professional issues, as well as work-related products, equipment, research, and so on.
The test tasks focus on communication. Vocabulary and grammar are considered as part of the whole communication; they are not tested separately.
