English proficiency test · CEFR A1 to C2
Prove your English on all four skills, with a certificate anyone can check.
Reading, listening, writing and a spoken section with Kate, our AI tutor. About 70 minutes at home, proctored, with your level per skill and your certificate within 24 hours.
One test a year included with annual Premium. Organisations from $29 per test.
Overall level
B2
SB-XXXX-XXXX
- Speaking
- B2
- Listening
- C1
- Reading
- B2
- Writing
- B1
The test at a glance
- 4 skills
- Reading, listening, writing, speaking
- About 70 min
- Online, at home, camera on
- A1 to C2
- Per skill and overall
- 24 hours
- To your certificate
Quick answer
The SpeakBase English Test is a remote, proctored test of all four skills: reading, listening, writing and speaking with Kate, our AI tutor. It takes about 70 minutes at home with your camera on. You get a CEFR level from A1 to C2 for each skill and overall, a 0 to 100 score per skill, and a certificate with a verification link within 24 hours. It costs $49 for an individual.
The four skills
One sitting, four skills, a level for each.
Reading and listening adapt to your answers, so every level gets a fair test. Writing and speaking are scored against CEFR rubrics.
01 · UP TO 20 MIN
Reading
About 4 texts, 10 to 12 questions. Texts get harder or easier as you answer.
02 · UP TO 15 MIN
Listening
About 4 recordings, each played at most twice, 10 to 12 questions. Adaptive like reading.
03 · 25 MIN
Writing
Task 1: a short message of 60 to 120 words. Task 2: an opinion text of 120 to 220 words.
04 · ABOUT 8 MIN
Speaking with Kate
Five parts. Kate, our AI tutor, asks each question aloud and you answer for 30 to 90 seconds.
How it works
From purchase to certificate in four steps.
No test centre, no appointment. Start when you are ready, in a quiet room with your ID.
Buy the test
Pay $49 once. No subscription. Annual Premium members get one test a year included.
Take it at home
About 70 minutes on a computer with a camera and microphone. You show your ID at the start and the camera stays on.
AI scoring, human review
Every answer is scored against CEFR rubrics. Every test is checked, and flagged tests plus a random sample are reviewed by a person.
Get your certificate
Within 24 hours: your level per skill and overall, and a certificate number anyone can check on our verification page.
Who it is for
One candidate or a whole program.
Individuals
Show a school, an employer or yourself where your English stands today, with a certificate anyone can check.
Take the testEducation
Placement and exit testing for language schools, colleges and universities.
For schoolsWorkforce
Screen candidates and measure what a training program actually changed.
For employersGovernment
Entry and exit testing for national and regional programs, quoted per program.
For public programsIntegrity
A result is only worth something if it is fair.
The rules are shown before you start. These checks run on every test.
- Camera and microphone on for the whole test
- Photo of your ID next to your face at the start
- Fullscreen required; leaving the test window is logged
- Copy and paste are blocked
- Writing is checked for AI-written text
- Speaking is checked for reading aloud and for a second voice
- Flagged tests and a random sample are reviewed by a person
- A rules breach voids the test, without a refund
- Photos and recordings are deleted after 90 days
Pricing
One price per test. No subscription needed.
| Who | Price | Volume | Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual | $49 | 1 test | All four skills, CEFR level per skill and overall, certificate with a verification link |
| Organisations | $29 per test | 1 to 99 tests | Invite links, every result in one dashboard, exportable reports |
| Organisations | $22 per test | 100 to 999 tests | Everything above |
| Large programs and governments | From $15 per test | 1,000 tests and up | Quoted per program, reporting by group and region |
- Included with SpeakBase Premium annual: one test per year.
- Want a quick check first? Try the free 3-minute speaking sample.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What is the CEFR?
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages is the most widely used scale for describing language ability. It has six levels: A1 and A2 (basic), B1 and B2 (independent) and C1 and C2 (proficient). SpeakBase reports a CEFR level for each of the four skills and an overall level.
How long does the test take?
About 70 minutes in one sitting: reading up to 20 minutes, listening up to 15, writing 25 and speaking about 8. Plan for a few extra minutes for the ID check and the equipment check at the start.
What equipment do I need?
A computer with a working camera and microphone, a recent version of Chrome, Edge, Safari or Firefox, a stable internet connection, a quiet room where you are alone, and a photo ID. Headphones are allowed for the listening section.
How accurate is the scoring?
Reading and listening are scored from your answers to adaptive questions. Writing and speaking are scored by AI against CEFR rubrics: task achievement, organisation, vocabulary and grammar for writing, and fluency, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar and coherence for speaking. Every test is checked, and flagged tests and a random sample are reviewed by a person before the certificate is issued.
Is the certificate accepted by universities, employers or visa offices?
It is a CEFR-aligned proficiency certificate issued by SpeakBase. Whether it is accepted is decided by each institution or employer, so check with them first. It is not a replacement for IELTS, TOEFL or other tests that a visa or immigration process names.
Can I retake the test?
Yes. Buy another test and take it again. Each certificate is a record of your level on the date you took the test, and shows that date.
What happens if I break a rule during the test?
The rules are shown before you start. A breach, such as another person in the room, leaving the test window repeatedly or pasting text, voids the test without a refund. If something goes wrong on our side, write to support@speakbase.io and we will sort it out.
What happens to my photos and recordings?
They are used to check identity and integrity and to score your speaking. Photos and recordings are deleted after 90 days. Your result and certificate record are kept so that the certificate can be verified.
How does an employer or school check my certificate?
Every certificate has a number in the form SB-XXXX-XXXX. Anyone can open speakbase.io/en/verify/ followed by that number to see the levels and the test date.
Is there a free version?
Yes, a free 3-minute speaking sample with Kate gives you a spoken CEFR level from A1 to C1. It is a quick check, not a proctored four-skill test, and it does not come with a certificate.