LanguageCert Academic test day: what happens and how to prepare
Arrive about 30 minutes early with the valid passport you used to book. After check-in and a photo for your test report, you take Listening, Reading and Writing on a computer, and Speaking with an interlocutor, on the same day or separately. Official results arrive within three working days.
Most nerves on test day come from not knowing what will happen. LanguageCert Academic at a test centre follows a predictable routine, and knowing it lets you save your energy for the test itself.
Before you go
- ID. Bring the valid, original passport you used when you booked. Copies or photos on your phone are not accepted. If your passport has expired or the name differs from your booking, contact the test centre well before the day.
- Timing. LanguageCert recommends arriving about 30 minutes early.
- Belongings. You store your bag and phone in a secure area. Bring only what the centre allows.
- Sleep and food. The written components take more than two hours. Eat beforehand.
Check-in
Staff check your ID and take a photo, which appears on your official test report. You are then shown to your computer for the written components.
The order of the day
The written test covers Listening, Reading and Writing on a computer. Speaking is with an interlocutor and can be on the same day or a different day, depending on the centre. At AIL's Box Hill centre, for example, the written components start in the afternoon and Speaking is in the evening of the same day. Check your confirmation for exact times.
Small things that help:
- Listening: every part is heard twice. Don't panic if you miss something the first time.
- Reading: move on from a difficult gap and come back. Time is easier to lose in Part 2 than anywhere else.
- Writing: plan for a few minutes, write Part 1 in about 20 minutes, and check your opinion is there.
- Speaking: if you don't understand a question, ask the interlocutor to repeat it. That is normal and does not lose marks by itself.
Find out where you are todayTry a free LanguageCert Academic-style practice in any skill, then sit a full timed practice test with 0–100 scores, your CEFR level and a visa check.
Start free practiceAfter the test
LanguageCert states that official results are available within three working days. For an Australian visa, submit your LanguageCert test report with your application, as LanguageCert advises. Check that your scores meet the minimum for your English level in every skill: see LanguageCert for Australian visas.
The last week: a simple plan
| Day | Focus |
|---|---|
| 7 days before | Full timed practice test, all four skills |
| 6–4 days | Work on your weakest skill: one timed section a day |
| 3 days | Speaking: role plays and read-aloud out loud, recorded |
| 2 days | Writing: one Part 1 and one Part 2 under time |
| 1 day | Light review, check ID and route, early night |
A full practice test a week out is the best single check. It shows whether your timing works and which skill still needs attention. Our practice tests follow the LanguageCert Academic format and report each skill from 0 to 100 against the visa minimums.
Booking at AIL
AIL is an official LanguageCert test centre in Melbourne. Dates, prices and booking are on the AIL LanguageCert page. If you book your test with AIL, use the code AILLC in your practice test account for a free full practice test.
Find out where you are todayTry a free LanguageCert Academic-style practice in any skill, then sit a full timed practice test with 0–100 scores, your CEFR level and a visa check.
Start free practiceQuestions people also ask
What ID do I need for LanguageCert Academic?
The valid original passport you used to book. Photocopies and digital copies are not accepted.
When should I arrive?
About 30 minutes before your test starts.
When do I get my LanguageCert results?
LanguageCert says official results are available within three working days.
Can I take Speaking on another day?
LanguageCert allows the written and spoken components to be taken separately or on the same day. Your test centre will tell you what it offers.