Linguaskill is an online English test from Cambridge. It comes in two versions, Linguaskill General and Linguaskill Business. Many candidates are told "take Linguaskill" without being told which one. This guide explains the difference so you can choose, or check that you booked the right one.
Kognixr is independent and not affiliated with Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Always check the official Linguaskill website and the organisation that asked for your result.
What is the same
- Both are taken on a computer and test Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking. An organisation can ask for some or all of the modules.
- Reading and Listening are adaptive: each answer changes the difficulty of the next question, and you can't go back.
- Both report a CEFR level for each skill, so the result tells you, for example, B2 in Reading and B1 in Writing.
- The Writing module has the same structure: a short email of at least 50 words, then a longer text of at least 250 words.
What is different
| Linguaskill General | Linguaskill Business | |
|---|---|---|
| Topics | Everyday life, study, travel, society | Workplace: meetings, customers, products, HR, finance |
| Writing Part 2 | An essay | A report |
| Typical users | Universities, schools, general admission | Employers, recruiters, business schools |
How to choose
- Ask first. If a university, employer or recruiter asked for your result, take the version they name.
- For a job or a company programme, Linguaskill Business is the usual choice, and its workplace texts will feel familiar.
- For study or general purposes, Linguaskill General.
Preparation differs mainly in Writing
For the email, both versions want the same skills: answer all three points in a clear, polite email. For Part 2, practise the format of your version: an essay with an argument and a conclusion (General), or a report with a title, headings and a recommendation (Business). In Reading, practise all task types at your level and one level above. Our guide How to prepare for Linguaskill Business Reading and Writing has a four-week plan.
Practice material for both
The Linguaskill Business Reading & Writing Trainer and the Linguaskill Reading & Writing Trainer (General) cover every task type with practice tests, mock tests and explained answers. Both are also online courses: Linguaskill Business and Linguaskill General, each with two free lessons.
