Versant by Pearson

Professional English
Test

Official Guide for Test-Takers

2024
VERSANT BY PEARSON PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH TEST: OFFICIAL GUIDE

Versant by Pearson Professional English Test

The Versant by Pearson Professional English Test assesses the ability
Item type Skill(s) tested Items in test
to communicate in everyday workplace English. It measures an
individual’s Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing skills. Businesses, Sentence Completion
Reading and Writing 10
universities and training organizations can use the test for (Part A)
benchmarking and evaluation as part of business English courses, or
Passage Reconstruction
for development and advancement purposes. Writing 3
(Part B)
VPET has 2 levels, covering lower and higher degrees of English Reading Comprehension
Reading 6
proficiency: (Part C)
Level 1: A1 to B1+, or GSE 10 to 58 E-mail Writing
Level 2: B1 to C2, or GSE 51 to 90 Writing 2
(Part D)

This guide will help test takers prepare for the both levels, as the item Dictation
Listening and Writing 8
types are the same while the difficulty level of the items will vary. The (Part E)
guide provides examples of questions at both levels, as well as tips for Response Selection
answering. You can use it to develop useful strategies for the test Listening 8
(Part F)
day.
Passage Comprehension
Listening 6
Both levels have ten sections based on the item types shown in the (Part G)
table. Each part starts with instructions and a sample item so that you Repeat
will know what to expect. Each question is timed, and the total length Speaking 10
(Part H)
of the test is approximately 60 minutes.
Speaking Situations
Speaking 2
As well as reading this guide, we recommend that you request a free (Part I)
unscored sample test. You can also purchase a practice test that will Story Retellings
give you a score within minutes, so that you can see how you might Speaking 3
(Part J)
do on the real test.
VERSANT BY PEARSON PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH TEST: OFFICIAL GUIDE

Skills tested
The following table describes the skills assessed and scored by the test. An example score report is provided at the end of the guide.

Skill Definition

Overall Ability The Overall score reflects a candidate’s ability to understand spoken and written English in the international workplace. To get a
high score, candidates need to be able to respond appropriately in various spoken and written tasks. Speaking at a
conversational pace and in intelligible English are also important. Overall scores are based on an equally weighted combination
of Speaking, Listening, Writing, and Reading scores.

Speaking Speaking measures the ability to communicate in a range of everyday and workplace situations. The score is based on the ability
to produce fluent, intelligible speech by using appropriate stress, rhythm, and intonation as well as accurate or appropriate
grammar.

Listening Listening assesses the ability to understand main ideas and specific details from a range of everyday and workplace speech. The
score is based on the ability to comprehend the meaning of English spoken at a normal conversational speed.

Writing Writing tests the ability to produce a variety of texts on everyday and workplace topics. The score is based on the ability of the
candidate to express him/herself with clear, effective structure as well as appropriate tone and style according to the purpose
and audience of the text.

Reading The Reading score reflects the ability to understand written English texts on everyday and workplace topics. The score is based
on the ability to operate at a functional speed to extract details and main ideas, infer the message, and construct meaning.
VERSANT BY PEARSON PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH TEST: OFFICIAL GUIDE

Access to the test

The Professional English Test is taken online and autoscored using Pearson's highly reliable, state-of-the-
art technology. Results are available in minutes. To take the test you will need:

Test instructions and a Test Identification Number (TIN) from your test administrator.
Access to a computer.
A good internet connection.
An up-to-date web browser or the Versant by Pearson Computer Delivered Testing (CDT) software
(for Windows).
Headset with a microphone connected to your computer.
A quiet room where you can take the 60-minute test without interruptions.

Your test administrator may also ask you to take the test using a remote monitoring system. You will
be notified in advance if this is the case.
VERSANT BY PEARSON PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH TEST: OFFICIAL GUIDE

Navigating the test

To start the test, you will be asked to enter your Test Identification Number (TIN).
You will then be asked to go through some system checks to ensure that your audio and microphone are
working.
Once the actual test begins, an examiner's voice will guide you and explain how to answer the different types
of questions.
Each new section starts with an instruction screen and a sample item, so that you can see what to do on each
section.
Each question is timed. In some cases, the system detects when you have finished responding and presents
the next item.
If you do not complete an answer in the allowed time, your work will be saved automatically, and whatever
you put in as your answer will be submitted.
If you finish a question early, it’s a good idea to check your answer. If you think it’s good, click Next to move
on to the next question.
You can only move forward – it is not possible to go back to a previous question or re-record an answer.
VERSANT BY PEARSON PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH TEST: OFFICIAL GUIDE

General tips
Some questions require spoken responses, and some written answers.
Answers to speaking questions are recorded, so make sure that you are in a quiet room with no background
noise (even loud fans and air conditioning can cause interference). People speaking around you will cause
their voices to be recorded along with yours, making it hard for the system to score you correctly.
When answering speaking questions:
Ensure your headset is properly connected (to avoid static or technical issues).
Speak clearly at a normal volume (don't shout or whisper).
Speak at a normal speed (do not rush or speak extra slowly).
Consider which words need to be stressed.
Pay attention to punctuation (e.g., commas, and periods) as these will give you clues for pauses in your
speech.
Use the timer to keep track especially for longer written answers.
When answering in writing, consider spelling, capitalization, grammar, and punctuation.

A video with tips for test takers is also available online.

 VERSANT BY PEARSON PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH TEST: OFFICIAL GUIDE

Part A: Sentence Completion

Instructions Example question

1 /10

1 / 10

Click to hear
instructions

What will you have to do? What skills are being tested?
You will see a sentence that has a missing word. This question assesses your vocabulary knowledge as well as your
You must enter one word that best fits the meaning of the understanding of a given English sentence.
sentence.
You will have 25 seconds to answer.
VERSANT BY PEARSON PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH TEST: OFFICIAL GUIDE

Sentence Completion tips

Consider the overall meaning of the sentence.
Look at the words either side of the gap and use your knowledge of grammar and
vocabulary to choose the missing word.
Pay attention to spelling and capitalization.
Only type one word.

You can practice by completing the sentence below. Remember you will have 25 seconds to answer.

He always kept a flashlight in his car in case of

an .
 VERSANT BY PEARSON PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH TEST: OFFICIAL GUIDE

Part B: Passage Reconstruction

Instructions Example question

1/3

1/3

Click to hear
instructions

What will you have to do? What skills are being tested?
You will read a passage on the screen. The passage will This question tests Writing skills, especially your ability to
disappear after 30 seconds. reproduce key points and details in your own words in everyday
After the passage disappears, you need to rewrite the and workplace English.
meaning of it in your own words.
You have 90 seconds to rewrite the passage.
VERSANT BY PEARSON PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH TEST: OFFICIAL GUIDE

Passage Reconstruction tips

Read the passage for understanding. Don’t worry about memorizing specific phrases.
When writing, use your memory and try to re-create the meaning of the passage. You don’t need to use the
same words, but it is important to have the same meaning.
Do not write a quick summary – include all the details you can. The more, the better.
Pay attention to spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.
Write in complete sentences.

You can practice by rewriting the passage below. In the real test the passage will disappear
after 30 seconds and you will have 90 seconds to enter your answer.

Thank you so much for being so understanding about our delay of

shipment. It has been quite difficult to get materials from our
suppliers due to the recent weather conditions. It is an unusual
circumstance. In any case, we should be able to ship the products to
you tomorrow. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please
feel free to contact me.
 VERSANT BY PEARSON PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH TEST: OFFICIAL GUIDE

Part C: Reading Comprehension

Instructions Example question

1/3

Click to hear
instructions

What will you have to do? What skills are being tested?
You will see information about a situation. It may include a This question tests Reading including the ability to:
passage, graphs or charts. Any figures shown will be very basic Understand main themes of the passage.
and need only a limited understanding of graphs. Identify details in the text.
You will be asked to answer two multiple-choice questions based Infer the message based on the given information.
on the information displayed. Evaluate coherence of the text.
You will have 3 minutes to read the passage and answer the
questions.
VERSANT BY PEARSON PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH TEST: OFFICIAL GUIDE

Reading Comprehension tips

Read the text carefully and consider what it is communicating.
Read the question and look at the passage to see if you can find or figure out the answer.
Answer both questions.

Practice by looking at the passage provided and answering the questions. You will have three minutes in the test.
 VERSANT BY PEARSON PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH TEST: OFFICIAL GUIDE

Part D: E-mail Writing

Instructions Example question

1/2

Click to hear
instructions

What will you have to do? What skills are being tested?
You will see a short description of a workplace situation. This question assesses your writing skills including the ability to:
Write an email about it to the specific person in the Produce grammatical sentences.
description. Use appropriate vocabulary given the topic and situation.
Write it using your own words. Organize ideas in a logical manner.
You have 9 minutes to read the situation and respond. Use a suitable tone to reflect the contents of the message as well
You must write at least 100 words. as the relationship with the recipient of the email.
VERSANT BY PEARSON PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH TEST: OFFICIAL GUIDE

E-mail Writing tips

Read the passage and instructions carefully. Address your email to the right person.
Make sure your answer covers all the themes requested. Add details to support each idea.
Write in a relatively formal way, suitable for the workplace. Do not use texting abbreviations (e.g. ‘you’ = ‘u’).
Pay attention to spelling, capitalization, and punctuation.
Write at least 100 words in complete grammatical sentences. Writing more is always better.
The Word Count displays the number of words you have written.

You can practice using the example below. Give yourself 9 minutes to read and respond.

You recently purchased computers for your company. You bought the computers from an
overseas company, even though a local company would have been cheaper. Your supervisor,
Mr. Watson, wants to know why you chose to purchase them from the more expensive,
overseas company and not from the cheaper, local company. Write an email to him giving
three reasons that support your decision.

Your reasons must come from the following themes:

customer service
warranty
variety

You should include all three themes. Provide supporting ideas for each of your reasons.
 VERSANT BY PEARSON PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH TEST: OFFICIAL GUIDE

Part E: Dictation
Instructions Example question

1/8

Click to hear
instructions

What will you have to do? What skills are being tested?
You will hear a sentence spoken aloud. This question assesses how well you understood a spoken sentence.
You will need to type the sentence word-for-word. It also tests how well you write a sentence you heard using
You will hear the sentence only once. appropriate grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.
You have 25 seconds to type your answer.
After this time, your answer will be saved.
VERSANT BY PEARSON PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH TEST: OFFICIAL GUIDE

Dictation tips
Listen to the sentence before you start typing.
Focus on the meaning of the sentence to help you remember it.
Pay attention to spelling, capitalization and punctuation.

You can practice with the example given below. Try to type your answer in 25 seconds.

Click to hear
the prompt
 VERSANT BY PEARSON PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH TEST: OFFICIAL GUIDE

Part F: Response Selection

Instructions Example answer screen

1/8

Click to hear
instructions

What will you have to do? What skills are being tested?
You will listen to a sentence. This question assesses listening comprehension – the ability to
You will see three possible answers. recognize words, understand the meaning of a spoken sentence,
You must choose the most appropriate answer. and identify the best response based on the context.
VERSANT BY PEARSON PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH TEST: OFFICIAL GUIDE

Response Selection tips

Listen carefully and consider the overall meaning of the sentence.
Listen to all the responses.
Select only one answer.

Practice using the question below.

Click to hear
the prompt
 VERSANT BY PEARSON PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH TEST: OFFICIAL GUIDE

Part G: Passage Comprehension

Instructions Example question

1/6

Click to hear
instructions

What will you have to do? What skills are being tested?
You will hear a passage about an everyday or workplace This question tests your ability to:
situation. Understand the main points and details of the story.
There will be three questions about the passage. Demonstrate your understanding of the story using short spoken
You answer the questions by speaking out loud responses.
VERSANT BY PEARSON PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH TEST: OFFICIAL GUIDE

Passage Comprehension tips

Listen carefully to make sure you understand the story.
Answer using a short phrase or a very short sentence.

You can practice with the question below.

1. Click to hear the story.

2. Click to hear question 1.

3. Click to hear question 2.

4. Click to hear question 3.

 VERSANT BY PEARSON PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH TEST: OFFICIAL GUIDE

Part H: Repeat
Instructions Example question

1 / 10

Click to hear
instructions

What will you have to do? What skills are being tested?
You will hear one sentence each time. This question tests Speaking skills.
You will be asked to repeat each one. It measures how well you understand and reproduce a given
You should repeat it exactly as you heard it. sentence using accurate sentence structure as well as good
You have 15 seconds to answer. pronunciation and fluency.
VERSANT BY PEARSON PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH TEST: OFFICIAL GUIDE

Repeat tips
Listen to the prompt.
Consider the meaning of the sentence.
Repeat what you heard using the same rhythm, pauses, and intonation that you heard in
the recording.
Start speaking within 6 seconds, or the test will move on to the next question.

You can practice by listening to the prompt below.

Click to hear
the prompt
 VERSANT BY PEARSON PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH TEST: OFFICIAL GUIDE

Part I: Speaking Situations

Instructions Example question

1/2

Click to hear
instructions

What will you have to do? What skills are being tested?
You will hear and see a description of a situation. This question tests your ability to:
You will then be asked to respond to it. Understand a given situation.
You respond by speaking out loud. Speak in a socially appropriate manner in the given context.
You have 10 seconds to think about your answer. Speak with good pronunciation and fluency.
After the beep you have 60 seconds to respond.
VERSANT BY PEARSON PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH TEST: OFFICIAL GUIDE

Speaking Situations tips

Listen carefully to the story (situation).
Consider what is happening and who is involved, for instance is it a formal or informal
situation.
Decide how you will respond. Are you apologizing, asking for something, or refusing to
help? What social conventions do you need to observe?
Make sure your words and intonation are suitable for the situation.
Answer as fully as you can.
Answer within 15 seconds or the test will move on.

You can practice using the example below. During the test you will have 10 seconds
to think about your answer and 60 seconds to respond.

Click to hear You borrowed a jacket from your friend, Mark. However, you
spilled coffee on it, and it left a large stain. Mark calls and says
the prompt he needs his jacket. What would you say to him?
 VERSANT BY PEARSON PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH TEST: OFFICIAL GUIDE

Part J: Story Retellings

Instructions Example question

1/3

Click to hear
instructions

What will you have to do? What skills are being tested?
You will hear a short story. It will be spoken once. This item measures your ability to:
After a beep you should retell the story in your own words. Understand the main idea and details of a short story.
You have 30 seconds to tell the story. Retell the story in your own words using proper vocabulary and
After 30 seconds you will hear another beep and your answer grammar.
will be saved. Speak with good pronunciation and fluency.
VERSANT BY PEARSON PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH TEST: OFFICIAL GUIDE

Story Retellings tips

Listen carefully to the story.
Focus and try to remember names, places and what happened.
Try to include details as well as the key information in the story.
Use your own words – do not repeat exactly what you heard.
Speak clearly using complete sentences and correct grammar.

You can practice by trying the question below. You have 30 seconds to retell the story.

Click to hear
the story
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Score reports
A score report may be given to you by the test administrator. It will provide a score on internationally recognised scales (Pearson's Global Scale of
English and CEFR), and will describe your overall ability as well your performance in specific skills. The report also offers tips to help you improve your skills.

Professional English Test