Aptis Test Concludes KPT-PACE-UTM-British Council Programme

Faraha Hamidi

JOHOR BAHRU, May 19 – A total of 116 students recently completed the Aptis English test, concluding the KPT-PACE-UTM-British Council’s Professional Certification for Enhancing English Language Communication programme. The test sessions were held mainly at Language Academy’s language lab at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and remotely at the British Council headquarters in Kuala Lumpur on 3rd, 17th, and 18th May 2025.

UTM students sitting for the Aptis Test in Language Academy’s language lab during one of the morning sessions

Invigilator of the day, Siti Zulhijjah monitoring the students’ test

The Aptis test, aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), evaluated students across five core components: Speaking, Listening, Grammar & Vocabulary, Reading, and Writing. Test-takers were given three hours to complete all sections. The assessment served as the final requirement for students to qualify for British Council certification under the KPT-PACE initiative.

Each test section is separated by partitions to provide a conducive and focused environment for students during the Aptis assessment

The KPT-PACE programme is a six-month English language enhancement effort jointly coordinated by UTM, the British Council, and the Ministry of Higher Education (KPT). Managed remotely by UTM’s Language Academy, the programme required participants to undergo three months of online English classes, followed by one month of Aptis test preparation. The majority of participants were from the second batch, consisting of 112 students who had enrolled in October 2024, while a small number were from the first batch, some of whom had already graduated.

A promotional poster invites students to register for the KPT-PACE English proficiency programme, aimed at enhancing language skills through guided online learning and the Aptis test

Almost 90 students from the first batch joined the KPT-PACE programme, beginning their registration and online induction in March 2024

Organisers faced several logistical challenges during the test period. Scheduling conflicts due to public holidays, including Ramadan, Eid ul-Fitr, and the semester break, led to delays in starting the test. Additionally, an unexpected electricity shortage at UTM’s Johor campus forced the postponement of a session originally set for 4th May. Other issues included student withdrawals due to work or personal commitments. A shortage of invigilators—caused not only by last-minute emergencies and health issues but also due to a clash with the ECS examination—further strained the organising committee. Owing to the limited number of slots per session, adjustments were necessary where some participants were relocated to different session dates than their original selection to ensure smooth and manageable operations.

To address these challenges, Dr Faraha Hamidi, the programme coordinator from Language Academy, proposed several improvements, including offering more flexible scheduling to accommodate students who are committed to part-time work and practicum commitments to reduce withdrawals. streamline the registration and onboarding processes to avoid delays in starting the classes, and enabling online Aptis testing especially for graduated students to reduce additional costs and logistical demands.

Despite these hurdles, the programme concluded successfully, demonstrating the effectiveness of the collaboration between UTM, KPT-PACE, and the British Council in improving students’ English language proficiency. Future iterations of the programme are expected to benefit from the lessons learned and suggested enhancements.

Prepared by: Faraha Hamidi and Nur Erdina Natasya Hamizat