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PCAT

The test

What does PCAT test, and how is it scored?

PCAT measures all four skills in one sitting, using tasks taken from real work (time limits of about 45 minutes in total). Each answer is scored first on whether it got the message across and the task done, and only then on accuracy.

What we measure

Which four skills does PCAT measure?

PCAT measures all four skills in a single sitting, with time limits of about 45 minutes in total. Every task uses a format you actually meet at work.

Reading

ReadingWork chat & short specs

Part 1 · Work chat · Multiple choice
Sarah K. (Customer Support) · 10:23Quick update on order #88291 — a small delay at the warehouse, but we expedited shipping at no extra cost. It should reach you tomorrow evening.

What did Sarah do about the delay?

Upgraded the shipping at no extra costCharged extra for faster shipping

Work chat threads, short specifications and business documents, and questions that ask you to compare related documents — the register you actually read on the job.

Listening

ListeningMeetings, calls, announcements

Part 3 · Meeting · 3–4 speakersproject-sync · 3 speakers · 02:14

What did R. Patel propose?

Splitting the migration into two phasesPostponing it until the engineers return

Meetings (some with a document to refer to), calls and internal briefings, each played once and answered in multiple choice.

Writing

WritingChat replies & short emails

Part 1 · Chat reply · 25–50 words · 2 min
Colleague · team chatHi! I’m preparing the client presentation for tomorrow at 10 AM, but I don’t have the latest sales numbers. Can you help?
Reply · 25–50 words

Hi! The Q1 report is in our shared folder — link below. The marketing team updated the latest numbers yesterday …

Chat replies and emails. The next task gets harder or easier according to your answers, and test takers at intermediate level and above also write reports, summaries or minutes. Scored on whether the message gets through.

Speaking

SpeakingQ&A, description, opinion, role-play

Part 4 · Role-play · 30–90 s prep · up to 150 s

Vendor contract renewal — raise the slower support response times and negotiate an SLA.

“We’re approaching the end of our current contract. Is there anything you’d like to discuss before we get into the details?”

YOUR TURN · REC 00:12 / 02:30

Answer questions, describe, give your opinion or recommendation, and respond to a business counterpart in a role-play. Scored on whether you got the task done and were understood, as well as pronunciation.

Time limits

How long does the test take?

The time limits add up to about 45 minutes. You take listening, then reading, writing and speaking, and each section’s clock starts when you begin that section. Allow about an hour in total, including the equipment check and instructions.

  1. 01Listening12 min
  2. 02Reading10 min
  3. 03Writing11 min
  4. 04Speaking12 min

Writing can take up to about 15 minutes when intermediate (B1) and higher test takers get a report, summary or minutes task (Part 3).

Adapting to your answers

How do the questions change with your answers?

Listening and reading are adaptive, and in writing the next task also gets harder or easier according to your answers. Speaking has the same structure for everyone.

Listening and reading

Adaptive
  1. 01Three questions of medium difficulty
  2. 02Harder questions as you answer correctly, easier ones as you miss
  3. 03Ends after 8–18 questions, or when time runs out

Even with different questions, scores come from the difficulty of the questions answered correctly, so results sit on the same scale.

Writing

One step at a time
  1. 01Everyone starts with an intermediate (around B1) task
  2. 02After each answer, AI judges how well it went and moves you one step up or down
  3. 032–4 tasks

Intermediate and higher test takers also get a report, summary or minutes task.

Speaking

Same for everyone
  1. P1Answering questions
  2. P2Describing a photo
  3. P3Giving an opinion or recommendation
  4. P4Role-play

You answer one task in each of the four parts. In the role-play, you hear the other person speak once in a business situation and respond to achieve your goal.

Test screens

What do the test screens look like?

You take the test in a browser on a computer. The time left is shown at the top and your progress on the right. Using the camera is optional.

Screens are examples for illustration. Questions, answers and times differ from the real test.

Listening: hear a meeting with three or four speakers once, then choose from four options
Listening: hear a meeting with three or four speakers once, then choose from four options
Reading: read a work chat and choose the writer’s purpose
Reading: read a work chat and choose the writer’s purpose
Writing: reply to a colleague’s chat message within a word range
Writing: reply to a colleague’s chat message within a word range
Speaking: record your answer to a task asking for an opinion or recommendation
Speaking: record your answer to a task asking for an opinion or recommendation
Role-play: read the situation, your role and goals, then respond aloud to what the other person says
Role-play: read the situation, your role and goals, then respond aloud to what the other person says

Scoring principle

How much do grammar mistakes affect the score?

PCAT does not treat every error the same way. In speaking and writing, errors that interfere with meaning, understanding or getting the task done are separated from errors that are inaccurate but still let the message through. Communication — was the task done, was the message understood, did it fit the situation — makes up 85% of the score; Language Quality makes up 15%. Minor slips do not dominate the result, and accuracy still counts.

Communication
Task Achievement — did the task get done30%
Intelligibility — can the listener understand22%
Appropriateness — fit for the situation and audience18%
Coherence & Cohesion — logical structure10%
Strategic Competence — rephrasing and repair5%
Language Quality
Grammar · Vocabulary · Pronunciation — shown as bands15%
Blocking error — stops the message

An error the other person cannot decode, or decodes wrongly. It hits Intelligibility directly and pulls the total score down.

“I will confirm → conform the schedule tomorrow.”
Non-blocking error — precision

An error the meaning survives. It only moves the Language Quality bands and barely affects the total.

“She don’t have the file yet.” — the meaning gets through

How it works

How does the test run, from sitting it to the report?

  1. Create an account and buy credits

    Create an account and buy test credits.

  2. Environment check

    Run the environment check: choose your microphone and confirm that it and your browser work.

  3. Take the four-skill test

    Sit the four-skill test in the order Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking (time limits of about 45 minutes in total). If interrupted, you may resume within 24 hours of starting the test.

    About 45 min

  4. Receive your report

    Receive your CEFR level and dimension-level report, usually within 30 minutes.

    Usually within 30 min

Take it once and see

From JPY 5,500 per credit (tax included). Credits are valid for one year.

Take the test