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You are here:

  1. Cambridge English
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  3. BULATS
  4. FAQ

BULATS retirement FAQ

  • BULATS
    • Results
    • FAQ

When was the BULATS test officially retired?

BULATS was officially retired on 6 December 2019.

Can BULATS still be taken anywhere in the world?

No, BULATS was created and maintained by Cambridge Assessment English, and so our retirement of it means that it will no longer be available anywhere in the world.

Are BULATS certificates still valid?

The validity of the certificate is defined by the institution or the organisation that conducted the test or that requires proof of English language proficiency.

What has BULATS been replaced by?

Linguaskill Business is the new online and on-demand test that is driven by artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

Does Linguaskill have the same recognition as BULATS?

BULATS was available for 10 years and in that time we were able to secure recognition from multiple bodies and agencies.

Linguaskill is a very new product but in the last two years we have secured recognition from ACLES (Spain), CPF (France), CRUE (Spain) and CENNI (Mexico) to name a few.

Is the Linguaskill test offered all over the globe?

Linguaskill is currently offered across the globe at both higher educational institutions as well as multinational companies.

For more information please contact your nearest Cambridge Assessment English office.

If the country you wish to take the test in is not listed then please contact us.

Which companies, organisations and higher educational institutions have adopted Linguaskill?

The list includes the following, and you can see more on our website.

  • TAP Air Portugal, Portugal
  • CCA Ontier, Portugal
  • Institute of Career Development, Pakistan
  • Ministry of Education, UAE
  • Ministry of Education, Saudi Arabia
  • Tokyo 2020, Japan
  • Air France, France
  • Volvo Trucks, France

What kind of preparation material is available for Linguaskill?

We have the following Linguaskill practice materials on our Practice materials page:

  • Sample tests
  • Practice test
  • Test format and task types

You can also use our FREE vocabulary builder.

How can I find out about pricing?

Please complete our enquiry form for more information.

How does the content of the Linguaskill Business test differ from BULATS?

You can read about the structure of Linguaskill, including the task types, on the Test format and task types page.

Does Linguaskill Business test all four English language skills?

The test covers all four skills and is modular in nature, meaning you can choose which skill set to test.

How quickly are the test results available with Linguaskill Business?

Results for Reading and Listening are instant, and Writing results are available after 12 hours. For all four skills the results turnaround time is 48 hours.

How are the results for Linguaskill Business presented?

Visit the Results page to learn more about how the results are presented.

What fundamentals have remained the same between Linguaskill and BULATS?

Like BULATS, Linguaskill is:

  • online
  • test all four skills
  • modular
  • test from below A1 to C1 and above.

With BULATS the only browser that was supported was Internet Explorer. Is it the same for Linguaskill?

Linguaskill uses HTML5 rather than Flash, so multiple browsers are supported, including Firefox, Chrome, etc.

With BULATS downtimes used to last a whole day. Is it the same for Linguaskill?

Linguaskill has enhanced connectivity and a more robust platform, so any downtimes only last an hour or two. Notice of downtime is provided 4–6 weeks, sometimes more, in advance.

Is the reporting for Linguaskill as detailed as BULATS?

The reports are in alignment with the Cambridge English Scale as well as the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). Reports also include average scores across test modules taken. Linguaskill also provides bespoke feedback on what the test takers’ language level enables them to do.

Visit the Results page to learn more about how the results are presented.

How does the BULATS score compare to Linguaskill?

Reading and Listening

The BULATS Reading and Listening modules use a 100-point reporting scale which divides up CEFR band into differing widths. In contrast, all modules of Linguaskill (both General and Business) use the Cambridge English Scale which divides up each CEFR band into 20 reporting points. The table below shows the mapping for the Reading and Listening modules.

CEFR BULATS Linguaskill Cambridge English Scale
Below A1 0–9 99 or below
A1 10–19 100–119
A2 20–39 120–139
B1 40–59 140–159
B2 60–74 160–179
C1 or above 75–100 180+

Speaking and Writing

The BULATS Speaking and Writing modules award candidates a CEFR ‘half-band’ – so a ‘B1’ or ‘B1 High’, for example – with no associated score. The table below shows how these half-bands map onto the Cambridge English Scale scores awarded by the Linguaskill Speaking and Writing modules. Please note the different meaning of the ‘A1, ‘A2, ‘B1’, etc. here. A ‘B1’ in BULATS Writing or Speaking means that the candidate has been assessed in the bottom half of the B1 band. In contrast, a ‘B1’ in Linguaskill (regardless of the module) means that the candidate has been placed somewhere within the B1 CEFR band, with the associated Cambridge English Scale giving the precise position.

CEFR
BULATS half-band
Linguaskill Cambridge English Scale
Below A1
Pre-A1
99 or below
A1
A1
100–109
A1 High
110–119
A2
A2
120–129
A2 High
130–139
B1
B1
140–149
B1 High
150–159
B2
B2
160–169
B2 High
170–179
C1 or above
C1
C1 High
C2
180+

Additional information about Linguaskill results reporting can be found here.

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