Bradford Academic Skills and Language Test (BASALT)
The Bradford Academic Skills and Language Test (BASALT) is for students whose first language is not English and who want to start their degree course without attending an English language programme. If this is you, you need to prove your ability in English by taking a test which is recognised by the university. BASALT is one of the tests available to you for this purpose.
When and where can I take the BASALT?
The BASALT is administered by the University of Bradford throughout the year in different locations both in and outside the UK, including the university campus.
If you have been offered a place at the university, a member of the Outreach and Recruitment team will contact you with information about when and where you can take the test.
Part 1 - Reading
Reading 1: Detailed reading
| Duration | Input | Question types | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| 45 minutes |
1500 words (+/- 10%) from undergraduate level textbooks, quality newspapers or journals on an area of general academic interest. |
Around 30 questions chosen from the following question types:
|
To test your ability to understand the key ideas and supporting details and how they relate to each other in a general academic text. |
Part 2 - Listening
| Duration | Input | Question types | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Around 20 minutes |
A 10 minute (+/- 1-2 minutes) extract from a lecture on an area of general academic interest. You will have 2 minutes to read the questions before hearing the lecture and 8 minutes after the lecture is played to check your answers. |
Around 30 questions chosen from the following question types:
|
To test your ability to understand the key ideas and supporting details and how they relate to each other in a general academic lecture. |
Part 3 - Writing
| Duration | Input | Question types | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 minutes |
A single question as a topic of general academic interest with 3 optional prompts. |
Write an essay of around 300 words in response to the question. Question types will be chosen from:
|
|
Part 4 - Speaking
| Duration | Input | Question types |
|---|---|---|
| 14 minutes |
A general discussion and a topic of general academic interest with optional prompts provided for part 2 followed by discussion of the topic. One minute planning time before part 2. |
There are 3 sections:
|