Linguaskill is an online test and the equipment used to run the test must meet a series of minimum technical requirements. Centres and candidates are responsible for ensuring that their equipment meets these requirements in order for the test to function correctly. We recommend that you run a practice test in advance of your exam day.
- The computer used for the test should not have more than one screen.
- You must close any other programs (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Skype), computer windows or webpages before to start the test.
- You must not have a printer attached to the computer or laptop; if a printer is connected, it must be switched off and not within reach.
- You must not have any notes attached to or written on the computer or laptop, or placed around the screen.
Hardware
| Component | Minimum Requirement | Recommended Specification |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core i3 (10th Gen+), AMD Ryzen 3, Apple M1 .Speed: 2.0 GHz+ | Intel Core i7+ (10th Gen+), Ryzen 5+, Apple M1+. Speed: 2.5 GHz+ |
| Free CPU Cores | Minimum 2 cores available | 3-4 cores available |
| CPU Idle Usage | Below 30% before test launch | Below 15% |
| RAM | 4 GB (at least 2 GB free before launch) | 8 GB (at least 4 GB free) |
| Disk Space | 10 GB free or 10% of total capacity | 20 GB free |
| Graphics | 512 MB internal / 1 GB external graphics memory | 1 GB internal / 1.5 GB external graphics memory |
| Headphones | Over-ear, closed-back with good padding. Noise cancelling recommended with a microphone on a boom. | |
| Microphone | Attached to headset via a boom (flexible stalk). Noise-cancelling or directional (minimum). USB or standard stereo connection (Bluetooth not supported). Do not use built-in computer microphones | |
| Webcam | 640x480 Required on all computers and laptops used by candidates | |
Software
| Operating System | Windows 11. Apple Macs running macOS 13 (Ventura) and later |
| Navegador | The Talview Secure Browser must be installed on all candidate computers. The Secure Browser cannot be used with Chromebooks. |
Network
| Internet bandwidth | 5 - 10 Mbs upload and download per candidate (local network speed). Example of speed requirements based on the number of candidates
|
The following decives are not supported:
- Mobile devices
- iOS devices
- Android devices (including tablets)
- Linux
- Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Built-in computer microphones
- Bluetooth headsets