Technical and Hardware Requirements – Linguaskill

The minimum technical requirements that each computer must have to be able to run a test correctly, are shown in the table below:

	Minimum requirement
Processor	Intel i3 (5th gen +) or equivalent
RAM	2 GB
Free hard drive space	4 GB
Screen Resolution	1280 x 1024
Operating System	Windows 10/11 or later Apple Macs running MacOS 13 (Ventura) or later Chromebooks running ChromeOS 120+ Note: The Cambridge English Test portal and any tests run through it are not currently supported on: - iOS devices - Android devices or any tablets - Linux
Web browser	Windows Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox are compatible and supported browsers. Newer versions of Microsoft Edge (version 93+) are compatible and supported. Microsoft Internet Explorer is not compatible with HTML5 so cannot be used for the Speaking Test. Mac Google Chrome is compatible and is the supported browser. Chromebooks Google Chrome is compatible and is the supported browser.
Internet bandwidth	2 Mbps upload and download per candidate The minimum bandwidth requirements are for each computer running the test, referring to local network speeds. When running multiple tests concurrently on the same internet connection you should ensure this bandwidth is available to each computer. If less than 2 Mbps is available for each candidate, the test may take longer to run.
Adobe Reader	Latest version (must be able to read PDFs).
Sound Card	Yes
Headphones	Over-ear and closed back – the earpieces of the headphones should cover the entire ear, preferably with good padding for comfort.
Microphone	A microphone should be attached to the headset, via a ‘boom’ (in other words, on the end of a flexible stalk). The microphone should be noise-cancelling (at a minimum, directional), to increase sound pick-up and to minimise noise pollution on the recordings. Please do not allow the use of your computers’ built-in microphones, these should be disabled, because they are not of the appropriate type nor of sufficient quality. In addition in Chrome if a candidate mutes their headset mic, Linguaskill will continue recording if there‘s more than one mic enabled on the machine.
Headphone and microphone connections	USB or standard stereo connections are supported. Please ensure they are confirmed as working before the test day. Please note, Bluetooth headsets are not supported.

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Minimum requirement

Processor

Intel i3 (5th gen +) or equivalent

RAM

2 GB

Free hard drive space

4 GB

Screen Resolution

1280 x 1024

Operating System

Windows 10/11 or later

Apple Macs running MacOS 13 (Ventura) or later

Chromebooks running ChromeOS 120+

Note: The Cambridge English Test portal and any tests run through it are not currently supported on:

- iOS devices

- Android devices or any tablets

- Linux

Web browser

Windows

Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox are compatible and supported browsers.

Newer versions of Microsoft Edge (version 93+) are compatible and supported.

Microsoft Internet Explorer is not compatible with HTML5 so cannot be used for the Speaking Test.

Mac

Google Chrome is compatible and is the supported browser.

Chromebooks

Google Chrome is compatible and is the supported browser.

Internet bandwidth

2 Mbps upload and download per candidate

Adobe Reader

Latest version (must be able to read PDFs).

Sound Card

Yes

Headphones

Over-ear and closed back – the earpieces of the headphones should cover the entire ear, preferably with good padding for comfort.

Microphone

A microphone should be attached to the headset, via a ‘boom’ (in other words, on the end of a flexible stalk). The microphone should be noise-cancelling (at a minimum, directional), to increase sound pick-up and to minimise noise pollution on the recordings.

Headphone and microphone connections

USB or standard stereo connections are supported. Please ensure they are confirmed as working before the test day.

Please note, Bluetooth headsets are not supported.