Michigan English Test (MET)
MET exam format and timing
The Michigan English Test (MET) is one digital test of four skills: Listening, Reading and Grammar, Writing, and Speaking. You have 155 minutes in total. Here is exactly what is in each section and how long you get.
The MET at a glance
| Section | What you do | Questions or tasks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | Answer multiple-choice questions about conversations and talks | 50 questions | 35 minutes |
| Reading and Grammar | Grammar items and multiple-choice reading questions | 50 questions | 65 minutes |
| Writing | Short answers, then an essay | 2 tasks | 45 minutes |
| Speaking | Recorded answers to on-screen prompts | 5 tasks | 10 minutes |
| Total | 155 minutes |
Plan extra time on test day for check-in. The test clock does not stop for a break.
Listening (35 minutes, 50 questions)
- Part 1, short conversations: 19 conversations between two people, one question each.
- Part 2, longer conversations: 4 conversations, 14 questions in total (three to five each).
- Part 3, short talks: 4 talks by one speaker, 17 questions in total (three to four each).
The questions test the main idea, details, and what a speaker means without saying it directly.
How to practice: listen to the whole conversation before you choose. Many wrong options repeat words you heard but change the meaning.
Reading and Grammar (65 minutes, 50 questions)
- Part 1, grammar: 20 sentences with a missing word or phrase. Choose the one that fits.
- Part 2, single-text reading: 2 passages, 5 questions each (10 in total).
- Part 3, multiple-text reading: 2 sets of three related texts, such as emails, ads, or articles, with 10 questions per set (20 in total). Some questions ask you to connect information across the texts.
How to practice: time yourself. 65 minutes for 50 questions sounds like a lot until you reach the multiple-text sets, which take the longest.
Writing (45 minutes, 2 tasks)
- Task 1: write short answers to three related questions about your own experience.
- Task 2: write a formal essay of several paragraphs that supports your ideas. Michigan says this is typically 250 words or more.
Trained and certified raters score your writing on five criteria: Grammatical Accuracy, Vocabulary, Mechanics, Cohesion and Organization, and Task Completion.
How to practice: keep about 10 minutes for Task 1 and the rest for the essay, and leave a few minutes to reread. Most lost points are small grammar and spelling slips that a quick check would catch.
Speaking (about 10 minutes, 5 tasks)
- Describe a picture (60 seconds)
- Talk about a related personal experience (60 seconds)
- Give your opinion (60 seconds)
- Talk about the advantages and disadvantages of a situation (90 seconds)
- Explain and justify an opinion to a person of authority (90 seconds)
There is no interviewer. You read and hear each prompt on screen, then speak into the microphone. Trained and certified raters score the recording on three criteria: Task Completion, Language Resources, and Intelligibility and Delivery.
How to practice: record yourself on all five tasks and listen back. Use the whole time, especially on the 90-second tasks.
How the MET is scored
- Every section is reported on a scale of 0 to 80.
- Your overall score is the average of the four section scores.
- Each score also shows a CEFR level: 64 to 80 is C1, 53 to 63 is B2, 40 to 52 is B1, 27 to 39 is A2, and below 27 is below A2.
- Listening and Reading are scored by computer. Writing and Speaking are scored by trained raters.
- Results are typically ready within 5 days.
For the full score chart and what each level means, see MET scores explained.
Where and how you take it
The MET is a digital test taken at approved MET test centers and Prometric test centers. Michigan ended at-home MET testing on September 30, 2026. A shorter two-skill MET (Listening and Reading) exists, but most organizations, including the HRSA list for nurses, ask for the four-skill test. Nurses: see the MET score you need for VisaScreen.
Practice the format before test day
Knowing the format is step one. Sitting it under real timing is step two. Lexis MET mock exams follow this same structure: four sections, the same question counts, and 155 minutes, with a projected score for each skill at the end.
Questions
Everything you might want to know.
How long is the MET exam?
155 minutes for the four-skill test, plus time for check-in.
How many questions are on the MET?
50 Listening questions, 50 Reading and Grammar questions, 2 Writing tasks, and 5 Speaking tasks.
Is the MET computer-based?
Yes. The MET is a digital test taken on a computer at an approved test center.
Is there a break during the MET?
The MET has no scheduled break. If a test center allows a short break, the test clock keeps running.
How is the MET overall score calculated?
It is the average of your four section scores, each on a scale of 0 to 80.
Try the free MET Mini Test
A short version of all four parts, with a score for each skill. No payment needed.
Try the free MET Mini TestMET® is a trademark of Michigan Language Assessment. Lexis is an independent preparation provider and is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, Michigan Language Assessment.
Projected scores are estimates, not official MET results.