Hi, I'm Grant from Kōjō Communication Academy.
If you're planning to take the Versant English Test soon, this post is for you.
I've coached hundreds of learners who wanted to improve their English and get a better score — whether for work, promotion, or study abroad. The good news is: with the right strategy, Versant doesn't have to be scary. It's short, fair, and rewards real communication skills — not just textbook English.
Let's go through how you can prepare smartly and make real progress, even if you only have 20 minutes a day.
🎯 1. Understand What the Test Really Measures
First, it's important to know what Versant actually tests. It's not about perfect grammar or fancy vocabulary — it's about how clearly and naturally you can listen and respond in real time.
The AI is checking for:
- Fluency – Are you speaking smoothly and confidently?
- Pronunciation – Are your sounds clear and easy to understand?
- Listening – Can you catch key details and main ideas quickly?
- Grammar & Vocabulary – Are you using natural, correct English without overthinking it?
Kōjō tip: Don't try to sound "perfect." Aim to sound comfortable and confident — like you're having a quick chat in English, not sitting a grammar exam.
⏱️ 2. Build a Focused, Realistic Study Routine
The Versant test may only take about 17 minutes — but real improvement comes from steady, focused daily practice.
Here's a simple 7-day plan you can repeat each week to stay consistent and make measurable progress with Versant Pro Trainer.
Monday – Get Started: Parts A & B (Listening + Pronunciation)
Start the week with something short and active.
Complete one or two sets from Part A (8 short questions) and one set from Part B (16 sentences).
Focus on listening carefully and speaking clearly — these parts build your listening accuracy and pronunciation control.
🟡 Tip: Replay the audio up to three times if needed, but aim to answer confidently after the first or second play.
Tuesday – Build Comprehension: Part C (Conversations)
Move on to real-life dialogues.
Practice one full conversation set (6 conversations + 6 questions).
Listen for tone, intent, and keywords — not every word.
When answering, give a complete but concise sentence that captures the main point.
🟡 Tip: On the review page, listen to your recorded answers before closing — reflect on how natural and fluent you sounded.
Wednesday – Strengthen Detail Listening: Part D (Passages)
Now it's time for longer listening.
Do one full passage set (2 passages + 6 questions).
These tasks test your ability to follow short stories and extract key details like who, what, when, and why.
🟡 Tip: Practice summarizing the passage in your head after each question. You'll naturally get better at understanding the overall message.
Thursday – Develop Fluency: Part E (Story Retelling)
This section challenges your memory and coherence.
Practice both stories in Part E.
After listening, take a moment to organize the main ideas, then retell naturally — focus on clarity and structure, not perfection.
🟡 Tip: Compare your response to the model answer in the app. Notice how ideas are connected smoothly.
Friday – Express Yourself: Part F (Open Responses)
End the week strong with the open-response tasks.
Answer both questions in Part F.
Here, it's all about logical organization and natural delivery. Aim for full, confident answers with clear reasons or examples.
🟡 Tip: Even if you make small grammar mistakes, don't stop or restart. Flow and confidence matter more than perfection.
Saturday – Full Mock Test Day
Use the mock test section to simulate the real exam.
You'll go through all six parts (A–F) in order, with the same time limits as the actual test.
This builds stamina and helps you stay calm under time pressure.
🟡 Tip: Treat this as a real test — one play only, no distractions. Then review your feedback carefully when it's finished.
Sunday – Light Review & Reflection
Take a lighter day, but stay connected.
Spend 10–15 minutes reviewing your Progress & Stats page.
Check which parts improved the most this week and which need more work next week.
If you'd like, re-listen to a few practice audios from Parts A or B to keep your rhythm sharp.
🟡 Tip: Reflection is part of training. Small, consistent review helps you internalize what you've learned.
Kōjō tip: 20 minutes a day is enough — if you do it every day. The secret is consistency, not long hours. Build the habit, check your progress stats weekly, and your score will improve.
Pro tip: Your Progress & Stats page in Versant Pro Trainer shows exactly how you're doing in each part. Use that data to plan your week — spend extra time where your scores are lowest, and keep building on your strong areas.
🧠 3. Train Your Listening and Speaking Together
A big mistake I see is learners separating listening and speaking. But in Versant, these two skills happen together — you hear something, process it instantly, and respond.
Here are three simple ways to practise:
- Shadowing: Listen and repeat right after a native speaker — match the rhythm and tone.
- Mini summaries: After a short clip, say what happened in one or two sentences.
- Active recall: Ask yourself quick questions — Who? What? Where? Why?
Kōjō tip: Don't just listen to English. Think in English while you listen.
🔍 4. Learn from the Test Format
Each part of the Versant test builds a different skill, so it helps to know what you're training for:
- Part A: Quick, clear answers.
- Part B: Listening and memory.
- Part C: Understanding tone and intent.
- Part D: Following stories and key details.
- Part E: Retelling naturally and clearly.
- Part F: Expressing opinions logically and fluently.
Kōjō tip: Practise smart. Don't just "study English" — target the exact skills each section measures.
🚫 5. Avoid Common Mistakes
Even confident speakers lose points for simple things. Watch out for these:
- Speaking too slowly or carefully — Versant rewards natural rhythm.
- Long pauses or silence — always say something, even if you're unsure.
- Over-focusing on grammar — fluency matters more.
- Forgetting full sentences — one complete answer is better than a perfect fragment.
Kōjō tip: 90% confident is better than 100% silent.
💪 6. Keep a Positive Mindset
I've seen learners completely transform their confidence once they stop treating Versant like an "exam" and start treating it like a conversation. The test is automated, yes — but your tone, energy, and mindset make a huge difference.
The more familiar you are with the format, the less nervous you'll feel. Confidence comes from repetition, not luck.
Kōjō tip: Every practice session is a step forward. Stay calm, stay consistent.
🎓 7. Final Words of Encouragement
Remember — this isn't about chasing a perfect score. It's about progress, communication, and confidence.
If you practise the right way, even small daily sessions can have a big impact. And once you start to feel natural speaking English out loud, the test itself becomes much easier.
So start today — stay consistent, focus on fluency, and speak like someone who knows what they're doing. Because you do.
You've got this. 💪
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Start Free PracticeGrant Prentice
Founder, Kōjō Communication Academy
Grant is a native English speaker from the UK with over 20 years of experience in business English training and Versant test preparation. He's helped thousands of professionals improve their communication skills and achieve their career goals.