Your level estimate, time zone and currency

When you start, we ask a few questions to set up your account. Two things are set once and then kept: your own estimate of your English, and your region, time zone and currency.

Your own estimate of your level

After you sign up, the setup questions include How would you describe your English? Choose the closest answer, from Starting from zero to Advanced, or skip it.

• Until you take the placement test or earn an OTO English Assessment certificate, this answer is your starting point: a course you buy starts there, and My progress shows it as your own estimate.
• A placement test or a certificate always replaces it, whatever their dates.
• The placement test is still suggested to you: it gives your exact level.

Your region, time zone and currency

At your first visit after signing in, we take your region from where you connect, your time zone from your browser, and your currency from your region. They are kept from then on, even when you travel:

• Class times on your schedule and booking pages, your reminders and your notifications are shown in your time zone. Classes still run between 8 am and midnight, Cairo time.
• Checkout shows prices and charges in your currency when that course has prices in it; otherwise in Egyptian pounds (EGP). While selling in several currencies is not switched on, every price is in EGP. A bank transfer is always in EGP.
• You can't change your region, time zone or currency yourself. If one is wrong, contact our support team and they will change it for you.

You can still switch the site between Arabic and English at any time.

Updated 2026-10-17