Reading level check

Reading Proficiency Test

Take this free online English reading test to check your comprehension from A1 to C1 and identify the skills to strengthen next.

Start the test How it works

54questions

45 minrecommended time

A1 to C1level range

Clear comprehension picture

Practical reading focus

Useful next steps

Read with greater insight

See how well you follow meaning, detail and structure.

This reading proficiency test moves across everyday and advanced texts. It checks how well you follow main ideas, specific details, vocabulary and implied meaning.

Read without support

Read each text carefully and choose the answer that fits best. Avoid dictionaries so the result reflects your current reading ability.

Read for meaning

Allow up to 45 minutes. Look for the main idea first, then return to the text when a question asks for precise detail.

Use the result

Use the result to identify useful reading skills for practice. It is a learning guide, not a formal language certificate.

The original nostalgic magical artwork from the reading proficiency test

Your assessment

Put your reading skills to work.

Set aside a quiet 45 minutes, read independently and complete the test in one sitting if possible.

Before you begin: The quiz below is the original Reading Proficiency Test. Its questions, media, answers, scoring and behaviour have not been changed.

Welcome to your Reading Proficiency Quiz

A2 1. Read the text and choose the right option. Then answer the next questions, about the article.

The text is about funny things.

The text is about three stories with a happy end.

The text is about three people who made a mistake.

None

A2 2. In story 1 the man had...

a fight with his girlfriend

a fright with a spider

a fight with his wife

None

A2 3. The police came to the man's house because...

the neighbors thought the man was killing the spider

the neighbors thought the spider was killing the man

the neighbors thought the woman was killing the man

the neighbors thought the man was killing his wife or girlfriend

None

A2 4. In story 1...

the man was afraid of the spider but was able to hurt the spider in the end

the man's wife was scared of the spider and she hurt the spider

the man was afraid of the spider because in Australia spiders are as big as a dog

the man was scared of the spider and was hurt by the spider

the policemen were afraid of the spider and used their pistols to shoot it

None

A2 5. In story 2....

Julie put her cat in a box and sent it to the customer because the customer wanted to buy a cat

Julie put her cat in a box and sent it to the customer because the customer wanted to buy DVDs

Julie put her DVDs in a box and sent it to the customer with her cat because the cat hid in the box

Cupcake the cat put her owner in a box and sent it to the customer because the customer wanted to meet Julie

None

A2 6. Cupcake...

was feeling happy when se saw the vet Dr Ben Colwell

survived the journey of 260 miles because she had a microchip in her neck

was frightened, hungry and thirsty after travelling 260 miles

None

A2 7. Julie felt sad and put up posters...

because the vet found Julia's details and phoned her

after the miracle when Cupcake returned

after she put the DVDs in the box

because she lost Cupcake the cat

None

A2. 8 In story 3 Walter, Claudia and their son were...

from Argentina and taking a vacation in Brazil and didn't notice the car drove off without one of them

from Brazil and taking a vacation in Argentina and didn't notice the car drove off without one of them

going to the toilet in Brazil when their drove off to Argentina without them

driving from Brazil to Argentina and didn't notice the car drove off without them all

None

A2 9. Claudia...

wanted to stay at the petrol station because she liked buying the cookies

was asleep when her husband and son went to buy some cookies

was asleep when the husband and son left without her

went to get cookies while the husband was in the toilet

didn't notice their 14 year old son was addicted to his game on his phone

None

10.

A2 10. Walter had driven 100 kilometers before he noticed his wife was missing...

she was happy to see him when he came back

he called her and then she was really angry

he called the police when he realized it and they rescued her

she was not happy to see him when he came back

None

11.

B1 11. Read the text and choose the right option, then answer the next questions 12-20 about the text.

the story is about two sisters who both marry the same man and are murdered by him

the story is about true love and it ends with a murder

The story is about true love and it ends with a happy ending

None

12.

B1 12. In part 1 May and June were sisters named after the months.

June and May were beautiful and intelligent but June had a sunny personality

June was beautiful and intelligent but May was not beautiful and not intelligent

May was beautiful and intelligent but June was not beautiful and not intelligent

None

13.

B1 13. In part 1...

June fell in love with Walter and they were going to marry but Walter fell in love with May and he married May instead

May fell in love with Walter and they were going to marry but Walter fell in love with June and he married June instead

May was furious because Walter had fallen in love with Mrs Thrace and June was studying at home for the holidays

None

14.

B1 14. In part 1...

May was very angry and attacked June because June stole her husband, she wanted to know where they went on holiday and where they lived

May was very angry and attacked Walter because June stole her future husband, she wanted to know if Walter loved June

May was very angry and attacked June because June stole her future husband, she wanted to know if Walter loved June

None

15.

B1 15. In part 2...

Mrs Thrace, Mr Thrace and Walter all died. After that May started talking to June again

Mrs Thrace, Mr Thrace and June all died. After that May and Walter were reconciled

Mrs Thrace, Mr Thrace and Walter all died. After that May refused to speak to June

None

16.

B1 16. In part 2...

June wanted May to live with her because she was lonely

June said that May should come and live with her in her house

June and May became best friends and were both very happy

None

17.

B1 17. In part 2...

May wanted to talk about Walter and June's marriage but June said no

May believed that Walter always loved June

June wanted to talk about Walter and June's marriage but May said no

None

18.

B1 18. In part 3...

June is sad and May is happy because she believes Walter didn't love June

June is happy and May is sad because she believes Walter loved June

May believes that June and Walter loved each other and that they also loved May

None

19.

B1 19. The burglar broke into the house...

and revealed a letter from Walter to June and left a broken glass

and revealed a letter from Walter to June and left a gun

and stole a letter from Walter to june

None

20.

B1 20. After May read the letter...

She realized that Walter had loved June all the time and then June died because the burglar had shot her

She realized that Walter had loved June all the time and then killed June with the gun that the burglar left

She realized that Walter had loved May all the time and then killed June with the gun that the burglar left

She realized that Walter had loved June all the time and then killed June with the bottle that the burglar left

None

21.

B1+ 21. Choose the best title, then answer questions 22-30 about this text.

Strange Weddings Around the World

Wedding Traditions Around the World

Wedding Gifts Around the World

None

22.

B1+ 22. In Japan...

the bride is painted in different colours in the salon, wears a kimono and a wig and changes clothes three times

the bride is painted in white, wears a kimono and a wig and changes clothes several times

the bride is painted in the Shinto colours, wears a kimono and the go to a salon for the ceremony

None

23.

B1+ 23. In Japan...

Sake is drunk during the religious ceremony only, where the Shinto priest leads

Sake is drunk during the religious ceremony and in the reception, where the Shinto priest makes speeches

Sake is drunk during the religious ceremony and in the reception, where speeches are given and a candle is lit

None

24.

B1+ 24. In Kenya...

A man must say funny things to a girl give her a necklace, give her mother beer and her father honey

A man must say nice things to a girl give her a chain, give her mother honey and her father drinks beer made from the honey

A man must say nice things to a girl give her dresses diamonds and money, give her mother flowers and drink beer with her father

None

25.

B1+ 25. In Mexico...

there is rope to tie the couple with the church, wine glasses to break, and money attached to their necks

there is rope to tie the couple together, wine glasses, money and dancing

there is rope to decorate the church, wine, money for the relatives and dancing

None

26.

B1+ 26. In Morocco...

The bride wears black make-up and has a special bath before the wedding, and the men and women dance together

The bride wears black make-up and has a special bath before the wedding, she also wears henna painted on her skin

The bride wears white make-up and has a special bath before the wedding, she also wears henna designs

None

27.

B1+ 27. Special jewelry is worn by the bride in...

Kenya and Morocco

Morocco and Japan

Morocco and Mexico

Kenya and Mexico

None

28.

B1+ 28. The number 3 has a symbolic significance in...

Morocco and Japan

Morocco and Mexico

Mexico and Japan

Kenya and Morroco

Kenya and Japan

None

29.

B1+ 29. Gifts and finance are part of the ceremony in...

Mexico and Japan

Kenya and Mexico

Morocco and Kenya

Morocco and Japan

None

30.

B1+ 30. In which country does the ceremony last for longer?

Kenya

Mexico

Morocco

Japan

None

31.

B2 31. Choose the best title then do the following questions.

Big Streets and Small Streets Make Cities The Best

What Makes a City Attractive

Alain de Botton's Opinions About Cities

None

32.

B2 31. How many basic categories are important when considering a city?

more than 7

less than 5

None

33.

B2 32. Why do people love Paris and New York?

their strong organization

too much order

their different colored buildings

the organized complexity

None

34.

B2 33. One of the bad things about cities is...

too many office blocks and industrial zones

too many people in certain areas

the lack of people in some areas

bleak blocks

None

35.

B2 34. Barcelona is an example of...

a small city

a well-designed city with compact squares

a sprawling city

a compact city

None

36.

B2 35. The best cities have...

big streets and are very easy to navigate so you don't get lost

space for pedestrians and cars and allow people to explore

prioritization of vehicles over humans

None

37.

B2 36. According to the text...

too many tall buildings are bad and medium size buildings are better

banking and commerce have ruined cities

skylines with tall buildings that dominate cities are ideal

None

38.

B2 37. We are living in a global civilization which...

has built cities that look very individual and which demonstrate their culture and history

has built cities that look very similar with the same materials

has built cities that look very different with local materials

None

39.

C1 38. Decide which is the best title, then answer the following questions.

Discovering Her Cultural Identity

Obeying Your Parents is the Best Decision

Worried About Travelling Abroad for the First Time

None

40.

C1 39. Choose the sentence that best describes Lindo Jong's feelings about her daughter.

She is disappointed that her daughter does not take advantage of opportunities

She regrets not being able to instill Chinese values in her daughter

She is proud that her daughter can blend in with Chinese Culture

None

41.

C1 40. Lindo thinks her daughter will not be mistaken for a native-born Chinese mainly because of the way she

smiles

looks

speaks

dresses

None

42.

C1 41. Lindo's daughter...

never behaved like a Chinese person

became less Chinese as she grew older

now wishes she had learnt to speak Chinese

has forgotten all the Chinese she ever knew

None

43.

C1 42. What Lindo likes most about the American way of life is...

you can choose your religion

other people will always help you

you don't have to accept your fate

education is free for everyone

None

44.

C1 43. Which of these is not an aspect of Chinese character, according to Lindo?

being aware of your strengths

showing off

hiding your real feelings

doing what your parents tell you to do

None

45.

C1 44. Lindo gives the example of the chewing gum to show that...

young people don't pay attention to adults

her daughter was stupid as a child

the American way of life is inferior to the Chinese

American habits were very easily acquired by her daughter

None

46.

C1 45. Read the text then answer the following questions.

45. In which section does the writer mention a sense of nostalgia for what ultramarathons used to be like?

None

47.

C1 46. In which section does the writer mention a view that there is a misconception about how most runners approach ultramarathons?

None

48.

C1 47. In which section does the writer mention a method for dealing with excessive numbers of race applicants?

None

49.

C1 48. In which section does the writer mention a belief that an increased demand for ultramarathons to take part in is inevitable?

None

50.

C1 49. In which section does the writer mention an issue that many ultramarathon runners ignore?

None

51.

C1 50. In which section does the writer mention an individual's initial motive for running an ultramarathon?

None

52.

C1 51. In which section does the writer mention a contrast between everyday life and the ultramarathon experience?

None

53.

C1 52. In which section does the writer mention a state of mind that ultramarathon runners seek?

None

54.

C1 53. In which section does the writer mention a general shift in perceptions about what constitutes a genuine challenge?

None

55.

C1 54. In which section does the writer mention a theory explaining the rapid rise in the popularity of ultramarathons?

None

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