By Archita Mittra Last updated: April 3, 2024

The Top 9 Free Online English Level Tests (with Answers)

English level tests aren’t like the scary exams you took in school. You can take them online, in the comfort of your own home.

After you take one of these English language tests, you can prove your language skills to employers or schools.

If you’ve been learning English on your own and you want a reliable way to test your English level, here are some great online English proficiency tests you can take, with details about what each test consists of and what exactly they are measuring.

Contents

• What Are the Official English Proficiency Tests?
• Language Level
• ESL Language Studies Abroad
• TrackTest
• BridgeEnglish
• British Study Centres
• EU English
• Stafford House International
• Canadian College of English Language
• FluentU
• And One More Thing...

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What Are the Official English Proficiency Tests?

There are several English exams that are recognized internationally—you may even be preparing for a few of them. However, each test has a specific purpose and certain countries or schools usually prefer to use one over the others.

Most of these tests are quite expensive, so before taking them, you need to prepare for them properly to know whether you’re ready. Free English tests online—like the ones we’ll discuss later in this article—will surely help you prepare for these big, “official” exams.

• IELTS: Short for International English Language Testing System, IELTS is one of the most well-regarded and widely used English exams and is a must for immigrating to most English-speaking countries.

• TOEFL: This one stands for Test of English as a Foreign Language and is very similar to IELTS. However, unlike the other exams, it involves the applicant interacting solely with a computer during the test. A score of 90 or above is considered a good score, but different places may have different requirements for visas, university applications, etc.

• Cambridge: The Cambridge Assessment English is usually accepted throughout the U.K. It provides results from A1 (beginner) to C2 (advanced mastery), according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
• TOEIC: The Test of English for International Communication is specifically used to test your everyday English skills for a workplace environment.

Language Level

This site contains a free and short test that focuses on your vocabulary and grammar. You’ll be asked only 15 questions that get harder or easier depending on your responses. Once you complete it, you’ll know your English level from A1 to C2. Based on that info, it tells you what your score would likely be on an official English exam like IELTS or TOEFL.

This test is specifically great for those who want to sign up for an English language course but aren’t sure at which level to start.

ESL Language Studies Abroad

This website includes a more in-depth English proficiency quiz with 40 multiple-choice questions. It only requires around 20 minutes of your time. At the end of the quiz you’ll see the correct answers, so if you make any mistakes, you can learn how to fix them.

This test is perfect for those who struggle with time management issues and are looking for a slightly challenging but comprehensive English language test.

TrackTest

This online English proficiency test comes with both free and paid options. The test results will correspond to the CEFR levels of A1 to C2, and you can even repeat the test every month to see how much you’ve improved. Best of all, you even get a certificate that you can attach to your resume or job application to let your employers know how good your English skills are.

The free option offers a 10-minute English grammar test, but the paid option includes listening and reading, provides the certificate and gives you feedback for areas of improvement.

They also have options for your speaking and writing skills to be tested, and you can even get a hard copy of the certificate delivered to your doorstep for a fee.

BridgeEnglish

Most English level tests focus only on certain areas of the language such as grammar or vocabulary, and that may be disappointing for those who want a long and thorough assessment.

In that case, the Bridge English Online Test is your best choice to test your English level.

It has 100 questions and needs to be completed in 65 minutes. In addition to grammar and vocabulary, it also tests listening and reading comprehension skills. After you finish you’ll immediately get your results.

If you’re preparing for an international exam like IELTS or TOEFL, taking this test will prepare you for it.

British Study Centres

If you’re looking for a test that solely focuses on grammar, you’re in luck. British Study Centres’ English grammar test includes 40 multiple-choice questions and can be completed in 10 to 15 minutes, after which the results will be emailed to you.

If you’ve been reviewing or even struggling with English grammar, this is the test you should take to check out how things are going.

EU English

This is another option to test your English level in about 20 minutes. This quiz starts off with easy questions before moving on to difficult ones. You’ll be able to view the correct answers after you’ve finished it and figure out your strong and weak points.

If you’re looking for a typical level test with some feedback on your performance, then this exam is a good choice.

Stafford House International

This is another short language test that’s pretty good at figuring out your English level with only 25 questions. However, what sets it apart is that instead of providing correct/incorrect options, a question may have more than one right answer, but the answer that’s most right will receive maximum points.

Thus, this is the perfect test to find out your level of real-life English fluency. If you’re wondering whether you can figure out the subtle nuances of conversations or the closest synonym for a word, take this exam and find out.

Canadian College of English Language

This English proficiency test is unique because it combines the traditional multiple-choice question format along with a written section. It can be completed within an hour, after which your results and corresponding English level will be emailed to you.

If you’re looking for a test that’ll take your writing skills into account among other essential skills, then this is the test for you.

FluentU

Here’s something a little different. Looking for a fun twist on the typical English level test? Try FluentU!

The videos are organized into levels, and instead of assigning you a specific level, FluentU lets you choose the videos that are interesting to you. After watching a video, you get a fun, brief quiz, and then FluentU determines your fluency level for the vocabulary based on your answers.

The program also provides the correct answers for questions you miss, so you can learn from them.

As you continue to watch and complete the video quizzes, FluentU remembers what you’re learning and suggests new videos based on that information. It also reminds you to review vocabulary that you’ve struggled with in the past.

Best of all, FluentU offers a lot more than just assessing your English level. You’ll actually learn while you watch, with interactive subtitles, full transcripts and other tools. And since these are real English videos, you’ll be learning the language as native speakers actually use it in real life.

You can try it out with the full video library for free with a FluentU trial. If you decide not to upgrade after your trial, you can still test and practice your English with FluentU’s collection of free videos.

English level tests help you measure your proficiency as well as your progress in learning the language. They also identify your areas of strength and weakness. So if you perform well, congratulations!

But even if you don’t, that’s no reason to feel bad, because you know where you went wrong and what you can do to improve it!

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

And One More Thing...

If you like learning English through movies and online media, you should also check out FluentU. FluentU lets you learn English from popular talk shows, catchy music videos and funny commercials, as you can see here:

If you want to watch it, the FluentU app has probably got it.

The FluentU app and website makes it really easy to watch English videos. There are captions that are interactive. That means you can tap on any word to see an image, definition, and useful examples.

FluentU lets you learn engaging content with world famous celebrities.

For example, when you tap on the word "searching," you see this:

FluentU lets you tap to look up any word.

Learn all the vocabulary in any video with quizzes. Swipe left or right to see more examples for the word you’re learning.

FluentU helps you learn fast with useful questions and multiple examples. Learn more.

The best part? FluentU remembers the vocabulary that you’re learning. It gives you extra practice with difficult words—and reminds you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned. You have a truly personalized experience.

Start using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)