Shadowing Practice: What's Your ENGLISH Level? Take This Test! (2026 Edition) - Learn English Speaking with Video
Choose a practice mode
Each mode opens a full-screen practice room.
278 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
What is your English level right now?
2
Let's find out.
3
I'm going to ask you 30 questions.
4
Keep track of how many you answer correctly, and at the end of this video, you'll know your English CEFR level.
5
Let's get started.
6
The first 10 questions are beginner level.
7
You'll see three sentences, and you should pick the one that uses English correctly.
8
Ready?
9
Question one.
10
Mary don't like spicy food.
11
Mary isn't like spicy food.
12
Mary doesn't like spicy food.
13
"Mary doesn't like spicy food" is correct.
14
To make a sentence negative in the simple present tense, we use "don't" for "I, you, we, and they," and "doesn't" for "he,
15
she, and it." "Mary doesn't like spicy food." Question two.
16
This book is bigger than that one.
17
This book is more big than that one.
18
This book is the biggest than that one.
19
This book is bigger than that one is correct.
20
When we compare two things, we usually add "-er" to an adjective.
21
"Fast" "Faster" Big, bigger.
22
Easy, easier.
23
But watch out, if a word has three or more syllables, we use the word "more" instead.
24
Difficult more difficult.
25
interesting, more interesting.
26
Beautiful, more beautiful.
27
This book is bigger than that one.
28
but that book is more interesting than this one.
29
Question three.
30
Paul has a meeting in Monday.
31
Paul has a meeting on Monday.
32
Paul has a meeting at Monday.
33
Paul has a meeting on Monday is correct.
34
When talking about the days of the week, we use "on." Paul has a meeting on Monday.
35
Question four.
36
I bought a umbrella.
37
I bought an umbrella.
38
I bought Umbrella.
39
Thank you.
40
I bought an umbrella is correct.
41
We use a before words that start with a consonant sound.
42
A car.
43
A banana.
44
a house.
45
But we use an before words that start with a vowel sound, an apple.
46
An idea.
47
an umbrella.
48
Question 5.
49
I think it rains tonight.
50
I think it will rain tonight.
51
I think it is raining tonight.
52
"I think it will rain tonight" is correct.
53
To talk about things that will happen in the future, we can use the future tense.
54
will + verb.
55
I will call you tomorrow.
56
She will arrive next week.
57
I think it will rain tonight.
58
Question six.
59
That phone is mine.
60
That phone is my.
61
That phone is to me.
62
If a possessive comes right before a noun, we say, "My phone." Your phone his phone Her phone.
63
Our phone, their phone.
64
But if a possessive isn't connected to a noun, we say, "That phone is mine." is yours,
65
is his, is hers, is ours, is theirs.
66
Question seven.
67
Did you saw the movie yesterday?
68
Did you see the movie yesterday?
69
Have you seen the movie yesterday?
70
Did you see the movie Yesterday is correct.
71
When we're talking about an action that happened at a specific time in the past, like yesterday, we use the simple past tense.
72
I went, he ate, you saw.
73
And to make that a question, we use "did" plus the base verb.
74
Did you go?
75
Did he eat?
76
Did you see the movie Yesterday?
77
Question eight.
78
There is some money on the table.
79
There are some monies on the table.
80
There is many money on the table.
81
There is some money on the table is correct.
82
Money is an uncountable noun, like news or air, so it's always singular.
83
And the word many refers to multiple countable items: many houses or many people.
84
But we can use some with both countable and uncountable nouns.
85
There are some people at the party, there is some money on the table.
86
Question 9.
87
Her spoke to him this morning.
88
She spoke to he this morning.
89
He spoke to her this morning.
90
When a pronoun is the subject of a sentence, we use subject pronouns.
91
I, you, he, she, we, you, they.
92
And when a pronoun is the object of a verb or a preposition, we use object pronouns.
93
Me, you, him, her, us, them.
94
He spoke to her this morning.
95
Question 10.
96
They have lived here for five years.
97
They have lived here since five years.
98
They have lived here from five years.
99
"They have lived here for five years" is correct.
100
We use "for" to talk about a whole period of time.
101
They have lived here for five years.
102
We use "since" to talk about a starting point.
103
We have been friends since 2020.
104
We use "until" to talk about an ending point.
105
She works until 6 p .m.
106
Congratulations, you've now completed the beginner section of the test.
107
If you answered seven or more of those questions correctly, your English is likely level A1.
108
If you answered nine or more correctly, you're at least level A2.
109
And now we'll begin the intermediate portion of the test.
110
Again, you should choose the correct sentence.
111
Question one.
112
"You must to finish your homework." "You must finishing your homework." "You must finish your homework."
113
You must finish your homework is correct.
114
Must is a modal verb like can, should, will, and might.
115
And when a modal verb is followed by another verb, we don't use the infinitive.
116
Instead, we use the base verb, "I can go." We might be late.
117
You must finish your homework.
118
Question two.
119
Janet never gives attention in class.
120
Janet never pays attention in class.
121
Janet never throws attention in class.
122
Janet never pays attention in class is correct.
123
To pay attention is a collocation, or a pair of words that often go together in English.
124
And when someone is listening closely to another person, we say they are paying attention.
125
Question three: Have you ever traveled to Asia?
126
Did you ever travel to Asia?
127
Have you ever traveled to Asia?
128
Have you ever traveled to Asia is correct.
129
We use the present perfect tense to talk about the past generally, in other words, when we're not talking about a specific time in the past.
130
And the structure is always the same.
131
We say have or has plus the past participle of a verb.
132
Has she ever driven a car?
133
Has he ever played volleyball?
134
Have you ever traveled to Asia?
135
Question four.
136
"If we walk slowly, we'd be late." If we walk slowly, we'll be late.
137
If we walk slowly, we'd have been late.
138
In this sentence, we have a condition that could really happen, if we walk slowly.
139
So we need to use the first conditional structure, which is: if plus present simple tense, followed by an outcome in the future tense.
140
If she gets the job, she'll be happy.
141
If he exercises every day, he'll get stronger.
142
If we walk slowly, we'll be late.
143
Question 5: Anna speaks English more fluently than her brother.
144
Anna speaks English fluenter than her brother.
145
Anna speaks English more fluent than her brother.
146
Anna speaks English more fluently than her brother is correct.
147
In this sentence, we're comparing how Anna and her brother speak.
148
And speak is a verb, so we need an adverb to modify it fluent -ly,
149
and we always use the word "more" when comparing with an adverb.
150
My dad drives more carefully than I do.
151
We can lift the box more easily if we work together.
152
Question six: To play video games is my favorite hobby.
153
Playing video games is my favorite hobby.
154
To playing video games is my favorite hobby.
155
Playing video games is my favorite hobby is correct.
156
When a verb is the subject of a sentence, we almost always use the -ing form, or the gerund.
157
Reading relaxes me.
158
Traveling helps people understand the world.
159
Playing video games is my favorite hobby.
160
Question 7: "My wife is practically a vegetarian.
161
She hardly ever eats meat.
162
She hardly never eats meat.
163
She never hardly eats meat.
164
"She hardly ever eats meat" is correct.
165
"Hardly ever" is a set phrase in English, and it means to do something very rarely.
166
We hardly ever watch TV.
167
Maria hardly ever takes a vacation.
168
My wife hardly ever eats meat.
169
Question 8.
170
Angela always says what's on her mind.
171
She doesn't beat above the bush.
172
Beat around the bush, beat beyond the bush.
173
She doesn't beat around the bush is correct.
174
To beat around the bush is an idiom that means to avoid saying something directly.
175
Angela always says what's on her mind.
176
She doesn't beat around the bush.
177
Question 9: Paul should have told his parents sooner.
178
Paul should have tell his parents sooner.
179
Paul should have been telling his parents sooner.
180
Thank you.
181
Paul "should have told his parents sooner" is correct.
182
We use "should have" plus a past participle to criticize someone or to express a regret.
183
We "should have taken the bus." I "should have eaten less." Paul should have told his parents sooner.
184
Question 10.
185
"Excuse me, could you drop off me at the station?" "Could you drop me at the station off?"
186
Could you drop me off at the station?
187
Could you drop me off at the station is correct.
188
The phrasal verb "to drop off" means to take something or someone to a location.
189
But when phrasal verbs refer to a pronoun, that pronoun always goes in the middle.
190
pick you up Take it out!
191
Let us in.
192
Could you drop me off at the station?
193
Congratulations, you've now completed the intermediate section of the test.
194
If you answered seven or more of those questions correctly, your English is likely level B1.
195
If you answered 9 or more correctly, you're probably level B2.
196
And now we'll begin the advanced section of the test.
197
Good luck.
198
Question one.
199
Wow, it's boiling today, isn't it?
200
Wow, it's boiling today, is it?
201
Wow, it's boiling today, it is?
202
"It's boiling today, isn't it?" is correct.
203
When the weather is very hot, English speakers like to say it's boiling.
204
And we use question tags, like "isn't it?" to confirm something with another person, or to make sure it's true.
205
And to make a question tag, we always use an auxiliary verb, like "have," "can," or "be," in the negative form.
206
You've seen this movie, haven't you?
207
She can speak German, can't she?
208
It's boiling today.
209
Isn't it?
210
Question two: The film's ending was open to interpretation, and more than a little, meticulous.
211
erroneous, ambiguous.
212
The word "ambiguous" means "unclear" or "difficult to pin down." Someone who's "meticulous" pays close attention to detail,
213
and something erroneous is incorrect.
214
Question three: Come next June, we will have been living here for a decade.
215
"Come next June, we have lived here for a decade." "Come next June,
216
we will be living here for a decade." "Come next June,
217
we will have been living here for a decade" is correct.
218
The future perfect continuous, "will have been" verbing, shows the length of an ongoing action up to a certain point in the future.
219
Next week, he will have been working there for six months.
220
This fall, they will have been dating for five years.
221
Come next June, we will have been living here for a decade.
222
Question four: Miriam's dream of becoming a famous singer never quite turned up.
223
panned out.
224
kicked off.
225
To pan out means to develop in a successful way.
226
To turn up means to appear unexpectedly.
227
And to kick off means to begin.
228
Question 5.
229
To have wasted two hours, Tom finally started his essay.
230
He had wasted two hours.
231
Tom finally started his essay.
232
Having wasted two hours, Tom finally started his essay.
233
We can use "having" plus a past participle to express that one action finished before a second action began.
234
"Having finished our entrees, we ordered dessert." Having spent a year abroad, Sheila decided to come home.
235
Having wasted two hours, Tom finally started his essay.
236
Question six: The website recommends applying at least six months in advance.
237
The website recommends to apply at least six months in advance.
238
The website recommends that applying at least six months in advance.
239
When a verb is followed by another verb, the second verb can either be an infinitive, to eat, or a gerund, eating.
240
But recommend is always followed by a gerund.
241
"I recommend going." They recommend trying.
242
The website recommends applying.
243
Question 7.
244
Nelson Mandela is such an inspiring individual.
245
Nelson Mandela is so an inspiring individual.
246
"Nelson Mandela is such an inspiring individual" is correct.
247
The word "such" modifies a noun or noun phrase.
248
"Such a good movie, such a clean apartment,
249
such an inspiring individual." The word "so" modifies an adjective or an adverb.
250
The movie was so good.
251
This apartment is so clean.
252
Nelson Mandela is so inspiring.
253
Question 8: At the end of the trial, the judge asked the jury, "Have you placed a verdict?" Have you found a verdict?
254
Have you reached a verdict?
255
To "reach" a verdict is another English collocation, and it means that a jury has decided the outcome of a court case.
256
Question nine.
257
The bride had a huge smile on her face.
258
She looked completely Emphatic.
259
ecstatic erratic She looked completely ecstatic,
260
meaning very happy, is correct.
261
Emphatic comes from the word emphasis, and it means forceful.
262
She denied the allegations emphatically.
263
And erratic means unpredictable.
264
Our neighbor's behavior has been a little erratic lately.
265
Question 10.
266
Whatever challenging the test might seem, just remember you're well prepared.
267
Whenever challenging the test might seem, just remember you're well prepared.
268
However challenging the test might seem, just remember you're well prepared.
269
The word "however" is usually used as a conjunction meaning "but." "I like Indian food,
270
however, I don't eat it very often." but, however, can also be an adverb that means "no matter how." as in,
271
However long the flight is, however old that car looks, however challenging the test might seem,
272
just remember you're well prepared.
273
Congratulations, you've now finished the advanced portion of the test.
274
If you answered seven or more questions correctly, your English is likely at a C1 level.
275
And if you answered nine or more questions correctly, you're probably at a C2 level.
276
Well done.
277
And remember to go to CaptainEnglish .com to improve your English speaking skills in just two weeks.
278
As always, thanks for watching, and I'll see you soon.
Download App
Everything you need to speak fluently
AI PronunciationScore every sentence
IPA PracticeMaster every sound
VocabularyBuild your word bank
Vocab GameLearn while playing
Same Channel
C11
If You Know These 20 Words, Your English is SHOCKINGLY Good
Daily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B11
Learn All English Verb Tenses (Easiest Method)
Daily ConversationHigh School StudentsUniversity Students
B22
How to Learn English On Your Own (for FREE)
Business EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B2How to Learn Chinese (Mandarin) On Your Own for FREE
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
FOR YOU
Recommend Video
B18
105 sentences
How Good Is Your English? Take This 7-Minute Test!
Daily ConversationHigh School StudentsUniversity Students
B21
402 sentences
Listening B2 | FCE Practice Test with Answers - English Listening B2 Cambridge FULL Ingles B2 exam º
Cambridge Exam PrepHigh School StudentsUniversity Students
B19
38 sentences
PART 1 TEST 5 EST 2024
Daily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B24
173 sentences
Test 1: Section 1-2 | IELTS Practice Test Plus 3
IELTS PrepUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B24
88 sentences
Are you an ADVANCED speaker?
Daily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B22
112 sentences
Pronunciation in Use Advanced, Unit 51, How embarrassing
Daily ConversationHigh School StudentsUniversity Students
B23
179 sentences
IELTS Speaking band 7.0 - Mocktest đề mới nhất, xem ngay nào | IELTS FIGHTER
IELTS PrepCambridge Exam PrepUniversity Students
B26
120 sentences
What is YOUR English level? Take this test!
British AccentCambridge Exam PrepHigh School StudentsUniversity Students
B12
187 sentences
English Vocabulary to Describe Everyday Objects!
Daily ConversationHigh School StudentsUniversity Students
B12
141 sentences
HCL Versant test Video 02
TOEIC PrepBusiness EnglishDaily Conversation
B24
299 sentences
IELTS Listening Test : 5 with answers | Vision Series | British Council | IDP | Latest listening
IELTS PrepCambridge Exam PrepUniversity Students
Who Is This Video For?
This video is perfect for English learners ready to assess their level and refine foundational skills. Whether you’re a beginner aiming to solidify basics or an intermediate learner checking for gaps, the 30-question format (starting with beginner-level queries) offers a clear CEFR benchmark. It’s ideal for those using learn english with youtube strategies, as it combines practice with immediate feedback—key for building confidence in grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure.
Words & Idioms Worth Stealing
While the video focuses on grammar, it includes practical phrases that boost everyday communication. For example, "keep track of" (monitor or record) is a versatile phrasal verb useful for organizing tasks or progress. "Watch out" (be careful) is a casual warning that feels natural in conversations. These expressions are easy to shadowspeaks—repeat aloud to mimic fluency—making them quick to add to your active vocabulary.
How to Get the Accent Right
The speaker’s clear, steady pace makes this video great for shadow speech practice. Focus on two key areas: vowel sounds in articles ("a" vs. "an") and stress in comparatives. For "an umbrella," emphasize the short "u" sound to distinguish it from "a umbrella"—this small shift makes your speech sound more native. In "bigger than," stress the "-er" to highlight the comparison. Pause the video, repeat each sentence, and record yourself to check if your rhythm matches the speaker’s. Tools like a shadowing site can help analyze your pace, but even repeating directly from the video builds muscle memory for natural intonation. Remember: accuracy in these details elevates your accent from "understandable" to "polished."
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Conditional sentences if + clause, will/would + verb — a condition and its result | If we walk slowly, we'd be · If she gets the job, she'll be · If he exercises every day, he'll get |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | Have you seen · have lived · have been |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | isn't connected · is followed · is always followed |
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.