An online vocabulary quiz is useful when it matches the words you need and gives you a way to learn from mistakes. Picture matching, sentence gaps and collocation questions practise different aspects of word knowledge. This guide points to specific activities and includes an eight-question quiz you can try immediately.
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Choose a task that matches your goal
For familiar objects, matching a word to a picture can help establish meaning. For words you already recognise, a sentence gap can test whether you know the correct form or combination. A high score on one topic does not mean you know all vocabulary at that level.
| Activity | Publisher’s level label | Task or topic | Review focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit 1 | A1–A2 | Common fruit names with vocabulary exercises. | Identify the object, then say a sentence using the word. |
| Money | A1–A2 | Everyday money vocabulary. | Check the meaning and spelling of each item you missed. |
| Easily confused words | B1–B2 | Choosing words to complete sentence gaps. | Explain why a competing word does not fit. |
| Take, make, and do | B1–B2 | Verb and noun combinations. | Record the complete collocation, not just the verb. |
The level labels above come from the publishers and describe the activities, not a formal result you obtain by completing them. The Cambridge activity directory also lets you filter by skill and level. Links and published descriptions were checked on 17 September 2026; individual exercise interfaces may change.
Check what the feedback actually tells you
An exercise may tell you whether an answer is correct without explaining every distractor. When that happens, check the unfamiliar word in a learner’s dictionary and compare example sentences. Do not assume that a tick means you could use the word correctly in a new context.
Three separate questions are helpful: do you recognise the meaning, can you choose it in a sentence, and can you produce your own sentence? If recognition is strong but production is difficult, spend more time writing and speaking. Repeating the same quiz may otherwise test your memory of its answer order.
Try eight vocabulary questions
Choose the best answer or respond in a few words. These original examples sample common vocabulary distinctions and are not a placement test. Note which answers you guessed before checking the key.
- I left my keys at home. Could you ______ me your spare set? (lend / borrow)
- Please ______ a note of the new address. (make / do)
- The instructions were precise. Were they exact or confusing?
- We need to ______ the meeting until Friday. (postpone / prevent)
- The café was crowded, so we looked for a ______ place. (quieter / louder)
- Choose: This information is useful / usefully.
- Complete: She is interested ______ photography. (in / on)
- If a result is temporary, will it necessarily last permanently?
Answers and explanations
| Question | Answer and explanation |
|---|---|
| 1 | Lend. The other person gives the keys temporarily. |
| 2 | Make. Make a note is the usual expression. |
| 3 | Exact. Precise describes accuracy and specific detail. |
| 4 | Postpone. The meeting is moved to a later time, not necessarily stopped altogether. |
| 5 | Quieter. The context suggests a place with less noise or activity. |
| 6 | Useful. The sentence needs an adjective after is. |
| 7 | In. Interested in is the standard combination. |
| 8 | No. Temporary means lasting for a limited time. |
Review one mistake properly
Suppose you chose borrow in the first question. Write the correct pattern, “lend someone something,” and compare it with “borrow something from someone.” Then create a new exchange about a pen, a book or a charger.
A: Could I borrow your charger for a minute?
B: Yes, I can lend it to you until lunch.
A: Thanks. I’ll bring it back before then.
This exercise changes the object and sentence structure while preserving the meaning. It gives you a better check of understanding than seeing the same multiple-choice options again. You can use the same method for prepositions, word families and collocations.
Build a short practice session
Choose one topic and complete a manageable activity without looking up every answer. Review three uncertain items, write a fresh example for each and say the examples aloud. On another day, test the same words in different sentences.
If these activities are straightforward, try our 20-question advanced vocabulary quiz, which includes explanations for each answer. Select difficulty according to what you can understand and use, rather than treating a harder-looking word list as automatically more useful.
