In general, Puzzle English specializes in developing listening comprehension skills through audio exercises, videos, TV series. But for listening, you need, of course, some kind of minimum vocabulary.
You will be given a list of 96 words and asked to check the box which you know. I advise you to mark only those words that you recognize instantly and without hesitation. There is no need to choose or write the correct answer - they take their word for it, but from time to time there is an honesty check - you need to choose the correct option from the four proposed to confirm that you are not cheating the virtual teacher.
At the end, you will learn not only the vocabulary, but also the honesty index - the program assesses how honest you were with it. If you re-pass the test, the words in the assignment will be different.
I passed the test for fun 3 times. The first and second results were about 11-12 thousand words each, and the third time I specifically answered all the questions correctly, peeping into the dictionary, and they gave me as much as 29 248 words and a 94% honesty index (apparently, the mustachioed uncle suspected something was wrong) ... 29,000 is, of course, an unrealistic figure, it is believed that an average native speaker knows about 20,000 words, but if you do not cheat and mark only those words that you recognize without hesitation, then the result is quite true. The next two tests confirmed this.
LinguaLeo word knowledge test
Of course, we must not forget that vocabulary is only one of the components of language proficiency. Even simple text will not be understandable if you have no idea about grammar.
P. S .: How to determine your level of English
If you are wondering which one you have level of knowledge of English, it is not enough to measure vocabulary and pass the grammar test, you need to comprehensively assess speech skills (reading, listening, writing and speaking). For more information on how to find out your level of English, see.
Friends! I am not currently a tutor, but if you need a teacher, I recommend this wonderful site- there are native (and non-native) language teachers for all occasions and for any pocket đ I myself went through more than 80 lessons with the teachers I found there!
There are many tests that determine vocabulary, I will tell you about one of the most adequate, which does not overestimate or underestimate the indicators. It is the best way to test your English vocabulary. In general, a native English speaker knows from 17 to 35 thousand words, depending on the level of education, age. For English learners, 8 thousand words is an excellent indicator that speaks of an advanced level. As a native speaker, you are unlikely to ever speak if you have not studied the language since birth, that is, if you are not bilingual. But one can be content with less.
There is a good American-Brazilian research project Test your vocab, which deals with the statistics of the vocabulary of English speakers and language learners. The test is quite simple - there are two pages of words, of which you need to mark the ones that you know for sure. Mark a word if you know at least one of its meanings, but you know for sure. If you are not sure of the translation or have just heard a word, but donât remember exactly the translation, then do not mark it. The test is 10% accurate and it really works.
On the third page, you can enter your data for statistics, but you can skip this step.
The words on the first page are the most important, if you accidentally mark the excess, the result will be overestimated. Nobody checks the honesty, determine the margin for yourself.
How many words do you need to know
There are active (used words) and passive (understood words) vocabulary. You don't need many words to speak. But what's the use of talking if you don't understand the interlocutor. So passive vocabulary is more important.
- Knowledge 2000 the most frequent words gives understanding 90% speech. But in reality 90% - this is not enough to understand. Imagine that every 10th word is unfamiliar - you will feel like a ram. Even every 20 incomprehensible word will not give you complete freedom of communication.
- Knowledge 6000 a thousand words will make it clear 98% speech.
- To understand movies and TV shows, you need to know 7-8 thousand words - this is a level above average, with about IN 2.
How to check your vocabulary level
- 1.3 thousand words (level A1) - initial level, you can introduce yourself.
- 2,5 thousand words (level A2) - exchange of simple phrases in everyday situations.
- 4 thousand words (level B1) - average level. You can communicate in most situations when traveling in an English speaking country.
- 7 thousand words (level B2) - speak quickly and fluently, you can constantly communicate without difficulty for both parties.
- 11 thousand words (level C1) - advanced level. Speak fluently at a fast pace. You use the language at work, study.
- 17 thousand words (level C2) - You understand almost any word or expression. The level of a native speaker begins with 17 thousand.
How to improve your vocabulary
It is known that words are best memorized in context, since just a bare word from a dictionary is quickly forgotten. Now there are dictionaries that allow you to memorize a word along with the passage in which it occurs. For example, it - allows you to memorize words in context. That is, you will have a dictionary consisting of titles and video fragments of videos from Lingvaleo, phrases from the texts of Lingvaleo. Moreover, the dictionary is compiled not only on the basis of Lingvaleo training materials, but you can translate any text on the Internet (a phrase from the Internet text will also be added to the dictionary). To do this, you need to install the Lingvaleo browser extension. The dictionary for all materials is common. The only problem is that you can add 10 words a day for free. But I don't think it is possible to learn more with daily use. That is, a small number of words per day can be compensated for by the regularity of study.
Test control is one of the most popular forms of English language proficiency testing. The indisputable advantages of tests are the speed and ease of assessing knowledge, as well as the obligatory presence of keys (correct answers) to them.English vocabulary tests can be:
a) to determine the number of vocabulary units in your passive and active vocabulary;
b) to determine the acquired vocabulary on any topic.
Let us give examples of some online tests.
Test http://testyourvocab.com/ allows you to determine your vocabulary. It consists of two compulsory parts: the first determines the mastery of the general vocabulary of the English language, the second - the special one. On average, non-native English speakers score between 2,500 and 9,000 words, while native speakers score between 20,000 and 35,000 words.
Why know your vocabulary? The answer is very simple: each level of language proficiency corresponds to the approximate number of words that need to be learned. So, for the levelBeginner- this is 500-600 words... In order for the language level to be close toElementary, the student needs to know about 1000 words.
|
Level |
Word Count |
|
Beginner |
500-600 |
|
Elementary |
1000 |
|
Pre-Intermediate |
1500-2000 |
|
Intermediate |
2000-3000 |
|
Upper-Intermediate |
3000-4000 |
|
Advanced |
4000-8000 |
|
Proficiency |
more than 8000 |
Test http://www.efl.ru/tests/formal2informal-1/ will show you how well you know the colloquial vocabulary of British English. What 'comfyâAnd how to dress if youâre invited toâbarbieâYouâll learn by taking this fun test.
Next test http://www.efl.ru/tests/colours/ will help you better understand English colors and shades. In the first part, the knowledge of the colors of the main palette is tested, in the second, attention is paid to shades of colors, in the third part, the knowledge of English idioms containing the name of the color is trained. Why is it bad to get âpinkslip', and what is the color of the lie? You will find all the answers in this test.
Test How strong is your vocabulary? by Merriam - Webster consists of only 10 questions, the content of which is constantly changing. The test checks synonymous vocabulary at the advanced level, but it is thanks to it that you can significantly enrich your vocabulary.
Test MyVocabularySize It is distinguished, first of all, by its impressive size: it contains 140 questions. The test has an option to choose a language: when choosing Russian, you will need to choose the translation of the word given in the context; when choosing English, you find a synonym phrase.
On the site Quizlet.com presents a huge number of vocabulary tests created by teachers from all over the world. Some of them are based on vocabulary from English textbooks, which you probably study yourself. Other tests check the knowledge of special vocabulary, which can also be useful for those who want to deepen their knowledge.
A few tips for those looking to increase their vocabulary
1. Read in the original! Whether it's fiction, world news, culinary recipes, or advertisements, it doesn't really matter if you've gotten into the habit of working with a dictionary while reading. Each new word is another step towards learning English.
2. Work with a monolingual dictionary! Do not immediately, but gradually train yourself to abandon the usual "word-translation" scheme. Sometimes it is difficult to explain a concept, even in the native language. However, when working with a monolingual (written in one language) dictionary, you have a chance to better understand the meaning of many words.
3. Learn words in context! While maintaining your personal dictionary, write down not individual lexical units, but phrases and sentences. Thus, your language will play faster with new, lively phrases.
Where to train vocabulary?
On the site LearnEnglishTeens there is an opportunity to practice words on a wide variety of topics. Each topic is presented at three language levels - from A 1 to B 1 - and is accompanied by five exercises.
On the site http://lengish.com/tests/vocabulary there are also exercises for training thematic vocabulary needed in everyday life.
Resource Merriam -Webster offers not only dictionaries and tests, but also a huge number of vocabulary exercises and games.
In conclusion, we invite you to take our vocabulary test based on vocabulary from New Headway Elementary.
1. If you⊠somebody, you take care of this person.
a) pay b) look after c) lose
2. My sister and I are very ... and we phone each other every evening.
a) happy b) independent c) close
3. How many languages ââdo youâŠ?
a) speak b) say c) tell
4. This book is really ...!
a) interesting b) interested c) bored
5. I'm ... in reading books.
a) interesting b) interested c) bored
6. Hey! Letâs ... a cake!
a) do b) make c) mix
7. New York is older⊠London.
a) then a) of c) than
8. If the weather is bad, we canâŠ.
a) have a picnic a) go for a walk c) watch a dvd
9. Letâs go to the ... and buy some stamps.
a) library b) post office c) police office
10. How about having lunch?
a) I'll have some pizza and a coke. b) That sounds great! c) I can help you.
The keys to the test:
|
b |
c |
a |
a |
b |
b |
c |
c |
b |
b |
And finally, remember that objective can only be called a comprehensive knowledge assessment.
Every serious lover of anything in the world sooner or later becomes eager to measure his collection: in money, in volume, in quantity ... The philatelist carefully blows the dust off the hundredth mark in the album, Henry Ford rubs a new one to a shine tire, Rockefeller glances at the number of zeros in the amount stored in the bank, etc. How to be an Englishlover? Love for English can be measured too. Hours of study? Words that make up an active vocabulary!
Stocks are different
No, not firewood for the winter and not sweets under the pillow, as you already understood, but English words in the lexicon. There is nothing shameful or boastful about measuring vocabulary: after all, there is no limit to perfection, but there are intermediate stages on the way to the goal.
Statistics, backed up by practice, say that for the free expression of your thoughts in English, you need everything 2000 words. The statistics, backed up by optimism, call the number 1000-1500 words, and the creators of Basic English are magicians and our best friends - only 850 words. Realists and optimists, put off skepticism! Basic English is divided into thematic groups of words (objects and phenomena, actions and movements, expression of qualities) - a kind of collection of the most hit copies from each category. In fact, we have selected frequently used, mostly monosyllabic words (514 out of 850) that are easy to memorize and pronounce.
We would like to ask all those who relaxed and breathed a sigh of relief after the announced figures: what do you personally mean by the concept of âfreely expressing yourselfâ? Of course, 2000 words is enough to ask for a window seat at the airport check-in counter or order a veal chop in a restaurant. Diving begins where, when answering a question, you will not catch the meaning of spoken unfamiliar words or will not be able to talk about specific gastronomic addictions in the company of gourmets. And then we multiply 2000 by two and get 4000 words, which will surely allow you not to lose your face and keep your conversation in English well done.
Another caveat: until now, it was about active vocabulary, i.e. the layer of those words that you regularly use in conversation. What you once wrote out in a dictionary and, on occasion, perhaps (!) Remember the meaning, is called passive margin - words that you seem to know, but most of them lie on the shelves of memory under a layer of dust. Yes, they are included in the general classification, but they do not bring special dividends.
Perfectionists hungry for more! Outside the linguistic environment, it is quite difficult to learn the 8000 words that make up the active vocabulary of an English-speaking citizen. It is possible, of course, but with great energy consumption, diligence and methodicality. With a luggage of 4-5 thousand words, you can safely pack your bags to Britain, the USA or Canada, where you are doomed to expand your vocabulary to the cherished 8-10 thousand units.
Vocabulary gradations
Or how much is needed for complete happiness? You can start with the top 10 or top 100 words of the English language and already rejoice. A selection of the most commonly used English words around the world will set the right vector for expanding your vocabulary. And we again take a ruler in our hands and return to simple arithmetic, this time dedicating you to gradations (types) of vocabulary.
400-500 words of active vocabulary - a pass to the world of English and a certificate of proficiency at a basic level
... 800-1000 words "assets" will give you the opportunity to explain yourself and talk about everyday topics, the same amount of "liabilities" will allow you to read simple texts
... 1500-2000 words of "assets" will be awarded with the opportunity to communicate freely during the day, or the same amount of "liabilities" - confident reading of more complex texts
... 3000-4000 words bring you closer to practically fluent reading of newspapers or books and magazines in your specialty
... 8000 words guarantee complete communication for the average European. This is also enough for free reading and writing thoughts.
... up to 13,000 words characterize a highly educated person studying English as a foreign language.
How to identify and check your English vocabulary?
Find out on the accounts? Noting familiar words in the dictionary? Let's not reinvent the wheel and borrow the answer from the creators of the test, which can weigh your vocabulary baggage within 2-3 minutes with an error of up to 10%. The link to the test will be in a minute, but for now, a brief instruction on its use and the answer to the question "how does it work".
The developers took as a basis a dictionary of 70,000 words, discarded outdated, compound words, scientific terms and derivatives from each other, having already received 45,000 in the end. Then they sorted by frequency of use, sincerely admitting that the last 10,000 out of 45,000 are extremely rare, so even a respectable Briton may not feel remorse, never using them in his life. Excluded from the English vocabulary test are words whose meaning can be obtained through friendship with logic.
The entire test consists of two pages: each one contains English words in several columns without any logical sequence. If you know at least one of the possible meanings of a word, then confidently put a check next to it. The task is the same on two pages, only on the second the program selects words from those unfamiliar from the first page, as if wishing to make sure if you really do not know them. No sleight of hand, no fraud: the only condition is to be honest with yourself and not overdo it with the number of checkmarks.
We invite you to take a test for a couple of minutes, and then return to our article for a debriefing. We have already prepared a ruler :)
We measure the results
And now you are left alone with your test result. How did the others do it? Statistics collected after passing this test show that among non-native speakers, the majority of respondents received in the end from 3 to 7 thousand words. There are noticeably fewer owners of 7-10 thousand words and even less from 11 to 30 thousand (oddly enough, but even 30-thousand people deserved their attention to this test).
Among those for whom English is a native, the situation looks different: for non-native speakers, a space vocabulary of 30 thousand words is the norm for 30-year-old English-speaking friends. The average result of the previous category of 3-7 thousand is typical for children 5-6 years old. Do not forget that it is at this age that the world is actively explored and the entire surrounding family with 30 thousand deposits around is actively not silent.
Summing up
The language is quite complicated. The complex and large history of Great Britain has led to a very large number of words. The Oxford English Dictionary, known in many circles, has approximately 600,000 words and phrases. And if you add dialect and slang to this list, then the number of words will exceed 1 million. But do not be afraid of such a large number, because even native speakers do not know all English words. On average, an educated person, a native speaker, knows 12,000-18,000 words. Well, the average UK resident knows 8,000-10,000 words.
How many words do you need to know?
If a person is not a native speaker and does not permanently reside in an English-speaking country, then it will be almost impossible for him to withdraw his stock to the cherished 8000-10,000 words. 4000-5000 words are a good indicator.There is a standard and generally accepted gradation of the language. If the number of studied words is in the region of 400-500 words, then the level of proficiency is considered basic. If the active stock is in the range of 800-1000 words, then you can safely communicate on various everyday topics. If this amount refers rather to a passive vocabulary, then you can safely read simple texts. A range of 1500-2000 words will allow you to communicate fluently all day long. If the vocabulary is 3000-4000 words, then you can safely read the English press or various thematic materials. A vocabulary base of 8000 languages ââguarantees fluency in English. With so many words learned, you can freely read any literature or write language texts yourself. Those with more than 8000 words in their luggage are considered highly educated English learners.
The standard vocabulary base is distributed as follows:
- beginner - 600 words;
- elementary - 1000 words;
- pre-Intermediate - 1500-2000 words;
- intermediate - 2000-3000 words;
- upper-Intermediate - 3000-4000 words;
- advanced - 4000-8000 words;
- proficiency - over 8000 words.
Thanks to this data, you can determine your level of language proficiency, as well as set goals for yourself. But how many words have already been learned? No, you don't need to measure anything with a ruler for this. Everything is much simpler. There is testing that can determine the number of learned words with a margin of error of 10%.
7000 vocabulary words were taken to create this test. From there, obsolete and rarely used words were removed. Also removed the words, the meaning of which can be determined using conventional logic. As a result, there were 2 small pages with words.
