English listening test
Test how well you understand spoken English. Pick a level, listen to a short text and write down what you hear: your answers are checked word by word, with every mistake explained.
Listening tests by level
Each test is the newest dictation at that level: a short text in natural English, a few minutes long.
- A1 listening test (Beginner): The Sea Tower
- A2 listening test (Basis): The Glove Show
- B1 listening test (Gemiddeld): The Returning Road
- B2 listening test (Hoger gemiddeld): Soup Before Closing
- C1 listening test (Gevorderd): The First Dessert
Don’t know your level?
Take the level test: one short story of 10 sentences that gets harder from A1 to C1. It takes about 5 minutes and tells you which level fits you.
Take the 5-minute level testHow the listening test works
- Choose a level, from A1 (Beginner) to C1 (Advanced).
- Play each sentence and replay it as often as you need.
- Type exactly what you hear and send it.
- At the end, see your accuracy and every mistake, with a short note on why it was easy to miss.
What the test shows you
A listening test with dictation shows more than a score. Because you write every word, you see exactly what you didn’t catch: weak forms such as “to” and “of”, word endings, linked words and fast contractions. These are the sounds to practise next.
Take a test at your level every few days and compare your accuracy. When you score high, move up a level.
Questions about the listening test
Is the English listening test free?
Yes. Every listening test is free and you don’t need an account. A free account saves your results so you can follow your progress.
Which level should I choose?
Choose the level where you understand most of what you hear but not everything. If you are not sure, take the 5-minute level test first.
How is this different from the level test?
The level test is one story that gets harder from A1 to C1 and tells you your level. A listening test stays at one level and shows how well you follow English at that level.