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Vocabulary Levels Test (Productive)          
By Batia Laufer & Paul Nation; adapted for WWW by Tom Cobb

Use these tests to compare your or your learners' RECEPTIVE and PRODUCTIVE vocabularies
(the other tests on this site are receptive except for CATSS.)

   

 VERSION A 

Start Test 

Or jump to level

2k level 
3k level 
5k level 
University Word List 
10k level 

 VERSION B 

Start Test 

Or jump to level

2k 
3k  
5k
UWL
10k  

VERSION C 

Start Test 

Or jump to level

2k 
3k  
5k  


10k 

Versions A  and B  are equivalent versions of Nation and Laufer's Levels Test (controlled production format) which has been used by students all over the world.

Version C  combines items from Tests A and B that are not cognate with French or other Romance languages (this does not apply to 1000 level, whch is mostly non-cognate, or to UWL, which is mostly cognate).


As you go through the tests, the first level you score below 83% on is your growth-edge for productive vocabulary. You can build up this level by working on the corresponding wordlist on the Linked Lists  page. Use the linked concordance and dictionary as learning tools. Or if your prefer, find e-texts to read using VP  to identify texts heavy in your zone words (use 'classic' framework for UWL/AWL; use BNC-Coca framework for k-levels).

RESEARCH : 

Validation of this test: Laufer, B. & Nation, P. (1999), A vocabulary size test of controlled productive ability. Language Testing 16(1), 33-51.

Rationale for Version C above: Cobb, T. (2000), One size fits all?   Canadian Modern Language Review, 57(2), 295-324.

This page updated July 2019