Inside Out Quick Placement Test

**INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE New Inside Out QUICK PLACEMENT TEST**

The New Inside Out QUICK and FULL placement tests have been designed to be used for placing students into groups corresponding to the six levels of the series. Students with no previous knowledge of English at all would not normally be required to take either test.

Please note: both the QUICK and FULL tests are graded to test items that are progressively more difficult.

New Inside Out QUICK TEST CONTENTS

The New Inside Out QUICK test tests structures and vocabulary. It is comprised of 60 multiple-choice test items (36 structure and 24 vocabulary) that are worth one mark each.

Timing – Allow 40-45 minutes for the Quick Placement Test

New Inside Out QUICK PLACEMENT TEST CONVERSION TABLE

Total Score	Level	CEFR level
0-9	Beginner	A1
10–19	Elementary	A1+ to A2
20–29	Pre-intermediate	A2 + to B1
30–39	Intermediate	B1
40–49	Upper-intermediate	B2
50–60	Advanced	C1

Inside Out Quick Placement Test

Please wait while the activity loads.
If this activity does not load, try refreshing your browser. Also, this page requires javascript. Please visit using a browser with javascript enabled.

If loading fails, click here to try again

Start

Congratulations - you have completed Inside Out Quick Placement Test. You scored %%SCORE%% out of %%TOTAL%%. Your performance has been rated as %%RATING%%

Your answers are highlighted below.

Question 1

Section 1

Choose the best word or phrase to fill each blank.

Roberta _____ from the United States.

A	are
B	is
C	am
D	be

Question 1 Explanation:

Roberta is one person (she), so we use is: She is from the United States.

Question 2

What’s _____ name?

A	he's
B	his
C	him
D	he

Question 2 Explanation:

Before a noun we use his to show that something belongs to a man: What's his name? Not him or he, because these are not used before a noun.

Question 3

My friend _____ in London.

A	living
B	live
C	lives
D	is live

Question 3 Explanation:

My friend is one person (he/she), so the verb in the present simple takes -s: lives.

Question 4

Where _____?

A	works Tom
B	Tom works
C	Tom does work
D	does Tom work

Question 4 Explanation:

Present simple questions use does + subject + verb: Where does Tom work?

Question 5

I _____ coffee.

A	no like
B	not like
C	like don’t
D	don’t like

Question 5 Explanation:

In the present simple, the negative is don't + verb: I don't like coffee.

Question 6

‘_____ to Australia, Ginny?’ ‘Yes, two years ago.’

A	Did you ever go
B	Do you ever go
C	Have you ever been
D	Are you ever going

Question 6 Explanation:

To ask about experiences in your life up to now, use the present perfect with ever: Have you ever been to Australia? The answer can then give the exact time in the past simple (two years ago). Not Do you ever go, which asks about a habit.

Question 7

Tokyo is _____ city I’ve ever lived in.

A	the most big
B	the bigger
C	the biggest
D	the more big

Question 7 Explanation:

The superlative of a short adjective is the + adjective + -est: big → the biggest. The phrase I've ever lived in shows we compare it with all cities.

Question 8

A vegetarian is someone _____ doesn’t eat meat.

A	who
B	what
C	which
D	whose

Question 8 Explanation:

We use who for people in a relative clause: someone who doesn't eat meat. Not which, because it is used for things.

Question 9

_____ these days.

A	I never a newspaper buy
B	I never buy a newspaper
C	I buy never a newspaper
D	Never I buy a newspaper

Question 9 Explanation:

Frequency words like never go before the main verb: I never buy a newspaper.

Question 10

I _____ watch TV tonight.

A	am
B	go to
C	going to
D	am going to

Question 10 Explanation:

For plans, use am/is/are going to + verb: I am going to watch TV tonight. Not going to alone, because the verb am is needed.

Question 11

I wish I _____ more money!

A	have
B	had
C	would have
D	was having

Question 11 Explanation:

After I wish for a present situation we want to be different, use the past simple: I wish I had more money (but I don't). Not would have, which is not used after I wish I for present states.

Question 12

_____ be famous one day?

A	Would you like
B	Would you like to
C	Do you like
D	Do you like to

Question 12 Explanation:

Would you like to + verb asks about wishes or wants: Would you like to be famous? Not Do you like to, which asks about things you enjoy regularly.

Question 13

Section 2

Choose the best word or phrase to fill each blank.

It’s my birthday _____ Friday.

A	on
B	in
C	at
D	by

Question 13 Explanation:

We use on with days: on Friday, on Monday.

Question 14

I _____ eighteen years old.

A	am
B	have
C	have got
D	be

Question 14 Explanation:

In English we use be for age: I am eighteen years old. Not have, which some languages use for age.

Question 15

I _____ a headache.

A	am
B	do
C	have
D	make

Question 15 Explanation:

We use have with pains and illnesses: I have a headache. Not am, because we don't say I am a headache.

Question 16

Do you _____ a uniform at your school?

A	carry
B	wear
C	use
D	hold

Question 16 Explanation:

We wear clothes, including a uniform: We wear a uniform at school.

Question 17

-- ‘What time is it?’

-- ‘I have no _____.’

A	idea
B	opinion
C	answer
D	time

Question 17 Explanation:

I have no idea means I don't know. It is a common answer when you can't give information.

Question 18

The meal was very expensive. Look at the _____!

A	ticket
B	recipe
C	invoice
D	bill

Question 18 Explanation:

In a restaurant, the paper that shows how much you must pay for a meal is the bill (American English: check). Not recipe, which tells you how to cook something.

Question 19

How many _____ of trousers have you got?

A	items
B	pairs
C	sets
D	times

Question 19 Explanation:

Trousers have two legs, so we count them with pair: a pair of trousers, two pairs of trousers.

Question 20

Joel came back from his holiday in Brazil looking really _____.

A	tanned
B	sunned
C	coloured
D	darkened

Question 20 Explanation:

Tanned means having darker skin from the sun: She came back from the beach looking tanned. The other words do not collocate with skin in this way.

Question 21

Section 3

Choose the best word or phrase to fill each blank.

Harry can _____ English.

A	to speak
B	speaking
C	speak
D	speaks

Question 21 Explanation:

After can we use the verb without to and without -s: Harry can speak English.

Question 22

I’m not interested _____ sports.

A	for
B	about
C	in
D	to

Question 22 Explanation:

The adjective interested is followed by in: I'm interested in music.

Question 23

She likes _____ expensive clothes.

A	wearing
B	to wearing
C	wear
D	is wearing

Question 23 Explanation:

After like we use the -ing form (or to + verb): She likes wearing expensive clothes. Not wear, because like needs -ing or to.

Question 24

Harry _____ his father’s car when the accident happened.

A	was driving
B	drove
C	had driven
D	has been driving

Question 24 Explanation:

The past continuous (was driving) describes an action in progress when a shorter action (the accident happened) interrupted it. Not drove, which would suggest he started driving after the accident.

Question 25

I was wondering _____ tell me when the next plane from Chicago arrives?

A	could you
B	can you
C	if you could
D	if could you

Question 25 Explanation:

I was wondering if you could… is a polite indirect request. In indirect questions we use normal word order: if you could tell me, not if could you.

Question 26

If I _____ him, I would have spoken to him, wouldn’t I?

A	saw
B	had seen
C	have seen
D	would have seen

Question 26 Explanation:

This is the third conditional, about an imaginary past: If + past perfect, would have + past participle. If I had seen him, I would have spoken to him. Not saw, which is used in the second conditional.

Question 27

I like your hair. Where _____?

A	do you have cut
B	have you cut it
C	do you have cut it
D	do you have it cut

Question 27 Explanation:

Have something done means someone else does it for you: have + object + past participle. Where do you have it cut? asks which hairdresser you use. Not have you cut it, which means you cut it yourself.

Question 28

I think Joey must _____ late tonight. His office light is still on.

A	have worked
B	work
C	be working
D	to work

Question 28 Explanation:

Must be + -ing is a logical deduction about something happening now. The clue His office light is still on shows he is working at this moment. Not must have worked, which is a deduction about a finished past action.

Question 29

John tells me Jack’s going out with Helen, _____ I find hard to believe.

A	which
B	who
C	whose
D	that

Question 29 Explanation:

After a comma, which can refer back to a whole idea (that Jack is going out with Helen). Not that, which cannot be used after a comma in a non-defining clause.

Question 30

What _____ this weekend, Lance?

A	are you do
B	are you doing
C	will you have done
D	do you do

Question 30 Explanation:

We use the present continuous (are you doing) to ask about plans and arrangements for the future: What are you doing this weekend? Not do you do, because the present simple asks about habits, not plans for this weekend.

Question 31

The weather has been awful. We’ve had very _____ sunshine this summer.

A	little
B	a little
C	few
D	a few

Question 31 Explanation:

Sunshine is uncountable, so we use little, not few. Very little means almost none, which matches The weather has been awful. Not a little, which has a positive meaning (some).

Question 32

Did you hear what happened to Kate? She _____.

A	is arrested
B	arrested
C	has been arrested
D	is being arrested

Question 32 Explanation:

The present perfect passive (has been arrested) gives recent news with a result now. It is passive because the police arrested her. Not arrested, which would mean she arrested someone.

Question 33

Section 4

Choose the best word or phrase to fill each blank.

I usually _____ up at about 7.30.

A	go
B	be
C	do
D	get

Question 33 Explanation:

Get up means to leave your bed in the morning: I get up at 7.30.

Question 34

I _____ football every week.

A	play
B	go
C	do
D	have

Question 34 Explanation:

We use play with ball games: play football, play tennis.

Question 35

My sister _____ the cooking in our house.

A	does
B	makes
C	cooks
D	takes

Question 35 Explanation:

We say do the cooking, do the shopping, do the washing. Not makes, which does not go with the cooking.

Question 36

Don’t forget to _____ the light when you leave the room.

A	turn up
B	turn in
C	turn off
D	turn over

Question 36 Explanation:

Turn off means to stop a machine or light working: turn off the light. Turn up means make louder or stronger.

Question 37

She was in _____ when she heard the tragic news.

A	crying
B	tears
C	cries
D	tearful

Question 37 Explanation:

In tears is a fixed phrase meaning crying: She was in tears when she heard the news. Not crying, because we say She was crying, without in.

Question 38

He _____ that he hadn’t stolen the computer, but no one believed him.

A	reassured
B	informed
C	insisted
D	persuaded

Question 38 Explanation:

Insist that… means to say something firmly, especially when others don't believe you, which matches no one believed him. Not reassured or informed, which need a person as the object (reassured them that…).

Question 39

Could you _____ me that book for a couple of days, please?

A	lend
B	owe
C	borrow
D	rent

Question 39 Explanation:

Lend means to give something to someone for a short time: Could you lend me your book? Not borrow, which means to take something from someone: Can I borrow your book?

Question 40

Greg is _____ a lot of time at Yvonne’s house these days!

A	taking
B	spending
C	having
D	doing

Question 40 Explanation:

We spend time somewhere: He spends a lot of time at her house. Not taking, because take time means an activity needs time (It takes time to learn).

Question 41

Section 5

Choose the best word or phrase to fill each blank.

Who _____ in that house?

A	does live
B	lives
C	does he live
D	he lives

Question 41 Explanation:

When who is the subject of the question, we don't use does: Who lives in that house? Not does live, which is only used for emphasis.

Question 42

I’ll call you when I _____ home.

A	get
B	’ll get
C	’ll have got
D	’m getting

Question 42 Explanation:

After time words like when, before and as soon as, we use the present simple for the future: when I get home. Not 'll get, because will is not used after when in this kind of clause.

Question 43

If you _____ me, what would you do?

A	was
B	would be
C	were
D	have been

Question 43 Explanation:

In the second conditional, we use were for all persons in formal and standard English, especially in If I were you / If you were me. Not was, which is never correct with you.

Question 44

I don’t know where _____ last night.

A	did he go
B	he did go
C	went he
D	he went

Question 44 Explanation:

In indirect questions (after I don't know, Can you tell me), we use normal word order without did: where he went. Not did he go, which is direct question order.

Question 45

John and Betty are coming to visit us tomorrow but I wish _____.

A	they won’t
B	they hadn’t
C	they didn’t
D	they weren’t

Question 45 Explanation:

After I wish, we use a past form for a present or arranged situation we want to be different. The full idea is I wish they weren't (coming), matching are coming. Not they won't, because will is not used after wish in this way.

Question 46

I’m so hungry! If only Bill _____ all the food in the fridge!

A	wasn’t eating
B	didn’t eat
C	hadn’t eaten
D	hasn’t eaten

Question 46 Explanation:

If only + past perfect expresses regret about the past: Bill already ate the food, so If only Bill hadn't eaten all the food! Not didn't eat, which refers to the present.

Question 47

I regret _____ harder in school.

A	not studying
B	not to study
C	to not study
D	not have studied

Question 47 Explanation:

Regret + -ing is used for being sorry about something in the past: I regret not studying harder. Not not to study, because regret to is used for announcing bad news (We regret to inform you…).

Question 48

Surely Sue _____ you if she was unhappy with your work.

A	will tell
B	would have told
C	must have told
D	had told

Question 48 Explanation:

Would have told describes what Sue would have done in the past in an imaginary situation. Surely shows the speaker is sure she didn't tell you, so she probably isn't unhappy. Not must have told, which says she did tell you.

Question 49

Our neighbours aren’t very polite, and _____ particularly quiet!

A	neither they aren’t
B	either they aren’t
C	nor are they
D	neither did they be

Question 49 Explanation:

To add another negative idea, we use nor/neither + auxiliary + subject (inverted order): and nor are they quiet. Not neither they aren't, because neither/nor already makes it negative and needs inversion.

Question 50

We had expected that they _____ fluent English, but in fact they didn’t.

A	were speaking
B	would speak
C	had spoken
D	spoke

Question 50 Explanation:

Would + verb is the future in the past: it shows what we expected at an earlier time. We had expected that they would speak fluent English. Not spoke, which only reports a past fact and doesn't show expectation.

Question 51

I’d rather I _____ next weekend, but I do!

A	don’t have to work
B	didn’t have to work
C	wouldn’t work
D	wasn’t working

Question 51 Explanation:

I'd rather + subject + past simple talks about a present or future situation we would prefer to be different: I'd rather I didn't have to work. The clue but I do matches have to. Not don't have to work, because a past form is needed after I'd rather I.

Question 52

Harriet is so knowledgeable. She can talk about _____ subject that comes up.

A	whatever
B	whenever
C	wherever
D	whoever

Question 52 Explanation:

Whatever + noun means any … at all: whatever subject that comes up = any subject. Whenever is for time, wherever for place and whoever for people.

Question 53

Section 6

Choose the best word or phrase to fill each blank.

I always _____ milk in my coffee.

A	have
B	drink
C	mix
D	make

Question 53 Explanation:

We say have milk in coffee or take milk in coffee: I always have milk in my coffee. Not drink, because you drink the coffee, not the milk in it.

Question 54

I _____ TV every evening.

A	watch
B	look at
C	see
D	hear

Question 54 Explanation:

We watch TV. Watch means to look at something that moves or changes for some time.

Question 55

Can you give me a _____ with my bag?

A	leg
B	back
C	hand
D	head

Question 55 Explanation:

Give someone a hand means to help them: Can you give me a hand with my bag? = Can you help me carry it?

Question 56

Before you enter the triathlon, please bear in _____ that you’re not as young as you used to be!

A	thought
B	question
C	mind
D	opinion

Question 56 Explanation:

Bear in mind is a fixed phrase meaning remember or consider: Bear in mind that the shop closes at six.

Question 57

The breath test showed he had consumed more than three times the legal limit of alcohol, so the police arrested him for _____.

A	trespassing
B	mugging
C	speeding
D	drunk driving

Question 57 Explanation:

Drunk driving (British English also drink-driving) means driving after drinking too much alcohol. The clue is breath test and legal limit of alcohol. Speeding is driving too fast, trespassing is entering private land and mugging is robbing someone in the street.

Question 58

The meeting was _____ and not very interesting.

A	time-spending
B	time-consuming
C	time-using
D	out of time

Question 58 Explanation:

Time-consuming means taking a lot of time: Writing reports is very time-consuming. The meeting was long and boring. Time-spending and time-using are not English words.

Question 59

After the movie was released, the main _____ point was its excessive use of violence.

A	chatting
B	speaking
C	conversation
D	talking

Question 59 Explanation:

A talking point is a subject that many people discuss, often in the media: The ending of the film became a major talking point. The other words do not form this fixed compound with point.

Question 60

There have been several big _____ against the use of GM foods recently.

A	campaigns
B	issues
C	boycotts
D	strikes

Question 60 Explanation:

A campaign against something is an organised effort to stop it: a campaign against smoking. Not boycotts, which are refusals to buy something and usually go with of (a boycott of GM foods), not against the use of.

Once you are finished, click the button below. Any items you have not completed will be marked incorrect. Get Results

There are 60 questions to complete.

⇦

List

⇨

Return

Shaded items are complete.