Compare the Vowel Sounds — A2 English Pronunciation Practice Test
About this practice test
Practise A2 English pronunciation by comparing vowel sounds in word pairs, including short vowels, longer vowels and moving vowel sounds.
What you’ll practice
Hear the difference
Recognise vowel and consonant contrasts in clear recordings.
Stress and rhythm
Identify strong syllables and emphasized words.
Listen and review
Replay each recording and learn from answer explanations.
What to expect:
10 questions with explanations to review after submission.
Study the questions and tasks
Work through the material below, or start the interactive practice above to complete an attempt. Try the exercises before opening any answer or transcript sections, then use them to review your work.
- Practice level
- A2. Try this level if you can follow the instructions and understand most of the language; choose an earlier level if you need more support.
- Question formats
- Single choice
How to approach this practice
Read the instructions and work through the questions before opening the answers.
Recording 1
Read the transcript
First word: beat. Second word: seat.
Recording 2
Read the transcript
First word: ship. Second word: sheep.
Recording 3
Read the transcript
First word: cat. Second word: hat.
Recording 4
Read the transcript
First word: cup. Second word: cap.
Recording 5
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First word: bed. Second word: pen.
Recording 6
Read the transcript
First word: full. Second word: food.
Recording 7
Read the transcript
First word: coat. Second word: boat.
Recording 8
Read the transcript
First word: late. Second word: light.
Recording 9
Read the transcript
First word: boat. Second word: boot.
Recording 10
Read the transcript
First word: book. Second word: good.
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Question 1 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Listen to the two words. Do their vowel sounds match?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Same vowel sound
- Different vowel sounds
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Same vowel sound
The words are beat and seat. Both words have the vowel /iː/.
Same vowel sound: Correct. The words are beat and seat. Both words have the vowel /iː/.
Different vowel sounds: Listen again, then review the sound or pitch pattern described in the explanation.
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Question 2 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Listen to the two words. Do their vowel sounds match?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Same vowel sound
- Different vowel sounds
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Different vowel sounds
The words are ship and sheep. Ship has /ɪ/; sheep has /iː/.
Same vowel sound: Listen again, then review the sound or pitch pattern described in the explanation.
Different vowel sounds: Correct. The words are ship and sheep. Ship has /ɪ/; sheep has /iː/.
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Question 3 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Listen to the two words. Do their vowel sounds match?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Same vowel sound
- Different vowel sounds
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Same vowel sound
The words are cat and hat. Both words have /æ/.
Same vowel sound: Correct. The words are cat and hat. Both words have /æ/.
Different vowel sounds: Listen again, then review the sound or pitch pattern described in the explanation.
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Question 4 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Listen to the two words. Do their vowel sounds match?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Same vowel sound
- Different vowel sounds
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Different vowel sounds
The words are cup and cap. Cup has /ʌ/; cap has /æ/.
Same vowel sound: Listen again, then review the sound or pitch pattern described in the explanation.
Different vowel sounds: Correct. The words are cup and cap. Cup has /ʌ/; cap has /æ/.
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Question 5 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Listen to the two words. Do their vowel sounds match?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Same vowel sound
- Different vowel sounds
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Same vowel sound
The words are bed and pen. Both words have /e/ or /ɛ/.
Same vowel sound: Correct. The words are bed and pen. Both words have /e/ or /ɛ/.
Different vowel sounds: Listen again, then review the sound or pitch pattern described in the explanation.
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Question 6 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Listen to the two words. Do their vowel sounds match?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Same vowel sound
- Different vowel sounds
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Different vowel sounds
The words are full and food. Full has /ʊ/; food has /uː/.
Same vowel sound: Listen again, then review the sound or pitch pattern described in the explanation.
Different vowel sounds: Correct. The words are full and food. Full has /ʊ/; food has /uː/.
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Question 7 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Listen to the two words. Do their vowel sounds match?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Same vowel sound
- Different vowel sounds
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Same vowel sound
The words are coat and boat. Both words have /oʊ/ in this American English recording.
Same vowel sound: Correct. The words are coat and boat. Both words have /oʊ/ in this American English recording.
Different vowel sounds: Listen again, then review the sound or pitch pattern described in the explanation.
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Question 8 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Listen to the two words. Do their vowel sounds match?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Same vowel sound
- Different vowel sounds
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Different vowel sounds
The words are late and light. Late has /eɪ/; light has /aɪ/.
Same vowel sound: Listen again, then review the sound or pitch pattern described in the explanation.
Different vowel sounds: Correct. The words are late and light. Late has /eɪ/; light has /aɪ/.
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Question 9 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Listen to the two words. Do their vowel sounds match?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Same vowel sound
- Different vowel sounds
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Different vowel sounds
The words are boat and boot. Boat has /oʊ/; boot has /uː/.
Same vowel sound: Listen again, then review the sound or pitch pattern described in the explanation.
Different vowel sounds: Correct. The words are boat and boot. Boat has /oʊ/; boot has /uː/.
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Question 10 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Listen to the two words. Do their vowel sounds match?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Same vowel sound
- Different vowel sounds
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Same vowel sound
The words are book and good. Both words have /ʊ/.
Same vowel sound: Correct. The words are book and good. Both words have /ʊ/.
Different vowel sounds: Listen again, then review the sound or pitch pattern described in the explanation.
What to review next
Review the feedback and revisit the topics you found difficult before trying again.
A focused practice result shows how you did on these tasks. Use several activities across skills to decide what to study next; one practice score does not certify an overall CEFR level.