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B2 Upper-intermediate Pronunciation Work 18 minutes 8 questions

Weak Forms in Everyday Speech — B2 English Pronunciation Practice Test

About this practice test

Practise B2 English pronunciation by identifying weak forms in everyday speech in recordings, with sound choices and playable examples.

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: 8 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
B2. 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

I can send it tomorrow.

Recording 2

Read the transcript

We need to review the figures.

Recording 3

Read the transcript

This is for the new manager.

Recording 4

Read the transcript

Tea and coffee are available.

Recording 5

Read the transcript

Yes, I can.

Recording 6

Read the transcript

Who should I send it to?

Recording 7

Read the transcript

I know we can.

Recording 8

Read the transcript

They found a piece of paper.

  1. Question 1 · Single choice

    Choose one answer.

    Focus on the vowel in the second word. Which sound do you hear?

    Return to the passage, recording or visual
    1. /uː/ — as in food
    2. /ɛ/ — as in bed
    3. /ə/ — as in about
    4. /æ/ — as in cat
    Check answers and explanations
    Answer
    /ə/ — as in about

    The target word or phrase is “can”. Listen for /ə/ in the vowel in the second word.

    /uː/ — as in food: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

    /ɛ/ — as in bed: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

    /ə/ — as in about: The target word or phrase is “can”. Listen for /ə/ in the vowel in the second word.

    /æ/ — as in cat: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

  2. Question 2 · Single choice

    Choose one answer.

    Focus on the vowel in the third word. Which sound do you hear?

    Return to the passage, recording or visual
    1. /oʊ/ — as in go
    2. /ə/ — as in about
    3. /uː/ — as in food
    4. /ʊ/ — as in good
    Check answers and explanations
    Answer
    /ə/ — as in about

    The target word or phrase is “to”. Listen for /ə/ in the vowel in the third word.

    /oʊ/ — as in go: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

    /ə/ — as in about: The target word or phrase is “to”. Listen for /ə/ in the vowel in the third word.

    /uː/ — as in food: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

    /ʊ/ — as in good: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

  3. Question 3 · Single choice

    Choose one answer.

    Focus on the vowel in the third word. Which sound do you hear?

    Return to the passage, recording or visual
    1. /ə/ — as in about
    2. /ɑ/ — as in car
    3. /uː/ — as in food
    4. /ɔɪ/ — as in boy
    Check answers and explanations
    Answer
    /ə/ — as in about

    The target word or phrase is “for”. Listen for /ə/ in the vowel in the third word.

    /ə/ — as in about: The target word or phrase is “for”. Listen for /ə/ in the vowel in the third word.

    /ɑ/ — as in car: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

    /uː/ — as in food: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

    /ɔɪ/ — as in boy: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

  4. Question 4 · Single choice

    Choose one answer.

    Focus on the vowel in the second word. Which sound do you hear?

    Return to the passage, recording or visual
    1. /æ/ — as in cat
    2. /ɛ/ — as in bed
    3. /uː/ — as in food
    4. /ə/ — as in about
    Check answers and explanations
    Answer
    /ə/ — as in about

    The target word or phrase is “and”. Listen for /ə/ in the vowel in the second word.

    /æ/ — as in cat: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

    /ɛ/ — as in bed: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

    /uː/ — as in food: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

    /ə/ — as in about: The target word or phrase is “and”. Listen for /ə/ in the vowel in the second word.

  5. Question 5 · Single choice

    Choose one answer.

    Focus on the vowel in the last word. Which sound do you hear?

    Return to the passage, recording or visual
    1. /ʌ/ — as in cup
    2. /ɛ/ — as in bed
    3. /æ/ — as in cat
    4. /ə/ — as in about
    Check answers and explanations
    Answer
    /æ/ — as in cat

    The target word or phrase is “can”. Listen for /æ/ in the vowel in the last word.

    /ʌ/ — as in cup: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

    /ɛ/ — as in bed: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

    /æ/ — as in cat: The target word or phrase is “can”. Listen for /æ/ in the vowel in the last word.

    /ə/ — as in about: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

  6. Question 6 · Single choice

    Choose one answer.

    Focus on the vowel in the last word. Which sound do you hear?

    Return to the passage, recording or visual
    1. /oʊ/ — as in go
    2. /uː/ — as in food
    3. /ə/ — as in about
    4. /ʊ/ — as in good
    Check answers and explanations
    Answer
    /uː/ — as in food

    The target word or phrase is “to”. Listen for /uː/ in the vowel in the last word.

    /oʊ/ — as in go: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

    /uː/ — as in food: The target word or phrase is “to”. Listen for /uː/ in the vowel in the last word.

    /ə/ — as in about: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

    /ʊ/ — as in good: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

  7. Question 7 · Single choice

    Choose one answer.

    Focus on the vowel in the last word. Which sound do you hear?

    Return to the passage, recording or visual
    1. /æ/ — as in cat
    2. /ə/ — as in about
    3. /ɛ/ — as in bed
    4. /ʌ/ — as in cup
    Check answers and explanations
    Answer
    /æ/ — as in cat

    The target word or phrase is “can”. Listen for /æ/ in the vowel in the last word.

    /æ/ — as in cat: The target word or phrase is “can”. Listen for /æ/ in the vowel in the last word.

    /ə/ — as in about: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

    /ɛ/ — as in bed: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

    /ʌ/ — as in cup: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

  8. Question 8 · Single choice

    Choose one answer.

    Focus on the vowel in the fifth word. Which sound do you hear?

    Return to the passage, recording or visual
    1. /ɑ/ — as in car
    2. /uː/ — as in food
    3. /oʊ/ — as in go
    4. /ə/ — as in about
    Check answers and explanations
    Answer
    /ə/ — as in about

    The target word or phrase is “of”. Listen for /ə/ in the vowel in the fifth word.

    /ɑ/ — as in car: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

    /uː/ — as in food: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

    /oʊ/ — as in go: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

    /ə/ — as in about: The target word or phrase is “of”. Listen for /ə/ in the vowel in the fifth word.

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.

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