Everyday Collocations at Work
About this practice test
Practise A2 Use of English through phrase and meaning matching. Build accuracy with workplace collocations and dependent prepositions.
What you’ll practice
Grammar and vocabulary
Choose forms and words that work together.
Meaning in context
Follow meaning across sentences and texts.
Accurate expression
Use natural phrases and sentence patterns.
What to expect:
7 tasks worth 21 marks. Each cloze gap and matching pair earns one mark. Correct parts still earn marks when another part is wrong. Review your answers and explanations 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
- Matching
How to approach this practice
Read the complete context. Check both the meaning and the grammar, including word forms, collocations and links between sentences.
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Question 1 · Matching
Match each item to the correct choice.
Match each beginning to its only suitable ending. Getting ready for the office.
Answer choices
- an email to the whole team
- an appointment with a client
- the telephone when it rings
Items
- make
- answer
- send
Check answers and explanations
- 1. make
- an appointment with a client
- 2. answer
- the telephone when it rings
- 3. send
- an email to the whole team
Make an appointment, answer the telephone and send an email are standard phrases.
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Question 2 · Matching
Match each item to the correct choice.
Match each beginning to its only suitable ending. A meeting checklist.
Answer choices
- attention to the speaker
- notes during the discussion
- a question about the deadline
Items
- take
- pay
- ask
Check answers and explanations
- 1. take
- notes during the discussion
- 2. pay
- attention to the speaker
- 3. ask
- a question about the deadline
Take notes, pay attention and ask a question are distinct collocations.
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Question 3 · Matching
Match each item to the correct choice.
Match each beginning to its only suitable ending. A busy morning.
Answer choices
- with a customer complaint
- for a missing folder
- to the manager's email
Items
- deal
- reply
- look
Check answers and explanations
- 1. deal
- with a customer complaint
- 2. reply
- to the manager's email
- 3. look
- for a missing folder
The verbs require with, to and for respectively.
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Question 4 · Matching
Match each item to the correct choice.
Match each beginning to its only suitable ending. Talking about colleagues.
Answer choices
- for the shop's keys
- at explaining difficult ideas
- in learning new skills
Items
- be responsible
- be interested
- be good
Check answers and explanations
- 1. be responsible
- for the shop's keys
- 2. be interested
- in learning new skills
- 3. be good
- at explaining difficult ideas
Responsible for, interested in and good at are the required patterns.
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Question 5 · Matching
Match each item to the correct choice.
Match each beginning to its only suitable ending. Leaving clear instructions.
Answer choices
- in your completed timesheet
- in the form with your details
- off the lights before leaving
Items
- switch
- fill
- hand
Check answers and explanations
- 1. switch
- off the lights before leaving
- 2. fill
- in the form with your details
- 3. hand
- in your completed timesheet
Switch off, fill in and hand in have different workplace functions.
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Question 6 · Matching
Match each item to the correct choice.
Match each beginning to its only suitable ending. A short business trip.
Answer choices
- a suitcase the night before
- into the hotel after arrival
- a train to the meeting
Items
- catch
- check
- pack
Check answers and explanations
- 1. catch
- a train to the meeting
- 2. check
- into the hotel after arrival
- 3. pack
- a suitcase the night before
Catch a train, check into a hotel and pack a suitcase are natural combinations.
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Question 7 · Matching
Match each item to the correct choice.
Match each beginning to its only suitable ending. Managing the day's tasks.
Answer choices
- a problem with the printer
- a deadline set for Friday
- money by working weekends
Items
- meet
- solve
- earn
Check answers and explanations
- 1. meet
- a deadline set for Friday
- 2. solve
- a problem with the printer
- 3. earn
- money by working weekends
Meet a deadline, solve a problem and earn money combine naturally.
What to review next
Explain why each answer fits the meaning and structure. Record useful phrases and write a new example using each pattern you found difficult.
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.