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English Placement Test (EPT): free practice test

Start with 10 free questions to see what needs more practice. Finish to see your score, weakest units and every option explained.

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Practice test questions with answers and explanations

Try the questions in the test above first, then open each one here to see the correct answer and why every other option is wrong.

01What will the man most likely do next?

Practice question Unit: Listening Comprehension

  1. APay online from his phone

    The woman says the website is down today, so he cannot pay online.

  2. BPay at the cashier's desk ✓ Correct answer

    He says he will do it now, and she told him to pay at the cashier's desk by the entrance and bring back the receipt.

  3. CGo to Building C to start the class

    The class is on Tuesday, so he will not go to Building C now.

  4. DWait until the website works again

    He plans to come back before lunch, so he is not going to wait for the website.

Transcript

Woman: Good morning, Registration Office. How can I help you?

Man: Hi. I'm a first-year student, and I'd like to change my Chemistry class. It starts at eight on Sunday, and I can't get there on time because the bus is so slow.

Woman: I see. There is another section on Tuesday at ten thirty. It's in Building C, room 204.

Man: Tuesday works for me. Is there still space?

Woman: Let me check. Yes, two seats are left. But you have to pay a change fee of fifty riyals.

Man: Fifty? I thought it was free.

Woman: It was free, but only during the first week. Today is the second week.

Man: Oh, I see. That's fine. Can I pay online?

Woman: Yes, but the website is down today. You'll need to pay at the cashier's desk next to the main entrance, then bring the receipt back here.

Man: Okay. I'll do that now and come back before lunch.

Reference: EPT Listening Comprehension (25% of the test, ETEC) – skill: inference and what happens next

02What does the woman mean by "come straight to the emergency room"?

Practice question Unit: Listening Comprehension

  1. AWalk in a straight line to the building

    The phrase is about speed, not about the direction of walking.

  2. BVisit it after the appointment

    She says not to wait for the appointment, so it is not after it.

  3. CGo there directly without waiting ✓ Correct answer

    «Straight» here means directly and at once, with no delay, which matches "don't wait."

  4. DPhone the emergency room first

    She says to come, not to phone.

Transcript

Woman: Campus Clinic. Can I help you?

Man: Yes, I woke up with a terrible sore throat and a fever. I'd like to see a doctor today, if possible.

Woman: Let me check the schedule. Doctor Hassan is free at two o'clock, and Doctor Nasser is free at four.

Man: I have a lab class until three, so four would be better.

Woman: Okay, four o'clock with Doctor Nasser. Please arrive ten minutes early to fill in a form, and don't forget your student card.

Man: I left it in my dorm room, but I can get it before the appointment. Is the visit free for students?

Woman: Yes, it's free with your student card, but medicine from the pharmacy costs extra. Oh, and one more thing. If your fever gets higher, don't wait. Come straight to the emergency room.

Man: Understood. Thank you very much. I'll see you at four.

Reference: EPT Listening Comprehension (25% of the test, ETEC) – skill: everyday expressions in context

03How much more must the woman deposit to start using the account?

Practice question Unit: Listening Comprehension

  1. A100 riyals

    She is 200 short, not 100.

  2. B300 riyals

    300 is the amount she brought with her.

  3. C500 riyals

    500 is the full minimum deposit, not the amount still missing.

  4. D200 riyals ✓ Correct answer

    The minimum is 500 and she has 300, so she needs 200 more.

Transcript

Man: Good morning. How can I help you today?

Woman: Hi, I'm starting university next month, and I'd like to open a student account.

Man: Of course. Do you have your national ID with you?

Woman: Yes, and a letter from the university.

Man: Perfect. A student account has no monthly fee, and you'll get your debit card within five working days. The minimum opening deposit is five hundred riyals.

Woman: Five hundred? I only brought three hundred with me.

Man: That's all right. You can deposit the rest later this week, but the account will stay inactive until you do.

Woman: I see. Can I use the mobile app straight away?

Man: Yes. Once I've set it up, you'll receive a text message with a code. Please don't share it with anyone.

Woman: Great. Let's do it now. I'll deposit the rest tomorrow.

Reference: EPT Listening Comprehension (25% of the test, ETEC) – skill: details and numbers

04In paragraph (3), "they" in "they may survive climate change" refers to ____.

Practice question Unit: Reading Comprehension

(1) The Red Sea, which lies between Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, is home to some of the most beautiful coral reefs in the world. These reefs stretch for long distances along its coasts.

(2) Corals look like plants or rocks, but they are actually tiny animals called polyps. Each polyp builds a hard skeleton around its soft body, and over many years these skeletons form a reef. Even smaller algae live inside the polyps. The algae use sunlight to make food, which they share with the coral, and they also give the coral its bright colours.

(3) Red Sea corals are unusual because they can survive in very warm water. Many reefs in other oceans are damaged when the water becomes only slightly hotter than normal. Scientists have found that corals in the northern Red Sea resist heat better than most, which gives hope that they may survive climate change.

(4) Reefs are also important to people. They protect coastlines from strong waves, provide a home for many kinds of fish, and attract tourists who come to dive and snorkel. For these reasons, Saudi Arabia has started projects to protect its reefs and to limit building near the sea.

(5) Visitors can help too. Divers should never touch corals or stand on them, because even a gentle touch can harm these delicate animals.

  1. Ascientists who study the sea

    Scientists are the ones who found this; the hope is about the corals' survival.

  2. Breefs in other oceans

    Reefs in other oceans are described as being damaged by heat, so they are the contrast.

  3. Cthe warm waters of the Red Sea

    The water is the thing that may change, not the thing that survives.

  4. Dcorals in the northern Red Sea ✓ Correct answer

    Those corals resist heat better than most, which gives hope that they will survive climate change.

Reference: EPT Reading Comprehension (25% of the test, ETEC) – skill: Pronoun reference

05Which of the following is NOT advice given in the passage?

Practice question Unit: Reading Comprehension

(1) The first year at university is exciting, but it can also be overwhelming. Unlike school, university does not give students a full timetable of classes, and no one tells them when to study. Many new students find that their free time disappears quickly and that assignments are handed in late.

(2) Learning to manage time is therefore one of the most valuable skills a new student can develop. A good first step is to write every deadline for the semester in one calendar, so that nothing comes as a surprise. Students can then divide a large task, such as a research paper, into smaller steps with their own dates.

(3) It also helps to be realistic. Some students plan to study for six hours without stopping, but most people cannot concentrate well for hours without a rest. Short breaks make the next study period more productive. Students should also leave a few free hours each week, because unexpected events always happen.

(4) Finally, students should learn to say no. Joining clubs and meeting new friends are important parts of university life, but too many activities leave little time for sleep and study. Sara, a first-year engineering student in Riyadh, now chooses two activities each semester and gives them her full attention. "I used to say yes to everything," she says. "Now my weeks feel calmer."

  1. AStudy for six hours without any rest. ✓ Correct answer

    The passage says most people cannot concentrate well for hours without a rest, so it warns against this plan.

  2. BTake short breaks during each study period.

    Paragraph (3) says short breaks make the next study period more productive.

  3. CLeave a few free hours each week.

    Paragraph (3) advises leaving a few free hours each week.

  4. DBreak big tasks into smaller steps.

    Paragraph (2) advises dividing a large task into smaller steps.

Reference: EPT Reading Comprehension (25% of the test, ETEC) – skill: Stated details

06By the time Lina graduates next summer, she ____ four years at university.

Practice question Unit: Structure

  1. Awill study

    The simple future does not show that the four years will be complete before graduation.

  2. Bhas studied

    The present perfect cannot be used with a future time reference such as «next summer».

  3. Cwill have studied ✓ Correct answer

    «By the time» plus a future point calls for the future perfect, which shows an action completed before that point.

  4. Dis studying

    The present continuous describes an action in progress now, not one completed by a future point.

Reference: EPT Structure (50% of the test, ETEC) – grammar point: future perfect with by the time

07If Noura ____ the road was closed, she would have taken another route.

Practice question Unit: Structure

  1. Ahad known ✓ Correct answer

    The third conditional is «if» plus the past perfect, with «would have» plus a past participle in the main clause.

  2. Bknew

    The past simple would form a second conditional, but «would have taken» shows an unreal past.

  3. Chas known

    The present perfect does not fit the third conditional.

  4. Dwould know

    «Would» is not used in the «if» clause.

Reference: EPT Structure (50% of the test, ETEC) – grammar point: third conditional (if + past perfect, would have + past participle)

08When we arrived at the mall, the main entrance ____, so we used the side door.

Practice question Unit: Structure

  1. Arepaired

    The simple past active says the entrance repaired something, which is wrong, and it does not show an action in progress.

  2. Bwas repairing

    This is active: an entrance cannot repair anything.

  3. Chas been repaired

    The present perfect does not fit a story told about the past moment of arriving.

  4. Dwas being repaired ✓ Correct answer

    The repair was in progress when we arrived, and the entrance receives the action: past continuous passive «was being repaired».

Reference: EPT Structure (50% of the test, ETEC) – grammar point: passive voice (past continuous)

09Neither Sara nor her sisters ____ coming to the party tonight.

Practice question Unit: Structure

  1. Ais

    «Is» is singular, but the nearer subject «sisters» is plural.

  2. Bwas

    «Was» is past and singular, and «tonight» points to the future.

  3. Care ✓ Correct answer

    With «neither … nor» the verb agrees with the nearer subject, «her sisters», which is plural: «are».

  4. Dhas been

    «Has been» is singular and does not match «coming».

Reference: EPT Structure (50% of the test, ETEC) – grammar point: subject-verb agreement with neither … nor

10Sara is not as old as Lina. This means that ____.

Practice question Unit: Structure

  1. ALina is younger than Sara

    Incorrect: if Sara is not as old as Lina, then Lina is the older one.

  2. BSara is older than Lina

    Incorrect: it says the opposite of the original sentence.

  3. CSara is younger than Lina ✓ Correct answer

    Correct: «not as old as» means Sara is younger than Lina.

  4. DSara and Lina are the same age

    Incorrect: «not as old as» says the two ages are different.

Reference: EPT Structure (50% of the test, ETEC) – grammar point: not as ... as equals a comparative

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