English Comprehension Test

The English Comprehension test evaluates a candidate’s ability to comprehend business-level English, understand textual information, deduce information from presented facts and express ideas clearly in English. This test is used by recruiters for pre-employment screening of candidates for roles that require a good command over the English language.

Covered skills:

Drawing conclusions
Inferencing
Attention To Detail
Grammar
Vocabulary
Reading comprehension
Vocabulary
Sentence structure
Writing skills

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About the English Comprehension Assessment Test

The English Comprehension Test helps recruiters and hiring managers identify qualified candidates from a pool of resumes, and helps in taking objective hiring decisions. It reduces the administrative overhead of interviewing too many candidates and saves time by filtering out unqualified candidates at the first step of the hiring process.

The test screens for the following skills that hiring managers look for in candidates:

Drawing conclusions from given information
Inferencing skills to derive meaning from context
Attention to detail for identifying subtle nuances
Grammar proficiency for accurate language usage
Vocabulary comprehension for understanding word meanings
Reading comprehension to grasp passage content
Sentence structure understanding
Writing skills for effective communication

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Non-googleable questions

We have a very high focus on the quality of questions that test for on-the-job skills. Every question is non-googleable and we have a very high bar for the level of subject matter experts we onboard to create these questions. We have crawlers to check if any of the questions are leaked online. If/ when a question gets leaked, we get an alert. We change the question for you & let you know.

How we design questions

These are just a small sample from our library of 15,000+ questions. The actual questions on this English Reading Comprehension Test will be non-googleable.

🧐 Question
Medium French Test Question and Response	Solve
Listen to the following audio: You will hear a question or a statement. After you hear a question or a statement, choose the best response:
Medium Tokyo flight Short Talk	Solve
Listen to the following audio: You will hear a short talk. After the talk, you will hear a question about the talk. Read the choices and choose the best answer to the question you have heard.
Medium Binary Logic Binary Logic Logical Reasoning Pattern Recognition Critical Thinking	Solve
At DreamTeam conference, all participants answer any questions with two sentences, one of which is always true and the other is a lie. I asked Andrew, Sid and Drew, "What is your favourite startup?" and got the following replies: Andrew: Our favourite startup is SpeckX. We do not like playing baseball. Sid: Our favourite startup is Cuber. We love playing baseball. Drew: Our favourite startup is Drab. We love playing baseball. 1: The favourite startup of the participants of DreamTeam is SpeckX. 2: DreamTeam participants like playing baseball. 3: DreamTeam participants do not like playing baseball. 4: The favourite startup of the participants of DreamTeam is Cuber. 5: The favourite startup of the participants of DreamTeam is Drab. Which of the following options is/are correct?
Medium Homeopathy Critical Thinking Scientific Literacy	Solve
Two main axioms constitute the core principles of homeopathy. The "like cures like" principle holds that, if a substance causes a symptom (e.g. onion makes my nose run), then that substance can cure a disease that is characterised by a runny nose (e.g. hayfever or a common cold). The second principle assumes that the serial dilution process used for homeopathic remedies renders them not less but more potent (hence homeopaths call this process "potentiation"). Both of these axioms fly in the face of science. If they were true, much of what we learned in physics and chemistry would be wrong. If anyone shows the concepts of homeopathy to be correct, he or she becomes a serious contender for one or two Nobel prizes. Homeopaths often say that we simply have not yet discovered how homeopathy works. The truth is that we know there is no conceivable scientific explanation that could possibly explain it. Which of the following options is not a possible conclusion based on the above passage?
Easy Passage about Solar Energy Short Text Analysis Identifying Specific Information Extracting Details	Solve
Read the following passage and answer the question below: Solar energy is a promising renewable energy source that harnesses the power of the sun to generate electricity. Photovoltaic panels convert sunlight directly into electricity, while solar thermal systems use the sun's heat to warm water or air. As solar technology continues to improve and become more affordable, it is increasingly being adopted worldwide to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and combat climate change. However, the intermittent nature of solar energy remains a challenge, requiring effective storage solutions and grid integration strategies. According to the passage, what is one challenge associated with solar energy? A: High cost of solar technology B: Intermittent nature of solar energy C: Limited worldwide adoption D: Dependence on fossil fuels
Easy Overseas office Inferential Reasoning Reading Comprehension	Solve
Your company recently opened a second office overseas. Some of the people from the original office will be relocating. All the people hired in the last six months will continue working in the original location where they were hired. Which of the following statements can be true regarding employees relocating?
Medium China manufacturing Economic reasoning Cost analysis Inference Analysis	Solve
The cost of manufacturing phones in China is twenty percent lesser than the cost of manufacturing phones in Vietnam. Even after adding shipping fees and import taxes, it is cheaper to import phones from China to Vietnam than to manufacture phones in Vietnam. Which of the following statements is best supported by the given information. A: The shipping fee from China to Vietnam is more than 20% of the cost of manufacturing a phone in China. B: The import taxes on a phone imported from China to Vietnam is less than 20% of the cost of manufacturing the phone in China. C: Importing phones in Vietnam will cut 20% of the manufacturing jobs in Vietnam. D: It takes 20% more time to manufacture a phone in Vietnam than it does in China. E: Labour costs in Vietnam are 20% higher than in China.
Medium Commerical Premises Reading comprehension Reading Comprehension Pattern Recognition Inference	Solve
A large real estate company conducted a recent study of their customers. The study was designed to uncover insights regarding the main criteria for choosing to invest in a residential property. A majority of the customers surveyed stated the 'returns profile' was their main priority, followed by 'development potential' and 'stability of income'. 'Portfolio legacy' ranked at the bottom in the list of factors. It was interesting to note that respondents were less likely to have residential holdings that formed part of mixed-use assets i.e. as an add on to commercial investment. One might assume that more investors are proactively investing in residential real estate rather than having incidental exposure via business investments. Based on the given passage, what can we say about the following statement? Business owners having commercial premises often have a residential property as part of their portfolio.

	🧐 Question	🔧 Skill
	Medium French Test Question and Response	2 mins Listening Comprehension	Solve
Listen to the following audio: You will hear a question or a statement. After you hear a question or a statement, choose the best response:
	Medium Tokyo flight Short Talk	2 mins Listening Comprehension	Solve
Listen to the following audio: You will hear a short talk. After the talk, you will hear a question about the talk. Read the choices and choose the best answer to the question you have heard.
	Medium Binary Logic Binary Logic Logical Reasoning Pattern Recognition Critical Thinking	2 mins Reading Comprehension	Solve
At DreamTeam conference, all participants answer any questions with two sentences, one of which is always true and the other is a lie. I asked Andrew, Sid and Drew, "What is your favourite startup?" and got the following replies: Andrew: Our favourite startup is SpeckX. We do not like playing baseball. Sid: Our favourite startup is Cuber. We love playing baseball. Drew: Our favourite startup is Drab. We love playing baseball. 1: The favourite startup of the participants of DreamTeam is SpeckX. 2: DreamTeam participants like playing baseball. 3: DreamTeam participants do not like playing baseball. 4: The favourite startup of the participants of DreamTeam is Cuber. 5: The favourite startup of the participants of DreamTeam is Drab. Which of the following options is/are correct?
	Medium Homeopathy Critical Thinking Scientific Literacy	2 mins Reading Comprehension	Solve
Two main axioms constitute the core principles of homeopathy. The "like cures like" principle holds that, if a substance causes a symptom (e.g. onion makes my nose run), then that substance can cure a disease that is characterised by a runny nose (e.g. hayfever or a common cold). The second principle assumes that the serial dilution process used for homeopathic remedies renders them not less but more potent (hence homeopaths call this process "potentiation"). Both of these axioms fly in the face of science. If they were true, much of what we learned in physics and chemistry would be wrong. If anyone shows the concepts of homeopathy to be correct, he or she becomes a serious contender for one or two Nobel prizes. Homeopaths often say that we simply have not yet discovered how homeopathy works. The truth is that we know there is no conceivable scientific explanation that could possibly explain it. Which of the following options is not a possible conclusion based on the above passage?
	Easy Passage about Solar Energy Short Text Analysis Identifying Specific Information Extracting Details	2 mins Reading Comprehension	Solve
Read the following passage and answer the question below: Solar energy is a promising renewable energy source that harnesses the power of the sun to generate electricity. Photovoltaic panels convert sunlight directly into electricity, while solar thermal systems use the sun's heat to warm water or air. As solar technology continues to improve and become more affordable, it is increasingly being adopted worldwide to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and combat climate change. However, the intermittent nature of solar energy remains a challenge, requiring effective storage solutions and grid integration strategies. According to the passage, what is one challenge associated with solar energy? A: High cost of solar technology B: Intermittent nature of solar energy C: Limited worldwide adoption D: Dependence on fossil fuels
	Easy Overseas office Inferential Reasoning Reading Comprehension	2 mins Verbal Reasoning	Solve
Your company recently opened a second office overseas. Some of the people from the original office will be relocating. All the people hired in the last six months will continue working in the original location where they were hired. Which of the following statements can be true regarding employees relocating?
	Medium China manufacturing Economic reasoning Cost analysis Inference Analysis	2 mins Verbal Reasoning	Solve
The cost of manufacturing phones in China is twenty percent lesser than the cost of manufacturing phones in Vietnam. Even after adding shipping fees and import taxes, it is cheaper to import phones from China to Vietnam than to manufacture phones in Vietnam. Which of the following statements is best supported by the given information. A: The shipping fee from China to Vietnam is more than 20% of the cost of manufacturing a phone in China. B: The import taxes on a phone imported from China to Vietnam is less than 20% of the cost of manufacturing the phone in China. C: Importing phones in Vietnam will cut 20% of the manufacturing jobs in Vietnam. D: It takes 20% more time to manufacture a phone in Vietnam than it does in China. E: Labour costs in Vietnam are 20% higher than in China.
	Medium Commerical Premises Reading comprehension Reading Comprehension Pattern Recognition Inference	2 mins Verbal Reasoning	Solve
A large real estate company conducted a recent study of their customers. The study was designed to uncover insights regarding the main criteria for choosing to invest in a residential property. A majority of the customers surveyed stated the 'returns profile' was their main priority, followed by 'development potential' and 'stability of income'. 'Portfolio legacy' ranked at the bottom in the list of factors. It was interesting to note that respondents were less likely to have residential holdings that formed part of mixed-use assets i.e. as an add on to commercial investment. One might assume that more investors are proactively investing in residential real estate rather than having incidental exposure via business investments. Based on the given passage, what can we say about the following statement? Business owners having commercial premises often have a residential property as part of their portfolio.

	🧐 Question	🔧 Skill	💪 Difficulty	⌛ Time
	French Test Question and Response	Listening Comprehension	Medium	2 mins	Solve
Listen to the following audio: You will hear a question or a statement. After you hear a question or a statement, choose the best response:
	Tokyo flight Short Talk	Listening Comprehension	Medium	2 mins	Solve
Listen to the following audio: You will hear a short talk. After the talk, you will hear a question about the talk. Read the choices and choose the best answer to the question you have heard.
	Binary Logic Binary Logic Logical Reasoning Pattern Recognition Critical Thinking	Reading Comprehension	Medium	2 mins	Solve
At DreamTeam conference, all participants answer any questions with two sentences, one of which is always true and the other is a lie. I asked Andrew, Sid and Drew, "What is your favourite startup?" and got the following replies: Andrew: Our favourite startup is SpeckX. We do not like playing baseball. Sid: Our favourite startup is Cuber. We love playing baseball. Drew: Our favourite startup is Drab. We love playing baseball. 1: The favourite startup of the participants of DreamTeam is SpeckX. 2: DreamTeam participants like playing baseball. 3: DreamTeam participants do not like playing baseball. 4: The favourite startup of the participants of DreamTeam is Cuber. 5: The favourite startup of the participants of DreamTeam is Drab. Which of the following options is/are correct?
	Homeopathy Critical Thinking Scientific Literacy	Reading Comprehension	Medium	2 mins	Solve
Two main axioms constitute the core principles of homeopathy. The "like cures like" principle holds that, if a substance causes a symptom (e.g. onion makes my nose run), then that substance can cure a disease that is characterised by a runny nose (e.g. hayfever or a common cold). The second principle assumes that the serial dilution process used for homeopathic remedies renders them not less but more potent (hence homeopaths call this process "potentiation"). Both of these axioms fly in the face of science. If they were true, much of what we learned in physics and chemistry would be wrong. If anyone shows the concepts of homeopathy to be correct, he or she becomes a serious contender for one or two Nobel prizes. Homeopaths often say that we simply have not yet discovered how homeopathy works. The truth is that we know there is no conceivable scientific explanation that could possibly explain it. Which of the following options is not a possible conclusion based on the above passage?
	Passage about Solar Energy Short Text Analysis Identifying Specific Information Extracting Details	Reading Comprehension	Easy	2 mins	Solve
Read the following passage and answer the question below: Solar energy is a promising renewable energy source that harnesses the power of the sun to generate electricity. Photovoltaic panels convert sunlight directly into electricity, while solar thermal systems use the sun's heat to warm water or air. As solar technology continues to improve and become more affordable, it is increasingly being adopted worldwide to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and combat climate change. However, the intermittent nature of solar energy remains a challenge, requiring effective storage solutions and grid integration strategies. According to the passage, what is one challenge associated with solar energy? A: High cost of solar technology B: Intermittent nature of solar energy C: Limited worldwide adoption D: Dependence on fossil fuels
	Overseas office Inferential Reasoning Reading Comprehension	Verbal Reasoning	Easy	2 mins	Solve
Your company recently opened a second office overseas. Some of the people from the original office will be relocating. All the people hired in the last six months will continue working in the original location where they were hired. Which of the following statements can be true regarding employees relocating?
	China manufacturing Economic reasoning Cost analysis Inference Analysis	Verbal Reasoning	Medium	2 mins	Solve
The cost of manufacturing phones in China is twenty percent lesser than the cost of manufacturing phones in Vietnam. Even after adding shipping fees and import taxes, it is cheaper to import phones from China to Vietnam than to manufacture phones in Vietnam. Which of the following statements is best supported by the given information. A: The shipping fee from China to Vietnam is more than 20% of the cost of manufacturing a phone in China. B: The import taxes on a phone imported from China to Vietnam is less than 20% of the cost of manufacturing the phone in China. C: Importing phones in Vietnam will cut 20% of the manufacturing jobs in Vietnam. D: It takes 20% more time to manufacture a phone in Vietnam than it does in China. E: Labour costs in Vietnam are 20% higher than in China.
	Commerical Premises Reading comprehension Reading Comprehension Pattern Recognition Inference	Verbal Reasoning	Medium	2 mins	Solve
A large real estate company conducted a recent study of their customers. The study was designed to uncover insights regarding the main criteria for choosing to invest in a residential property. A majority of the customers surveyed stated the 'returns profile' was their main priority, followed by 'development potential' and 'stability of income'. 'Portfolio legacy' ranked at the bottom in the list of factors. It was interesting to note that respondents were less likely to have residential holdings that formed part of mixed-use assets i.e. as an add on to commercial investment. One might assume that more investors are proactively investing in residential real estate rather than having incidental exposure via business investments. Based on the given passage, what can we say about the following statement? Business owners having commercial premises often have a residential property as part of their portfolio.

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Why you should use Pre-employment English Comprehension Test?

The English Reading Comprehension Test makes use of scenario-based questions to test for on-the-job skills as opposed to theoretical knowledge, ensuring that candidates who do well on this screening test have the relavant skills. The questions are designed to covered following on-the-job aspects:

Drawing conclusions from written passages
Inferencing from given information
Attention to detail in grammar and sentence structure
Vocabulary skills for effective communication
Reading comprehension to understand and analyze written content
Sentence structure for clarity and coherence
Writing skills for effective written communication
Identifying main ideas and supporting details
Understanding implicit and explicit information
Identifying the author's purpose and tone

Once the test is sent to a candidate, the candidate receives a link in email to take the test. For each candidate, you will receive a detailed report with skills breakdown and benchmarks to shortlist the top candidates from your pool.

What topics are covered in the English Comprehension Test?

Drawing Conclusions: Drawing conclusions refers to the ability to make logical inferences based on information provided. This skill is important to measure in this test as it assesses the candidate's ability to analyze and synthesize information and make reasoned judgments.

Inferencing: Inferencing involves using evidence and reasoning to make educated guesses and predictions. Assessing this skill helps recruiters evaluate the candidate's ability to think critically and draw logical conclusions from given information.

Attention To Detail: Attention to detail measures the candidate's ability to spot and accurately identify small but significant details in written text. This skill is important in the test as it reflects the candidate's aptitude for accuracy and thoroughness in processing information.

Grammar: The grammar skill evaluates the candidate's understanding and application of correct sentence structure, verb tenses, pronouns, and other grammatical rules. Assessing this skill is important as it reflects the candidate's competence in written communication and language proficiency.

Vocabulary: Vocabulary assessment measures the candidate's knowledge and understanding of word meanings, synonyms, antonyms, and context usage. This skill is crucial as it indicates the candidate's language proficiency, as well as their ability to comprehend and express ideas precisely.

Reading Comprehension: Reading comprehension assesses the candidate's ability to understand and interpret written content. It helps recruiters evaluate the candidate's reading comprehension skills, information retention, and their capacity to understand and analyze complex texts.

Sentence Structure: Assessing sentence structure evaluates the candidate's ability to construct grammatically correct and coherent sentences. This skill is important as it demonstrates the candidate's command over language and their proficiency in conveying ideas effectively.

Writing Skills: Writing skills measure the candidate's aptitude to communicate in written form, including organizing ideas, presenting arguments, using appropriate language, and addressing the audience effectively. Evaluating this skill helps recruiters assess the candidate's written communication abilities and their potential for clear and concise expression.

Full list of covered topics

The actual topics of the questions in the final test will depend on your job description and requirements. However, here's a list of topics you can expect the questions for English Reading Comprehension Test to be based on.

Context clues

Author's tone

Character traits

Cause and effect

Making inferences

Identifying supporting details

Drawing conclusions

Point of view

Figurative language

Comparing and contrasting

Sequencing events

Summarizing information

Understanding vocabulary in context

Sentence types

Subject-verb agreement

Punctuation rules

Capitalization rules

Parts of speech

Commonly misspelled words

Antonyms

Synonyms

Denotation vs connotation

Word families

Prefixes and suffixes

Fiction vs non-fiction

Literal vs figurative language

Active and passive voice

Parallel structure

Transitions and connectors

Writing an effective thesis statement

Developing strong topic sentences

Creating logical paragraph structure

Using appropriate verb tense

Avoiding common grammar mistakes

Proofreading and editing skills

Improving sentence clarity

Organizing ideas in an essay

Evaluating the credibility of sources

Understanding the writing process

Taking notes effectively

Identifying bias in writing

Understanding rhetorical devices

Analyzing persuasive techniques

Identifying logical fallacies

Understanding literary devices

Interpreting graphs and charts

Analyzing data from tables

Drawing conclusions from statistical information

Understanding cause and effect relationships in graphs

Identifying trends in data

Inferencing from visual cues

Determining author's purpose

Identifying tone and mood in writing

Analyzing figurative language in poetry

Identifying elements of fiction

Understanding different text structures

Recognizing bias in media

Identifying logical inconsistencies

What roles can I use the English Comprehension Test for?

Entry Level Graduate
Fresh Graduates
Content writer
Editor
Proofreader
Journalist
Teacher
Translator
Copywriter
Communications specialist
Technical writer
Editorial assistant

How is the English Comprehension Test customized for senior candidates?

For intermediate/ experienced candidates, we customize the assessment questions to include advanced topics and increase the difficulty level of the questions. This might include adding questions on topics like

Making logical inferences and predictions
Analyzing and evaluating arguments
Recognizing figurative language and literary devices
Applying context clues to determine word meaning
Identifying grammatical errors and correcting them
Understanding word forms and usage
Recognizing and using appropriate punctuation
Understanding sentence types and structures
Editing sentences for clarity and conciseness
Applying proofreading techniques for error detection

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Have questions about the English Comprehension Hiring Test?

What is the English Reading Comprehension Test?

The English Reading Comprehension Test evaluates candidates on their understanding and interpretation of written English. It is used by recruiters to assess grammar, vocabulary, and reading comprehension skills.

Can I combine the English Reading Comprehension Test with Listening Comprehension questions?

Yes, you can request a custom test combining multiple skills. We have a Listening Comprehension Test to assess listening skills.

What types of questions are used to evaluate senior candidates in the English Reading Comprehension Test?

Senior roles are assessed on making logical inferences, evaluating arguments, recognizing figurative language, determining word meaning using context clues, and editing sentences for clarity.

How to use the English Reading Comprehension Test in my hiring process?

Use this test as a pre-screening tool. Add a link in your job post or invite candidates by email to streamline the recruitment process and identify the most skilled candidates early.

Can I test Reading Comprehension and Writing Skills together?

Yes, you can. We offer a Pre-employment English Test that combines various English language skills, including comprehension and writing.

What are the main English tests available?

We offer several English tests:

Can I combine multiple skills into one custom assessment?

Yes, absolutely. Custom assessments are set up based on your job description, and will include questions on all must-have skills you specify. Here's a quick guide on how you can request a custom test.

Do you have any anti-cheating or proctoring features in place?

We have the following anti-cheating features in place:

Hidden AI Tools Detection with Honestly
Non-googleable questions
IP proctoring
Screen proctoring
Web proctoring
Webcam proctoring
Plagiarism detection
Secure browser
Copy paste protection

Read more about the proctoring features.

How do I interpret test scores?

The primary thing to keep in mind is that an assessment is an elimination tool, not a selection tool. A skills assessment is optimized to help you eliminate candidates who are not technically qualified for the role, it is not optimized to help you find the best candidate for the role. So the ideal way to use an assessment is to decide a threshold score (typically 55%, we help you benchmark) and invite all candidates who score above the threshold for the next rounds of interview.

What experience level can I use this test for?

Each Adaface assessment is customized to your job description/ ideal candidate persona (our subject matter experts will pick the right questions for your assessment from our library of 10000+ questions). This assessment can be customized for any experience level.

Does every candidate get the same questions?

Yes, it makes it much easier for you to compare candidates. Options for MCQ questions and the order of questions are randomized. We have anti-cheating/ proctoring features in place. In our enterprise plan, we also have the option to create multiple versions of the same assessment with questions of similar difficulty levels.

I'm a candidate. Can I try a practice test?

No. Unfortunately, we do not support practice tests at the moment. However, you can use our sample questions for practice.

What is the cost of using this test?

You can check out our pricing plans.

Can I get a free trial?

Yes, you can sign up for free and preview this test.

I just moved to a paid plan. How can I request a custom assessment?

Here is a quick guide on how to request a custom assessment on Adaface.

View sample scorecard

Along with scorecards that report the performance of the candidate in detail, you also receive a comparative analysis against the company average and industry standards.

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