A Test that’s Fun – and Leads You to the Right Course
Many people ask themselves: How good is my English if I really need to communicate? Or: Will I be able to hold a conversation in Spanish on my holiday – or will it only be enough to order in a restaurant?
This is exactly when our free placement test on the inlingua homepage is just what you need. It’s quick, easy and even fun. There are no grades or exam stress, just a matter of discovering your language level.
The great thing is that you don’t actually have to be interested in a course to take the test. It also works to satisfy your curiosity – almost like a language quiz.
Why a Placement Test is so Important
You may be wondering: Why do I need a test like this if I want to take a language course anyway?
The answer is simple: so that you start at the right level.
- Too easy: If you end up in a course that is below your level, you will get bored. Your motivation will drop.
- Too difficult: If the course is too challenging, you will feel overwhelmed – and quickly lose interest.
An accurate placement test ensures that you start exactly where you need to be. This is crucial for staying motivated and making real progress.
Scientific Findings: Motivation Depends on the Right Level
Learning research has long proven that motivation is closely related to the fit between challenge and competence. Psychologists call this the ‘flow state’ (Csíkszentmihályi, 1990): people are particularly motivated when a task is neither too easy nor too difficult.
Applied to language learning, this means that those who start at the right course level experience success, remain focused and learn more effectively. This is exactly where the placement test helps – it reveals where your optimal ‘zone of proximal development’ (Wygotski, 1978) lies.
Placement Tests Are Used in Many Areas
Language tests are just one example of the benefits of such assessments. Other disciplines also rely on examination before training:
- Sport: Before starting a fitness programme, a fitness test is often carried out in order to tailor the training plan to the individual.
- School and university: Placement tests in math or science show whether the basics are in place before moving on to more complex content.
- Professional development: In IT or management courses, prior knowledge is tested in order to precisely tailor the content.
The principle is always the same: only those who know where they stand can make meaningful progress.
How Does the Placement Test Work?
- Online, available anytime: You can take it from the comfort of your own home.
- Free and non-binding: No costs, no obligations.
- Available in five languages: English, German, French, Italian and Spanish.
- Direct evaluation: At the end, you will receive a clear assessment of your language level (according to the international CEFR system, A1 to C2).
- The test is adaptive – it adjusts dynamically to your answers and is made to challenge you.
- It usually takes the amount of time to brew and enjoy a cup of tea, so you should allow around 20–30 minutes.
- The placement test covers the skills Reading, Language Use, Writing and Listening. Speaking is not tested.
This assessment provides an immediate and reliable overview of your language skills.
What Are the Benefits of the Placement Test?
- Self-assessment: You find out where you stand – whether you’re a beginner or a pro or something in between.
- Clear goals: You can determine the right level for your next challenge.
- Motivation: It’s often surprising to see how much you already know – or where there is still potential.
- Better learning results: Thanks to the test results, inlingua can give you specific advice and recommend the right course for you.
Typical situations in which the test is perfect:
- You are considering starting a language course but don’t know which level to choose.
- You are already learning a language and want to check how much you really know.
- You are curious and feel like taking a language quiz.
- You are an expat, student or frequent traveller and want to assess how well your language skills support you in everyday situations.
The inlingua Focus on Assessment
At inlingua, individual learning success is our priority. Our courses are structured so that each participant starts at their own personal level. This is the only way to achieve lasting progress.
The placement test is a key tool for us:
- We avoid false starts, which often lead to demotivation.
- We ensure that you learn in a group with a similar language level.
- We help you achieve your goal faster – whether it’s confident small talk at work, fluent communication when travelling or an official language certificate.
Take the test now – you’ll be able to finish it during a coffee or tea break.
Your language journey begins with a click. Our placement test is:
- free,
- non-binding,
- and available at any time.
➡️ Start the placement test now
Find out what your language level is – and discover today that you have more potential than you think.