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British vs. American English Practice Test (A1-B2) — Vocabulary Exercises with Answers

20questions
10:00minutes
+22XP on pass

Practise British vs. American English with 20 exercises at Level A1-B2. Each question comes with a clear explanation to reinforce the words you know and introduce the ones you don't. Just 10 minutes per attempt — perfect for daily practice.

Browse all British vs. American English lessons

⏱ You have 10:00 to answer 20 questions. The timer only starts when you click Begin.

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Questions 20
Q1  20
Q1 20

Question 1: In British English, you take a ___. In American English, you take an elevator.

Question 1 options
'Lift' is the British English word for 'elevator.' 'Stairs' refers to steps, not a machine. 'Taxi' and 'bus' are other forms of transport, not vertical transport in buildings.
Q2 20

Question 2: In American English, a thin fried potato snack is called a ___.

Question 2 options
'Chip' is the American English word for what the British call a 'crisp.' 'Fry' refers to a cooking method. 'Biscuit' means a soft bread roll in American English. 'Cracker' is a dry, flat snack.
Q3 20

Question 3: In British English, a sweet baked treat is called a ___.

Question 3 options
'Biscuit' is the British English word for what Americans call a 'cookie.' 'Cake' is a larger baked item. 'Muffin' and 'scone' are different types of baked goods.
Q4 20

Question 4: In British English, 'flat' means an apartment.

Question 4 options
True. 'Flat' is the standard British English word for what Americans call an 'apartment.' Both refer to a set of rooms for living in within a larger building.
Q5 20

Question 5: Americans say 'trunk' for the storage area at the back of a car. The British say ___.

Question 5 options
'Boot' is the British English word for the storage compartment at the rear of a car. 'Bonnet' is the British word for the front hood. 'Bumper' is a car part at the front or rear edge. 'Wing' refers to the fender area.
Q6 20

Question 6: What does the British English word 'lorry' mean?

Question 6 options
'Lorry' is the British English word for a large vehicle used to transport goods, known as a 'truck' in American English. It does not mean a bus, van, or train.
Q7 20

Question 7: In American English, the season after summer is called ___.

Question 7 options
'Fall' is the American English word for the season between summer and winter. British English uses 'autumn.' 'Spring' and 'harvest' refer to different seasons or activities.
Q8 20

Question 8: Match each British English word to its American English equivalent.

Question 8 options
pavement
petrol
nappy
post
mail
gasoline
sidewalk
diaper

Select an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.

'Pavement' (BrE) = 'sidewalk' (AmE). 'Petrol' (BrE) = 'gasoline' (AmE). 'Nappy' (BrE) = 'diaper' (AmE). 'Post' (BrE) = 'mail' (AmE).
Q9 20

Question 9: In British English, you put rubbish in the ___.

Question 9 options
'Bin' is the British English word for a waste container. Americans say 'trash can' or 'garbage can.' 'Basket' is for carrying items. 'Bucket' holds liquids. 'Box' is a general container, not specifically for rubbish.
Q10 20

Question 10: Which word is closest in meaning to the American English word 'vacation'?

Question 10 options
'Holiday' is the British English equivalent of the American 'vacation,' both meaning time off from work or school for rest and travel. 'Weekend' is only two days. 'Festival' is a celebration event. 'Journey' means the act of travelling.
Q11 20

Question 11: The British spelling of the American word 'color' is ___.

Question 11 options
'Colour' is the standard British spelling, which retains the 'ou' from French. 'Colur,' 'coler,' and 'coulor' are not valid spellings in any variety of English.
Q12 20

Question 12: The word 'torch' in British English refers to a portable battery-powered light, which Americans call a 'flashlight.'

Question 12 options
True. In British English, 'torch' is the everyday word for a handheld electric light. Americans use 'flashlight' for the same device.
Q13 20

Question 13: In British English, the front cover of a car engine is called the ___.

Question 13 options
'Bonnet' is the British English term for the hinged cover over a car's engine. Americans call it the 'hood.' 'Boot' is the British word for trunk. 'Windscreen' is the front glass. 'Bumper' is the front or rear bar.
Q14 20

Question 14: A British person who says 'I'll put it in the wardrobe' means they will place something in the ___.

Question 14 options
'Closet' is the American English equivalent of the British 'wardrobe,' both meaning a place to store clothes. 'Cupboard' is for dishes or food. 'Drawer' is a sliding compartment. 'Attic' is the space under the roof.
Q15 20

Question 15: In British English, a line of people waiting for something is called a ___.

Question 15 options
'Queue' is the British English word for a line of people waiting. Americans simply say 'line.' This is one of the most well-known vocabulary differences between the two varieties.
Q16 20

Question 16: In American English, 'pants' means trousers. What does 'pants' typically mean in informal British English?

Question 16 options
In British English, 'pants' usually refers to underwear (underpants). Trousers is the British word for the outer leg garment that Americans call 'pants.' This is a classic confusable between the two varieties.
Q17 20

Question 17: An American writes 'organize' and 'realize.' A British writer would typically spell these words with ___.

Question 17 options
British English traditionally favours the '-ise' suffix (organise, realise) over the American '-ize.' While '-ize' is also accepted in British English by some publishers, '-ise' is the more distinctly British convention. '-yse,' '-eze,' and '-ase' are not standard alternatives.
Q18 20

Question 18: Match each American English word to its British English equivalent.

Question 18 options
apartment
cookie
truck
eraser
lorry
rubber
biscuit
flat

Select an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.

'Apartment' (AmE) = 'flat' (BrE) for a dwelling. 'Cookie' (AmE) = 'biscuit' (BrE) for a sweet baked snack. 'Truck' (AmE) = 'lorry' (BrE) for a heavy goods vehicle. 'Eraser' (AmE) = 'rubber' (BrE) for removing pencil marks.
Q19 20

Question 19: In British English, a 'chemist' is a shop where you buy medicine. What is the American English equivalent?

Question 19 options
'Drugstore' (or 'pharmacy') is the American English equivalent of the British 'chemist.' A 'laboratory' is for scientific research. A 'clinic' is a medical facility. A 'market' sells general goods or food.
Q20 20

Question 20: A British person who says 'I need to revise for my exams' means they need to ___ for their exams.

Question 20 options
In British English, 'revise' means to study or review material in preparation for exams. Americans would say 'study.' 'Edit' means to correct written work. 'Rewrite' means to write again from scratch. 'Memorise' is only one part of the revision process.

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