Learning to Swim English Pronunciation Test
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A2 Elementary · Free English Pronunciation Test
Short I Sound Pronunciation Test (A2 Elementary)
Ship or sheep, live or leave? Check your short I in ten sentences and find out if your words sound the way you mean them. All ten sentences are A2 level, with everyday topics and slightly longer phrases.
A2100% freeTen sentencesInstant scoreBritish & American English
1Listen firstTap the speaker to hear a native model of each sentence.
2Read it aloudTap the microphone and say the sentence clearly at a normal speed.
3See your scoreGreen is clear, amber is almost right, red needs practice.
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About this test
About the Short I Sound Pronunciation Test (A2 Elementary)
The short I in sit, big and live is short and relaxed, with the tongue a little lower and further back than for the long EE in seat. Most languages have only one I sound, so learners use the long EE everywhere and say sheep for ship or leave for live. This is one of the most important English vowel pairs to get right.
Why practise this at A2 level
At A2 you already know the everyday words, so this is the right moment to fix habits before they become permanent. The sentences talk about shopping, travel and free time and are a little longer, which helps you keep the sound clear inside a phrase.
How to get it right
- Relax your mouth and keep the lips loose, not smiling
- Keep the sound short
- Lower the tongue slightly compared with the EE in see
- Practise pairs such as ship and sheep, fill and feel
Common mistakes
Common Mistakes This Test Helps You Fix
01
Saying a long EE, so ship sounds like sheep
02
Smiling too much, which makes the vowel tense
03
Making the vowel too long in words like this and it
04
Saying an E, so sit sounds like set
Inside the test
The Ten Sentences in This Test
Each sentence trains one sound. The orange label above the sentence tells you which one.
01
Short I sound
Then I practised kicking my legs.
02
Short I sound
Many people also cycle to work.
03
Short I sound
We have science on Monday mornings.
04
Short I sound
She said I need glasses for distance.
05
Short I sound
We had a science test this morning.
06
Short I sound
I will miss them when I leave.
07
Short I sound
I really loved riding my red bicycle.
08
Short I sound
We also visited the city of Lisbon.
09
Short I sound
The speaking test is with another student.
10
Short I sound
My brother sits on it to close it.
How it works
How the Pronunciation Test Works
No downloads and no sign-up. Your browser listens and scores every word in seconds.
1
Listen to the model
Hear each sentence read by a natural British or American voice, at normal speed or slowly.
2
Read it out loud
Tap the microphone and read the sentence. Your words appear on screen as you speak.
3
Get your score
See a score out of 100 with every word in green, amber or red, then practise the red words.
Keep practising
Full Tests with These Sentences
Each sentence above comes from a full ten-sentence pronunciation test. Take the complete test to keep practising.
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This test at other levels: A1 · B1 · B2 · C1 · C2
This test in other languages: Français · Deutsch · Português · Español · Italiano
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FAQ
Short I Sound Pronunciation Test (A2 Elementary): FAQ
What is the difference between ship and sheep?
Ship has the short, relaxed I. Sheep has the long, tense EE with the lips spread. If ship turns red in the test and the computer heard sheep, your I is too long.
Is the short I sound test A2 right for my level?
It is ideal for elementary learners. If A2 feels easy and you score above ninety, move to the B1 version; if it feels hard, try the A1 version first.
How can I practise the short I at home?
Read word pairs out loud: bit and beat, fill and feel, live and leave. Keep the first word short and relaxed and the second long and smiling, then take this test again.
Is the short I sound test A2 free?
Yes. It is completely free, with no sign-up and no download. You only need a microphone and a browser such as Chrome, Edge or Safari.
How is my pronunciation scored?
The browser listens to each sentence and compares what it heard with the text, word by word. Clear words turn green, almost-right words amber and unclear words red, and you get a score out of 100.
Can I choose British or American English?
Yes. Choose British or American English before you start. The model voice, the spelling and the speech recognition all follow the accent you pick.