C2 Proficiency · Free English Pronunciation Test

Long A Sound Pronunciation Test (C2 Proficiency)

Test the long A in day, make, rain and great. Find out if your vowel glides naturally or stays flat. This version uses C2 sentences: near-native challenges, dense sounds and fast rhythm.

C2100% 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 Long A Sound Pronunciation Test (C2 Proficiency)

The long A in day and make is not one sound but two joined together: it starts like the E in bed and glides towards the I in sit. Many learners say a single flat E, so late sounds like let and wait sounds like wet. The glide is what makes the vowel sound English.

Why practise this at C2 level

At C2 the aim is effortless, near-native clarity. These proficiency sentences pack difficult sounds into fast, dense phrases, many of them close to tongue twisters, so even confident speakers find out what still needs work.

How to get it right

  • Start with the mouth half open, as for the E in bed
  • Glide smoothly towards a short I sound
  • Make the first part longer than the second
  • Practise pairs such as wait and wet, late and let
Common mistakes

Common Mistakes This Test Helps You Fix

01

Saying a flat E, so late sounds like let

02

Stopping the glide too early in words like day and say

03

Following the spelling in words such as great and break

04

Making the vowel too short at the end of words like play

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

Long A sound

Saving a little every month means you will have something put aside for a rainy day.

02

Long A sound

Times are changing, and young people now expect flexible working arrangements as a matter of course.

03

Long A sound

Financial worries kept him awake at night, and his face turned grey with anxiety and exhaustion.

04

Long A sound

The negotiations ended in a stalemate, with neither side willing to make the first meaningful concession.

05

Long A sound

We should not tempt fate by booking an outdoor wedding in the middle of the rainy season.

06

Long A sound

Let us call it a day and continue the discussion tomorrow when everyone is feeling less exhausted.

07

Long A sound

The proposal was a whole new ball game, requiring skills that none of us had previously developed.

08

Long A sound

The new job turned out to be a piece of cake, despite all my anxious predictions beforehand.

09

Long A sound

She has the patience of a saint, calmly answering the same questions from confused customers every single day.

10

Long A sound

They have been skating on thin ice ever since the auditors began asking awkward questions about the accounts.

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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FAQ

Long A Sound Pronunciation Test (C2 Proficiency): FAQ

Why do great and break use the long A sound?
The spelling ea is usually pronounced like the long EE in eat, but great, break and steak are exceptions that use the long A. The test includes words like these so you learn them by ear.
Is the long A sound test C2 right for my level?
It is the hardest version, for proficient and near-native speakers. If you find it too difficult, practise the C1 version first.
What is a diphthong?
A diphthong is a vowel that moves from one position to another. The long A in day glides from E to I. English has several diphthongs, and getting the glide right makes your accent sound much more natural.
Is the long A sound test C2 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.