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Turn your ESL word lists into a vocabulary quiz

Printable worksheets are a quick start, but they rarely use the words your class covered this week. Upload your lesson material and get a quiz that matches it, with explanations for every answer.

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Build ESL vocabulary quizzes from your own material

Ready-made printable sheets are a quick start, but they rarely match the words your class actually covered. DeckOwl writes an ESL vocabulary quiz from the text you already use, so the questions test the exact terms your learners met in class.

Questions drawn only from the words and passages you upload
Multiple-choice, true/false and open questions in one quiz
Explanations that point out common confusions, such as affect and effect
Export to PDF or DOCX on Plus, and to QTI 2.1 or Moodle XML on Pro

Example ESL vocabulary quiz questions

Choose the best synonym for 'rapid': A) slow B) quick C) quiet D) heavyB) quick. Rapid and quick both describe high speed.

True or false: 'affect' is usually a verb and 'effect' is usually a noun.True. Affect most often means to influence, while effect most often means a result.

Fill in the blank: The meeting was ___ until next week. (postpone / postponed)postponed. After 'was' the passive form needs the past participle.

What does the idiom 'break the ice' mean?To start a relaxed conversation. It describes easing tension between people who have just met.

Which preposition fits: She is interested ___ learning Spanish.in. 'Interested in' is the standard pattern and is followed by a gerund.

Generate the full set

Multiple-choice and true/false

Create meaning, synonym and collocation questions from the vocabulary in your own lesson.

Explanations for every answer

Each question includes a short explanation so learners see why an option is right or wrong.

Export when you need it

Plus includes PDF and DOCX export. Pro adds QTI 2.1 and Moodle XML for learning platforms.

How it works

Upload your material

Add a PDF, DOCX, PPTX, plain text notes or a photo of a page with your word list or reading.

Choose the question types

Pick multiple-choice, true/false or open questions, and set the focus on meaning or use in context.

Study or export

Take the quiz in the browser on the free plan, or export it as a file on a paid plan.

A good vocabulary quiz checks more than memory. Meaning questions show whether a learner recognizes a word, while context questions show whether they can use it in a sentence. Mixing both gives you a clearer picture of who needs more practice.

Explanations do much of the teaching. When a learner misses a question about a phrasal verb or a false friend, the short explanation shows the difference right away, which makes the quiz useful after the answer is revealed.

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Frequently asked questions

How many words should an ESL vocabulary quiz include?

A focused set of about 10 to 20 words from one lesson is a common starting point. Longer quizzes work better once learners have mastered the first set.

Should ESL vocabulary quizzes test meaning, spelling or use in context?

Use a mix. Meaning questions check recognition, while context questions show whether learners can use the word in a sentence, which is usually the harder skill.

Can I export the quiz to Moodle or as a printable file?

Yes on paid plans. PDF and DOCX export are included with Plus, and QTI 2.1 and Moodle XML export are available on Pro.

Is there a free plan?

Yes. The free plan includes 3 generations per month and studying in the browser, but exports need a paid plan. No credit card is needed to start.

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