Portuguese reading level test — 2 minutes, 24 words
This free test estimates which frequency band of Portuguese you can read comfortably — in about two minutes. You'll see 24 words drawn from across Beeblio's frequency bands (300, 800, 1,500, 3,000, 5,000, 8,000, and 12,000 most common words), ranked using the wordfreq corpus. For each word, simply mark whether you know it. That's it.
Your result tells you roughly where your passive vocabulary sits. If the words in the top 1,500 feel familiar, you already recognise enough Portuguese to follow about 80% of everyday text — a solid base for reading real articles, stories, and conversations. If your range extends further, you're ready for more demanding material.
Beeblio uses your band to highlight unfamiliar words as you read, so you always know which words are just beyond your reach and which are well within it. The test takes no account of grammar or speaking — it's purely about reading vocabulary, which makes it fast, honest, and easy to repeat as you progress.
How it works
You see 24 Portuguese words, from the most common down to rank 12,000, and say for each whether you know it. Knowing at least two thirds of a band's words passes that band; your level is the highest band passed. No account, two minutes.
The bands
- First words — the top 300 words
- Getting by — the top 800 words
- Everyday — the top 1,500 words
- Confident — the top 3,000 words
- Fluent reader — the top 5,000 words
- Advanced — the top 8,000 words
- Near-native — the top 12,000 words
Sample words from the test
- aqui (top 300)
- nossa (top 300)
- toda (top 300)
- meus (top 300)
- quais (top 800)
- certeza (top 800)
- ia (top 800)
- errado (top 800)
- irmã (top 1,500)
- interessante (top 1,500)
- one (top 1,500)
- documentos (top 1,500)
Take the Portuguese level test →
Questions
How does the test decide my reading level?
Each of the 24 words belongs to a specific frequency band — for example, the top 300, top 800, or top 3,000 most common Portuguese words according to the wordfreq corpus. Based on which words you know and which you don't, the test identifies the highest band where your vocabulary is consistently strong.
Should I count a word if I sort of know it?
Mark it as known only if you can recall its meaning without guessing — the kind of word you'd understand instantly while reading a sentence. If you're unsure, leave it out; a slightly conservative result gives you more useful reading practice than one that's just out of reach.
Can I retake the test as my Portuguese improves?
Yes, and it's worth doing every few months. Because the words are fixed frequency markers, retaking the test is a reliable way to track real vocabulary growth over time.