For Students

The abbreviation CEFR used in the course descriptions refers to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, which describes A1 - C2 language levels.

CEFR assessment grid (pdf)

Quick OJZ Placement Test

The test is based on grammar and vocabulary. Download it, do it, correct it using the key and you can find out your approximate level of English in the table below. The test won't take you more than 40 minutes.

• Test
• Key
  

Evaluation of the test

This evaluation only serves as a basic reference. There are more detailed and more accurate placement tests that test language skills available on various webpages (e.g. Dialang, TOEIC placement test).

TOEIC Listening Test

A short TOEIC Listening-skills test is available here.

• 25 questions
• 15 minutes
• Beginner to Advanced (A1 to C1 on the CEFR)
• Tests the candidate's listening skills
• Instant results
• Use your existing ETS account or register

More information about the TOEIC and TOEFL tests: ETS website
and more information on the Language Department website.

LanguageCert Placement Test

Quick online placement test – 25 multiple-choice questions. The test is available on the LanguageCert webpage here.

“Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today." 

– by Will Rogers

Language Exploration:

Even if you don't know every word, try to understand the meaning of the sentence. This is good practice for tests.

You can find the answers and a possible translation of the quote below.

1. Who is the subject of the verb Don’t, even though it isn’t written in the sentence?
2. Some verbs in English are followed by another verb in the base form without to. One small group includes let, make and help. Why is let in this quote followed directly by another verb (take)?
3. What is a good synonym for the phrasal verb take up here?
4. We usually say much before a noun directly (much time). Why is the preposition of needed between much and today in this sentence?
5. Try to explain what Will Rogers meant by this short sentence.
6. What is the grammatical form of Don’t let… (imperative, question, statement, etc.)?
7. The word yesterday here doesn’t mean the day before today in a strict sense. What broader idea might it represent?
8. Think of a translation into your native language.
   Challenge Questions:
9. How to replace the verb take up with a passive construction? What would change grammatically and stylistically?
10. How does using the imperative form Don’t let… instead of the full sentence structure (You should not let…) affect the tone and style of the sentence?

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Note: Positive, motivational quotes in English for every day are offered by many applications and groups on social networks, such as Action for Happiness or Brainy Quote.

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Answers to the tasks above:

1. The verb Don’t is part of a negative imperative (a negative command). The subject is understood as you (second person singular or plural), even though it is not written.
2. Let is one of the verbs that is followed by another verb in the base form without to. In the quote, let yesterday take up… shows let + object (yesterday) + verb (take) in its base form.
3. In this context, take up means “occupy” or “absorb” (time or space). For example: Looking after the children took up all her free time.
4. Much of:
• Much is used (not many) because today is an uncountable, abstract idea of time.
• The preposition of works like the Czech genitive (2. pád: koho, čeho). English doesn’t use cases, so it needs of: much of today = mnoho (z) dneška.
• We also use of when linking quantifiers to pronouns (many of them) or when we want to specify a subset (many of my good friends).
5. A possible paraphrase might be: “You can’t change the past, but you can make your life better by focusing on the present.”
6. The structure Don’t let… is a negative imperative (záporný rozkaz). It is giving advice or instruction: “Do not allow this.”
7. Yesterday symbolises the past in general – not only the day before today, but also past mistakes, regrets, or memories.er, ask them to wait" replaces a first conditional (If they arrive earlier, ask them to wait). The shorter form is more formal and often used in writing.
8. Possible translation into Czech: Nedovol včerejšku, aby ti zabral příliš mnoho z dneška.
   Challenge Questions:
9. A passive version might be: “Don’t allow too much of today to be taken up by yesterday.”
   Grammatically, this shifts the focus from the agent (“yesterday”) to the action’s recipient (“today”). Stylistically, it becomes more formal and less punchy. The original active voice is more immediate and emotionally engaging.
10. The omission creates a concise imperative, which is typical in motivational or advisory language. Instead of saying “You should not let…”, the sentence becomes more direct and forceful. This stylistic choice contributes to a colloquial yet impactful tone, often found in aphorisms or inspirational quotes.

Possible translation:
Ve světě, kde můžeš být čímkoli, buď laskavý (a to i k sobě samému).

References

This educational section may include content which is adapted from AI-generated responses.