If You Know These 20 Words, Your English is TOP 1% Worldwide! 

I love this classroom already.

I got all 20 correct, but I am a teacher in a community college; and I have also taught ESL, so it was not so hard. Thanks--very good really.

I got like 15-16 but at least 2-3 of those came from out of the context and by eliminating other options

So far it is either the word I do not know or I just thought another of the options worked in the sentence as well.

17/20 One of them I got wrong because I second guessed myself. If I had gone with my initial choice I would have gotten 18. Side note #14's sentence is incorrect. It should be "an" not "a". I assume that is because to write it correctly, it would have helped give away the answer. 😉

Speaking French did help (lacune, austère, zenith, galvaniser...)

Cavalier, austere, banal, sinecure, trenchant (doubt on that one actually), ersatz, etc, were not even english words but french, latin or even german. Plus, some sentences, can very well have meaning with various words, just give a different image. Example the first one, magician could very well be a clumsy clutz yet still manage to put up a show. From a writer's perspective it could be a good way to present a kid making his debut in the field. There were more sentences like that. Like the artist one where two words could've been used interchangeably. Not sure this is a good english test to be frank

thanks, so helpful

Nicely done, keep up the great effort! Terrific work Brain wiles ✨

Thanks

I missed three in the last twenty. My seventy two year old brain is not firing on all six cylinders. But, not bad for a 10 th grade student drop out ( Circumstances ) and has no memory of going to High School.

20/20 Native Speaker. Only the last four were difficult, but those are some very obscure words. Especially lacuna, obloquy, and chimera. The last one especially is widely known for a completely different context so it's very misleading. The other two are rarely used loan words that a foreigner would probably have a better chance of answering correctly than a native speaker.

Note: don’t typically use those words in conversations or else get mocked for fancy talk

I went straight to the natives comments, haha. Dude, are you serious, very few people use this vocabulary.

Fantastic 🌹

Me after getting 1/20: No way people talk like this!😂

I got 10/20 regardless off my English level is among c1-c2 based on one of ur videos😭😭😭

Sir can teach allso computer course

I only got number 14 wrong. I was so upset lol 😂

I am arabian.. I am considered to be good in english...i am high intermidiate level But your questions made me feel like novice.😂.

Too difficult for intermediate level english learners, I think U.S citizens are not able to pass this test out!!!!

Um, 20/20, though it was touch and go for a couple of words, BUT there is no way I am in the top 1% worldwide in anything. I have always read a lot and find words, including in other languages, interesting, and I speak French.

Not as well this time got15/20 😊

I got 17, although 2 of them were wild guesses and i got the last one right by associating lacuna with "lack"

Ok 😂 I’m from Egypt I understand some😅

I couldn't get a single one 😞

Are you part of the top 1%? I am a C2 level English speaker and consider myself to have near-native proficiency, yet there were still a few words I didn’t know.

I love you so much ❤❤❤❤❤

ارجوك اتعودت عليك وانت بتتكلم عربي كأنك مصري😅

هى المشكله ان أنا مش فاهمه ولا حرف

Tbh most of these complex words aren’t necessarily meant to be used in everyday conversation, so even if you know 30% of them then consider yourself to be fluent in English. ( I got 6/20, and I have gcse English)

We love your nature that makes you a teacher, a comedian, and an actor. You are truly talented, Brian, and you excel in all roles. You truly deserve appreciation. My best wishes, ESRAA

I got a good score but i don't know if i deserve it. Most of my answers were because i eliminated the other options, not because I specifically know the correct word.

i am glad i found some one who is really the best in his field

Got 18 correct answers. Wonder how many native speakers get a good score considering that a lot of native speakers can't even spell there/they're/their correctly?

I was looking for a good teacher to improve my english level…Then I found you.❤️

I got 17/20, with most of the missed words at the end, unsurprisingly. A couple things: 1. While English does possess many loan-words ("ersatz", "gestalt", etc.), it often possesses intrinsically English words that act as synonyms or near-synonyms ("ersatz" = "artificial"/"imitation"). I don't personally believe knowing/not knowing those particular loan-words actually counts directly towards one's English vocabulary skills, but speaks more to one's greater comprehension of the language, as in its adoption of foreign words into itself. When a sufficient English word can be used in place of its foreign equivalent, it should be, as it is intrinsically English. Loan words which refer to concepts _not_ native to the English language are okay though, as there isn't an appropriate English substitute. "Gestalt" (a German word) for example would roughly mean, "something that is greater than the sum of its constituent parts, such that it cannot be reduced or its components extricated from the greater concept"; something that is intrinsically and fundamentally irreducible. Using "gestalt" to refer to such a concept is much more efficient and accurate than trying to describe what "gestalt" actually means. 2. Tangentially carrying on from point 1: English is a language full of redundancy and unnecessary verbosity, even within itself. Using oblique, obscure or unwieldy words not often used in most situations, especially when a sufficient synonym already exists within the language that is both more efficient and more well-known, without sacrificing accuracy ("lacuna" = "gap") should be avoided without exception. Brevity is to wit what precision is to comprehension. Just because you _can_ use such awkward terms correctly doesn't mean you _should_ - and, in fact, you _shouldn't._ They are unnecessary and often require structuring your dialogue awkwardly to shoehorn them into your speech. Knowing how to trim down one's vocabulary to discard obsolete/archaic terms in place of their identical, more elegant synonyms - and applying them appropriately - is just as important as expanding one's vocabulary to include new words to define ideas one otherwise has trouble articulating. True mastery of a language is not about imbibing a dictionary and then regurgitating its contents to "sound smart"; it's about knowing how to wield it, like a tool to be used for its specific purpose. A hammer can pound many things, but its _intended_ use is to pound nails; you shouldn't be using a screwdriver for nails, nor a hammer for screws - and you shouldn't be looking for a torque wrench in either case! Knowing when and where to use your linguistic tools is among the most advanced aspects of mastering a language. Grab a hammer for the nails and a screwdriver for the screws, but leave the torque wrench at home; you don't need it.

I swear to god, after looking these question it finally came to know how worse is my English.

18/20. I’ve never heard the word obloquy before 😂

17 as a non-native. Reason: The difficult words aren't english, they are latin or even german...

Exceptional performance! I felicitate you. In addition, it was implicitly a tremendous felicity to initially clock your channel in RU-vid

So glad I found your channel. I only got 12 correct. Fabulous to refresh and improve my English. Awesome.

I am not a native speaker but I have been exposed to English for the past 10 years of my life give or take. The last 5-6 questions had words I've never heard before or words I've only used as Jargon (like tautology and syllogism) in mathematics and other sciences. How common are those words in English even in a very formal setting? Also in the 'anathema' question i had ruled out anathema because it sounded like a noun and the sentence didn't have any quantifiers before the blank. Why is that? Edit: I got 9 from first 10 and 3 from the last 10 correct btw :)

Question 7: "the highest point"; actually an incorrect definition. It is the point where a celestial object is directly above the observer.

thank you brian! Where arabic captions :(

l left video when l see first question. But l come back to write this comment.

Can tou make a video about how to increase vocabulary in English

I would say a good synonym for dawdle is procrastinate. That being said, the video was great :)

14/20.

I love you very, very, very much. I swear to God, I will watch you ❤❤❤❤

I was doing well, building up my confidence... and then the last 5 questions happened sanguine and chimera specifically shocked me cause whenever I read sanguine it almost always referred to blood and if you go and google chimera now it points you in the direction of the Greek myth sharing the same name. anyways this was a fun exercise. Thank you for putting it together! -some guy from Egypt

Wishing you the best, I love you very much, I from Egypt ❤ براين

18/20 The ones that I missed: ersatz and obloquy. I’m not a native speaker. English is my second language.

I really enjoyed this one-1%? Umm... 🤔 It’s one of those ‘on fire’ topics, and not many people can explain such complex ideas in a way that everyone can follow. Your examples, like in the past ‘20 Phrasal Verbs’ video, always make things clear. Thanks for consistently choosing great topics and making learning enjoyable. 😊❤ - Islam from Egypt 🇪🇬

15 out of 20, not a native speaker but a proficiency test student, the last words were HARD AF

I missed only one, number 19 obloquy. I guessed anomie. I must have associated it with animosity. Not bad for a non native speaker though.

1.👍 2.👍 3.👍 4.👍 5.👍 6.👍 7.👍 8.👍 9.👍 10.👍 11.👍 12.👍 13.👍 14.👎 15.👍 16.👎 17.👎 18.👎 19.👎 20.👎 As a 13 year old who reads a lot, i think 15/20 isn't bad. The words i got wrong, i had never heard before

I got 15/20!!! It was difficult, no doubt!!🙏🌹

Only 17 😢

I got 18/20. Not bad for an Italian native speaker. The more difficult ones have Latin origins, so I had a headstart. Thank you, I love these tests.

Superb is my name

Missed 5.......some words I've never heard......though I consider myself a native speaker......

10/20

Last five were tough for me, this quiz much more challenging, Good stuff!

WHO USES THESE WORDS AND WHERE ?

17/20. Ersatz is a german word that I use occasionally. Ersatz Kaffee (coffee), coffee made from acorns or chicory. Of course there are many more but lesser known examples of erszatz. (Check Wikipedia)

Hi brian, I really like your channel =) You have inspired me to learn MSA! I'd like to ask how can I find online tests for taking the exam for the B1 or C1 level in any language. My goal is to pass successfully a B1 or C1 level in particular Spanish, French, and Hindi. How can I go about doing this so I obtain an official document for it? Thank you!

.....7 correct answers:)

19/ 20, obloquy got me. Some of my answers were gotten by elimination.

brian, are you gonna stop putting arabic subtitles?

This quiz was much more satisfactory. Still 20/20. I challenge you to bring about a quiz for the top 1/1000.

As an ESOL, this tests are helping me a lot. Thank you very much. New subscriber here!

I got question 6, 15 and 16 wrong. #16 in particular felt really hard. I think my French helped to know some of the harder ones.

Hello Brian, my name is Mohamed from Egypt. I love your videos so much. I want to get your number so I can meet you. ❤❤❤❤

I thought I had a exceptional command of the English language... This took me down a few notches...lol

16 not bad for a native French speaker.

20/20. Native speaker, lit major, word lover. There were at least a couple of the alternative choices that I was less familiar with and gave me some doubt.

I GOT THEM ALL, BUT I WILL NOT USE THOSE WORDS I' M NOT ORIGINALLY FROM THIS COUNTY I HAVE AN ACCENT, PEOPLE WILL NOT UNDERSTANT ME. PS:PROUD OF MYSELF@ 79 YEAR

The higher end words one would almost never pass or use in a natural manner unless in certain situations or (academic) settings as they are low frequency words. Maybe an advanced extension quiz of these words could be 'in which situation' is it best used in? 'In what context' pethaps you can call it? 😊

16/20,,, even words in upper tier that I do know,,, I never find occasion to use

I am very sorry to myself because I even not able to answer single question😢

FYI, you have a grammar error (missing article) in question #14.

Wrote what l thought was a comment and did not see it appear. Then l found it as a ŕeply to someone else's comment. I have since decided that l will not need your tutelage as l , English, second language-speaker, can adequately understand the language and fill in any deficiencies via my trusted Roget's Thesaurus and OED.

Wait a minute. You the guy from Person of Interest? We used to talk on FB. LOL. Omg.

I for 15/20 some words were new so I learnt more words to add to my growing list!!

a walk in the park for a European, especially a latin-based language speaker. most of the terms have latin origin. meh.

Love from Egypt to you Brian 💘👊🏻

I got 19 . But truth be told , some of them were due to process of elimination . Missed the last one . Also , I forget to use these words whenever I am speaking .

Explain The difference between present perfect and th present perfect continuous Pleasaaaaase

17/20 for me. I missed the last 3! Darn!

16/20. Keeping it Kenyan. Cheers!

17 the last three defeated me!!

انا عايز اتعلم انجليزى بطلاقه زى كدا

I wonder if the presenter man is real or a generated AI since he looks almost perfect!?

انت تلعبه ماين كرافت وليك قنه كيمكه

I got 12/20 right i havent read a dictionary in a while and it showed.

18/20 for a west African

From where did you bring those words 😂

انا لا اتكلم الانجليزيه

Have you thought about making a synonym/antonym test? I think it could be fun and challenging in a good way. (Did I just say "fun in a good way"? Never mind, I'll stand by my words.) Edit: 19/20. Tough test and I had to guess on question 19, but I'm very, very happy with that result.