Technology Vocabulary Quiz
Test your English technology vocabulary with our free interactive quiz. 20 questions covering digital, computing, and internet words.
Start the Quiz →What This Quiz Covers
This technology vocabulary quiz tests the English words and phrases that modern learners need to talk and write about the digital world. The 20 questions span three broad areas: computing hardware and software (words like processor, bandwidth, and interface), internet and networking (words like browser, download, server, and Wi-Fi), and everyday digital life (words like app, update, encrypt, and stream).
Questions are multiple-choice. Each question presents a word, phrase, or sentence context and asks you to choose the correct meaning, the correct word to complete a gap, or the correct definition. The vocabulary is pitched at CEFR B1–B2, making it suitable for intermediate learners who use English at work, study, or travel — situations where technology words come up daily.
After you submit the quiz, you receive an instant score and a personalised feedback message. You can retry as many times as you like, and all questions are drawn from the same pool that is used in the Technology Vocabulary study page, so reviewing the word list before the quiz gives you a real advantage.
What You Will Learn
- The precise meanings of 20 core technology words used in modern English, including algorithm, cloud, cursor, malware, and pixel.
- How to use technology verbs correctly in context: upload vs download, install vs uninstall, encrypt vs decrypt.
- The difference between easily confused tech terms such as hardware and software, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and browser and search engine.
- How technology vocabulary appears in real sentences — the collocations, prepositions, and patterns that native speakers use (e.g., connect to, log in to, back up your data).
How to Prepare
Before taking this quiz, review the related study page: Technology Vocabulary — words, meanings, and examples. That page lists the 20 key words tested here with definitions, example sentences, and context notes. Reading it once before attempting the quiz typically raises scores by two or three questions.
You can also warm up with the Flash Cards exercise. Flash cards let you see a word on one side and its meaning on the other, which is one of the fastest ways to lock new vocabulary into memory before a test. If you have already studied technology vocabulary and want extra challenge, try the quiz first, note which words caught you out, then read the study page to fill the gaps — that retrieval-practice method builds stronger long-term retention than reading alone.
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Frequently Asked Questions
At B1 level the most important technology words are the everyday ones: app (application), browser (program used to visit websites), download (copy a file from the internet to your device), upload (send a file from your device to the internet), password, screen, keyboard, Wi-Fi, and update. You should also know basic verbs: connect, install, log in, log out, search, and share.
Hardware refers to the physical parts of a computer or device that you can touch: the screen, keyboard, processor, memory chips, and hard drive. Software refers to the programs and operating systems that run on the hardware: your web browser, word processor, operating system (Windows, macOS, Android), and apps. A useful way to remember it: if you can drop it on your foot, it is hardware; if you cannot, it is software.
An algorithm is a set of step-by-step rules or instructions that a computer follows to solve a problem or complete a task. In everyday speech, people use the word informally to describe the automated rules that social media and streaming platforms use to decide what content to show you. For example: "The algorithm keeps recommending cooking videos to me." In this sense it means the system's automatic decision-making process.
A browser is the program (application) you use to access and display websites — for example, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge. A search engine is a website that helps you find other websites by entering keywords — for example, Google, Bing, or DuckDuckGo. You use a browser to visit a search engine. You can think of the browser as a window and the search engine as a directory or map that tells you where to go.
Bandwidth is the maximum amount of data that can be transmitted over an internet connection in a given time, usually measured in megabits per second (Mbps). Higher bandwidth means faster internet. In informal modern English, people also use "bandwidth" metaphorically to mean mental capacity or time: "I don't have the bandwidth to take on another project right now." Both meanings appear in tech English exams, so it is worth knowing both.
In technology English, the cloud refers to servers (powerful computers) located in data centres around the world that store data and run software over the internet, rather than on your own device. When you save a photo to iCloud or Google Drive, you are saving it to the cloud. Common collocations: cloud storage, cloud computing, back up to the cloud, stored in the cloud. The phrase "head in the clouds" (meaning daydreaming) is unrelated.
Malware is an umbrella term for any malicious software designed to damage, disrupt, or gain unauthorised access to a computer system. It includes viruses, spyware, ransomware, and trojans. A virus is one specific type of malware that copies itself and spreads to other files or devices. So all viruses are malware, but not all malware is a virus. In everyday speech, people often say "virus" when they mean any kind of malware, but in formal or technical English the distinction matters.
The most common technology phrasal verbs are: log in / log into (access an account), log out (leave an account), sign up (create an account), back up (save a copy of data), set up (configure or install), plug in (connect a device), turn on / turn off (power on or off), scroll through (move through content on a screen), zoom in / zoom out (make a view larger or smaller), and load up (open a program or page).
Useful phrases for connection problems: "The Wi-Fi is down." (not working), "I've lost my connection." "The page won't load." "It keeps buffering." (video stops and waits for data), "My signal is weak." "The website is down." (server not responding), "I need to restart the router." "My internet is slow / cutting out." In formal writing or technical support: latency (delay), packet loss, intermittent connection, and network outage.
Yes. IELTS reading and listening passages frequently cover technology topics, and knowing words like algorithm, bandwidth, encrypt, interface, and processor can help you understand those passages more quickly. The quiz tests B1–B2 vocabulary, which aligns with IELTS band 5.5–6.5. After this quiz, try the IELTS Vocabulary Quiz for higher-level academic words, and read the Academic vs General IELTS guide to understand which module requires which level of technology vocabulary.