🧠Cerebite

Vocabulary Check

Is it a real Korean word, or did we make it up? 60 quick judgments — this one can't be fooled.

Accuracy score
0%
📖 Self-report test

Why this test can't be fooled

This is a lexical decision test, the method language researchers use (the well-known LexTALE test works this way). Real words and invented ones are mixed, and your score averages two things: how many real words you recognized, and how many fakes you correctly rejected. Say "real" to everything and the fakes drag you straight to 50% — chance level. Your verified word count applies the same logic per frequency band: guessing inflates your false-alarm rate, which is subtracted from every band. Honest skill is the only way up.

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Frequently asked questions

How is this different from the self-report vocabulary test?
The self-report test asks you to check words you know — fast, but it relies on honesty. This check makes you judge every word as real or fake, so over-claiming is punished automatically: accepting fake words lowers both your accuracy score and your verified word count. Take both and compare!
What is a good accuracy score?
50% means pure guessing. Around 60–70% is typical for intermediate learners, 80%+ suggests advanced proficiency, and 90%+ is native-like — those are the ranges reported for LexTALE-style tests in research settings.
Can I get on the leaderboard?
Yes — unlike the self-report test, this score is objective and cheat-resistant, so it feeds a global leaderboard. Submit your accuracy score with a nickname after the check.
How many Korean words do I need for everyday conversation?
Estimates vary, but the most frequent 1,000–2,000 Korean words cover the bulk of casual daily speech, and study guides often cite several thousand for comfortable conversation on varied topics. Your verified word count here tells you roughly where you stand on that path — retake it as you study to watch it climb.
How are the fake Korean words made?
They follow Korean sound and spelling rules — plausible syllable combinations that a real word could use, but that carry no meaning in the dictionary. That's why you can't filter them by look alone; only actually knowing Korean vocabulary lets you tell them apart reliably.
Can native Korean speakers take this check too?
Absolutely — it works at every level. Native speakers usually land in the 90%+ range, so it doubles as a fun challenge among Korean friends, while learners can use the score to track progress objectively over months of study. Vocabulary researchers use this same real-or-fake format with native speakers too.