IMO Practice Test — The Simple Tenses
8 Questions • 15 min • Olympiad level
15:00
Question 1 of 8
Spot the error: 'If it will rain, we will cancel the trip.'
will rain → rains
will cancel → cancel
trip is wrong
no error
Explanation: In an 'if' clause use the simple present: 'If it rains …'.
Question 2 of 8
Choose the correct option: 'He usually ___ early, but yesterday he ___ late.'
wakes / woke
woke / wakes
wakes / wakes
will wake / woke
Explanation: Habit → present 'wakes'; finished past → 'woke'.
Question 3 of 8
Identify the error: 'The teacher teaches us yesterday.'
teaches → taught
us is wrong
yesterday is wrong
no error
Explanation: 'yesterday' needs the past 'taught'.
Question 4 of 8
Fill in: 'Light ___ faster than sound.'
travel
travels
travelled
will travel
Explanation: Universal truth → simple present 'travels'.
Question 5 of 8
Which sentence is correct?
She does not goes to school.
She do not go to school.
She does not go to school.
She not go to school.
Explanation: 'does not' + base verb 'go'.
Question 6 of 8
Choose: 'As soon as the bell ___, the students will leave.'
will ring
rings
rang
is ringing
Explanation: Time clause takes the simple present: 'rings'.
Question 7 of 8
Rearrange: 'every / he / temple / the / visits / morning'
He visits the temple every morning.
He visit the temple every morning.
Every morning visits he the temple.
He the temple visits every morning.
Explanation: 'He visits the temple every morning.' is correct.
Question 8 of 8
Which option keeps the right sequence of tenses? 'He said that he ___ tired.'
is
was
will be
be
Explanation: After a past reporting verb, the tense shifts back: 'was'.