What topics are in YDS? Which grammar and vocabulary topics come up?
Facts last checked against official sources on October 7, 2026.
Short answer
YDS has no speaking or writing; it tests vocabulary, grammar, translation and reading. In grammar, tenses, prepositions and conjunctions come up most; in vocabulary, academic words and phrasal verbs; in reading, main idea, inference and detail questions.
Grammar topics
- Tenses and tense agreement
- Modals (can, must, should, may, might…)
- The passive voice
- Conditionals (if clauses) and wish
- Relative clauses and noun clauses
- Gerunds and infinitives
- Conjunctions and transitions (although, whereas, therefore, however…)
- Prepositions and adjective/verb + preposition patterns
- Comparisons and quantifiers
Vocabulary and reading
Vocabulary items ask about academic words, synonyms and phrasal verbs; the same words come back in the cloze, translation and reading items.
Reading passages come from academic topics such as science, history, health, economics and society; questions ask about the main idea, inference, detail and the author’s attitude.
Which topic first?
Conjunctions and tenses affect grammar, cloze and sentence-completion items alike, so they are the most efficient start. Practise vocabulary with short daily reviews and reading with at least one passage a day.
Sources
Dates and rules can change. Check the organiser’s official page before you apply; that page is binding.
Start preparing for YDS today
Take the free level test to see where you stand; Prepina builds a 10–20 minute daily plan around your exam date.