News in Levels Review: Daily World News Adapted to Three English Levels
News in Levels publishes the same world story in three English versions every day — Level 1, 2 and 3 — with audio and vocabulary. Here's what teachers actually get, how to use it in class, and where it falls short.Ready to try News in Levels?
"Every story in three versions — same news, same topic, three difficulty levels. Saves teachers hours of differentiation."
Best for
ESL teachers who want fresh, level-matched reading and listening material without having to rewrite the news themselves.
Pricing
Free
Pro tip — heads up before you bookmark it
A note on ads and sister apps
News in Levels is free and runs display ads plus promotions for sister apps (Speak in Levels, LangoPlay). The teaching content is solid, but be ready to skim past the app promos when projecting the site in class.
What is News in Levels?
News in Levels is a free daily news site built specifically for English learners. Every story is rewritten and published in three difficulty versions — Level 1 (1,000 most common words), Level 2 (first 2,000 words), and Level 3 (up to 3,000 words and more natural phrasing).
The site launched in 2013 with a simple but powerful idea: a B2 student and an A2 student should be able to discuss the same news story the same day, without the teacher having to rewrite anything. The whole site is built around this.
Each article ships with:
- Three written versions side by side, each labelled.
- Audio recordings for every level — read slowly and clearly.
- Vocabulary explanations inline and in a separate word list.
- Comprehension questions at the end of the article.
- Topic tags: News, Funny, History, Information, Interesting, Nature, Sport.
The site is run by a small team of teachers in the Netherlands and is monetised by display ads and a few sister apps (Speak in Levels, LangoPlay). There is no paid tier.
How teachers use it
News in Levels works well in a few specific scenarios:
- Differentiated reading: print Level 1 for weaker students and Level 3 for stronger ones from the same story. Saves the rewrite work.
- Listening warm-up: project the Level 2 article, hit play, students read along. Two minutes of input, every day.
- Current-events discussion: pick a story once a week. Students read in class, then discuss in pairs. The shared topic makes conversation easier.
- Vocabulary recycling: the site targets the 3,000 most common English words, so articles keep circling high-frequency vocabulary instead of obscure terms.
- Home reading: assign one Level 2 article as homework with the audio. Light prep, low friction, students get real input.
Is it worth your time?
Yes — if you teach A2 to B2 and want fresh, level-matched input without doing the differentiation yourself, News in Levels is one of the best free options on the web. The three-level format is genuinely useful and saves real prep time.
The trade-offs are real but manageable: the design is functional rather than beautiful, the editorial voice is plain, and there's no interactive quiz or progress tracker — it's reading + audio, that's it. The ads are present but not aggressive.
Honest recommendation: use News in Levels as your weekly news source. Pair it with a structured lesson plan resource (ESL Brains, Teach-This) for activities that go beyond comprehension questions, and a polished grammar site (BBC Learning English) for the skill work.
The honest pros and cons
What works
- Three levels per story Same topic rewritten for A2, B1, B2 — differentiation without extra prep.
- Audio for every version Slow, clear narration. Useful for listening and shadowing.
- Free with no signup No account, no paywall, no email required.
- Daily fresh content New articles every weekday across 7 topics.
- Vocabulary targeted Built around the 3,000 most common English words.
- Mobile apps available iOS and Android apps for student self-study.
What doesn't
- Ads on the site Display ads present, including for sister products.
- Plain editorial voice Rewriting style is functional, not journalistic.
- No progress tracking Scores and reading history aren't saved for students.
- Capped at A2–B2 C1+ learners will outgrow it quickly.
- Limited interaction Read + listen + answer — no games, no speaking tasks.
- UK/US mix Spelling varies. Check before printing for a UK classroom.
Best alternatives
If News in Levels isn't a fit, these are the resources teachers actually switch to:
BBC Learning English
Daily lessons with audio, video, grammar and vocabulary — polished and free.
British Council Learn English
Free graded articles, listening and games from the British Council.
Breaking News English
News stories rewritten at multiple levels with ready-made lesson plans.
ESL Brains
Lesson plans built around TED talks and authentic videos.
Teach-This.com
3,000+ printable ESL worksheets, CEFR-aligned, updated monthly.
Frequently asked questions
What is News in Levels?
Is News in Levels free?
What English level is News in Levels for?
Can teachers use News in Levels in class?
Does News in Levels have audio for every article?
How often is News in Levels updated?
What are the best alternatives?
Ready to bring daily news into your classroom?
Free, three-level articles with audio. Bookmark it as your weekly news source and stop rewriting the same story for every level.
Visit News in Levels