This paper discusses two important parts of language learning, the vocabulary acquisition and the reading skill, where the focus is on vocabulary learning strategies. One part also discusses the vocabulary size tests, the purpose and use of measuring that specific knowledge, what types of tests help observe vocabulary development, their purpose in language teaching and learning and the use of tests in contemporary foreign language teaching. It also discusses general and more specific features of the reading skill and reading habits. The first part of the paper introduces relevant aspects of vocabulary, how it is acquired and measured, and vocabulary learning strategies, as well as how they are taught and acquired. The second part discusses why reading skill is important in foreign language learning, how it is taught and to which extent reading habits influence vocabulary acquisition, as well as finding the best reading technique to accomplish the vocabulary learning goal. The paper also includes a survey of relevant research in the aforementioned fields of language learning. The empirical research provides an insight into the learning strategies that students of English in Croatia exploit in order to acquire vocabulary, as well as students’ reading habits that improve the reading skill. Also, it explores the way in which they are connected with vocabulary learning. An academic word list vocabulary size test is used to examine students’ vocabulary breadth in order to compare it to the vocabulary learning strategies and reading habits they make use of.