Yes, use the plunger to check the water level. Also, if you are concerned the toilet may overflow, make sure you know exactly where the water valve is so you can quickly stop the flow of water if need be. (It's usually to the side or behind the toilet close to the ground. Find the water pipe coming out of the wall and trace it to the valve if that works better for you.)

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Here's a final tip... We have an old toilet in the main bathroom of this house and sometimes it has issues. If the plunger won't work when it's not flushing correctly, this is what I do...

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Turn off the water valve then flush the toilet. It shouldn't take long for all of the water to drain into the main pipe.

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Now, grab a bottle of dishwashing liquid and pour a generous amount into the toilet. I mean use a bunch. (I buy really cheap bottles of dishwashing liquid on amazon for this exact purpose!)

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Let it sit for ten minutes.

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Now, pour a gallon or gallon and a half of hot water into the toilet and let it sit for 20 to 30 minutes. You may hear it drain down as you pour it into the toilet, this is fine.

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This process lubricates the pipe and can help get a clog to go through to the main sewer pipe.

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Important! Do not pour in boiling water! It can crack the pvc portion of your pipe. You want the water hot but not hot enough that you can't put your finger in it.

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Now, turn the water valve back on and flush. It should flush normally. If not, then you may need to snake the toilet. That is beyond my expertise but hopefully you don't need that done.

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Every so often, you can lift the lid off of the toilet tank and squirt in some dishwashing liquid. This can help in preventing small clogs.

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I hope this helps!

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Always keep a plunger by the toilet in case it happens. Usually you can tell if a toilet is clogged if there's a delay before you hear a flush. If you don't hear a flush, time to break out the plunger! When using the plunger, make sure you flush the toilet and plunge at a 45 degree angle. Hope this helps!