Designed to assess the English language skills of children aged between six and twelve, Cambridge English: Young Learners (YLE) exams are available at three assessment levels (Pre A1 Starters, A1 Movers and A2 Flyers) that encourage children to work by monitoring their progress.
Young Learners
Pre A1 Starters
Pre A1 Starters is the first of three Cambridge English: Young Learners (YLE) tests for children between the ages of 6 and 12. This test will encourage your child to learn English from an early age and create a positive attitude to language tests.
Level of qualification: Preliminary.
Who should take this test?
Children who take the test are usually between the ages of 6 and 8, and have had about 100 hours of English lessons.
In the test your child will need to:
- recognise colours in English
- answer very simple questions about themselves
- write short one-word answers to basic questions.
What happens when my child takes this test?
There is no pass or fail for the test. Your child can get a maximum of five shields for each part of the test. The number of shields they are awarded for each part will be shown on their certificate. They will receive the certificate about six weeks after taking the test.
| Listening | Reading and Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|
| 20 mins Maximum five shields |
20 mins Maximum five shields |
3-5 mins Maximum five shields |
A1 Movers
A1 Movers is the second of three Cambridge English: Young Learners (YLE) tests for children between the ages of 6 and 12. This test will encourage your child to communicate in real-life situations in English and create a positive attitude to language tests.
Level of qualification: Beginner = A1 on the Common European Framework.
Who should take this test?
Children who take the test are usually between the ages of 9 and 10, and have had about 175 hours of English lessons.
In the test your child will need to:
- understand basic instructions in English
- fill out a simple form or respond to questions about themselves
- answer questions and write down simple facts (such as days of the week, times or names) they hear or read in a children’s story.
What happens when my child takes this test?
There is no pass or fail for the test. Your child can get a maximum of five shields for each part of the test. The number of shields they are awarded for each part will be shown on their certificate. They will receive the certificate about six weeks after taking the test.
| Listening | Reading and Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|
| 25 mins Maximum five shields |
30 mins Maximum five shields |
5-7 mins Maximum five shields |
A2 Flyers
A2 Flyers is the highest of three Cambridge English: Young Learners (YLE) tests for children between the ages of 6 and 12. This test shows that your child can understand simple English in everyday situations and can communicate in basic English.
Level of qualification: Elementary = A2 on the Common European Framework.
Who should take this test?
Children who take the test are usually between the ages of 11 and 12, and have been learning English as a second language for two to three years at school (about 250 hours of English classes). In the test your child will need to:
- explain the differences between two stories or pictures
- write or tell a short story in English
- ask questions and use the past tense. A2 Flyers test is equivalent to the A2 Key for Schools (KET for Schools).
What happens when my child takes this test?
There is no pass or fail for the test. Your child can get a maximum of five shields for each part of the test. The number of shields they are awarded for each part will be shown on their certificate. They will receive their certificate about six weeks after taking the test.
| Listening | Reading and Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|
| 25 mins Maximum five shields |
40 mins Maximum five shields |
7-9 mins Maximum five shield |
Sitting for Cambridge English Young Learners examinations in Sri Lanka and the Maldives
Register for the Young Learners exams in Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
Young Learner results are issued approximately six weeks after the date of your examination. Everyone who completes their test receives an award, which focuses on what they could do (not what they couldn’t do). It gives them credit for having taken part in the test.
Watch this video of students like you to find out what our candidates say about their experience of sitting their exams with the British Council.