YLE - Cambridge Young Learners English

The English Tests for Young Learners are designed to assess the English of primary learners between the ages of 7 and 12.

Young Learners English (YLE) is a reliable and consistent measure of how well children are doing in the skills of listening, speaking and reading and writing. Tests are designed to make learning fun and children are encouraged by working towards certificates and earning the 'shields' that record their progress.

There are three levels for children to work through, Starters, Movers and Flyers, with Starters being the first, aimed at young children with very basic skills.

The tests aim to sample relevant and meaningful language use, measure ability accurately and fairly, present a positive impression of international tests, and promote and encourage effective learning and teaching. Each level of the test has three components: Reading and Writing, Listening and Speaking.

As the highest level test Flyers is roughly equivalent in language level to the KET, it can serve as an appropriate bridge to the KET or a step leading to PET, as learners move into adolescence.

Reading and Writing
This is a paper and pencil test which lasts between 20 minutes (Starters) and 40 minutes (Flyers). Texts are short and constrained by a specified set of words and structures. Candidates perform simple operations such as selecting and ticking, writing words and phrases in gaps, or answering open-ended questions. Papers are sent to UCLES for marking.

Listening
This is also a paper and pencil test which lasts between 20 minutes (Starters and Flyers) and 25 minutes (Movers). As with the Reading and Writing paper, texts are limited in the language assessed to what is specified in the test specifications. Candidates listen to short recorded dialogues involving both child and adult speakers, and perform simple operations such as drawing lines, selecting, matching and colouring. Papers are sent to UCLES for marking.

Speaking
This is a face-to-face test which lasts between 5 and 10 minutes with suitably qualified, experienced and trained Examiners. Children perform various activities in response to prompts from the examiner using visual stimuli, and give simple information about themselve.