General English for children

Cambridge English Qualifications: Starters is the first of three Cambridge English Qualifications: Young Learners (YLE) tests for children between the ages of 7 and 12. This test will encourage your child to learn English from an early age and create a positive attitude to language tests. It offers a reliable and consistent measure of how well a child is doing in the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing.  Achieving a YLE Starters certificate allows your child to progress to advance to the next level: YLE Movers.

Level of qualification: Preliminary.

Who should take this test?

Children who take the test are usually between the ages of 7 and 8.

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 a month after taking the test.

Cambridge English Qualifications: Movers is the second of three Cambridge English Qualifications: Young Learners (YLE) tests for children between the ages of 7 and 12. This test will encourage your child to communicate in real-life situations in English and create a positive attitude to language tests. It offers a reliable and consistent measure of how well a child is doing in the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing.  Achieving the YLE Movers certificate allows your child to progress to the next level: YLE Flyers.

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 8 and 11.

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 a month after taking the test.

Cambridge English Qualifications: Flyers is the highest of three Cambridge English Qualifications: Young Learners (YLE) tests for children between the ages of 7 and 12. This test shows that your child can understand simple English in everyday situations and can communicate in basic English.  It offers a reliable and consistent measure of how well a child is doing in the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing.  Achieving the YLE Flyers certificate allows your child to aim for Key English Test for Schools (KET for Schools) or Preliminary English Test for Schools (PET for Schools).

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 9 and 12, and have been learning English as a second language for two to three years at school

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. The Cambridge English Qualifications: Flyers test is equivalent to the Cambridge English Qualifications: Key for Schools (KETfS).

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 a month after taking the test.

 Key English Test (KET) for Schools is an English language qualification at A2 of the Council of Europe’s Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. The test demonstrates that pupils are able to communicate at a basic level in English.

Preparing for the test equips learners with real-life language skills that can be used in everyday communication. The exam has been designed for students aged between 11 and 14 and uses topics specifically targeted at the interests and experience of school pupils.

Key English Test (KET) for Schools can provide pupils with an elementary level English language qualification that shows the learner can understand basic written English, communicate in familiar situations and ask and respond to questions about simple spoken directions.

Level of qualification: Elementary = A2 on the Common European Framework.

Who should take this exam?

This exam is the first step in building your English language skills for work or study in the future. To take the exam you should be able to:

• ask and answer questions about yourself and others
• understand announcements and instructions when people speak slowly and clearly
• tell people what you think about something you read or hear.

What is the exam format?

There are three parts to the exam. You do the Reading and Writing and the Listening papers on the same day. You may need to return to do the Speaking on a different day. You do the Speaking with two examiners and one other exam candidate.

Preliminary English Test (PET) for Schools is an English language qualification at B1 of the Council of Europe’s Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. The test demonstrates that pupils are able to communicate at an intermediate level in English. The exam has been designed for students aged between 11 and 14 and uses topics specifically targeted at the interests and experience of school pupils.

Preparing for the test equips learners with real-life language skills that can be used to communicate with native speakers for everyday purposes.

 Level of qualification: Intermediate = B1 on the Common European Framework.

Who should take this exam?

Studying for the PET for Schools will improve your English so that you can communicate when travelling or dealing with English speakers for work.

To take the exam you should be able to:

• express your likes and dislikes, and discuss them with others
• understand spoken and written announcements and instructions
• write a personal letter or take notes from a meeting or discussion.

What is the exam format?

There are three parts to the exam. You do the Reading and Writing and the Listening papers on the same day. You may need to return to do the Speaking on a different day. You do the Speaking with two examiners and one other exam candidate.

First Certificate in English (FCE) for Schools is an English language qualification at B2 of the Council of Europe’s Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. The test demonstrates that pupils are able to communicate at an upper intermediate level in English. Preparing for the test equips learners with real-life language skills that can be used to communicate at a high level with  native and non-native speakers of English in both work and everyday life situations.

The exam has been designed for students aged between 11 and 14 and uses topics specifically targeted at the interests and experience of school pupils. FCE is globally recognised by universities, employers and governments.

Level of qualification: Upper Intermediate = B2 on the Common European Framework.

Who should take this exam?

You should study for the FCE for Schools if you want to work in an English-speaking environment, live in an English-speaking country or study a foundation-level or pre-university course taught in English.

To take the exam you should be able to:

• write short reports and emails
• explain an idea or have a detailed discussion in English
• understand general English on TV and in newspapers.

What is the exam format?

There are four parts to the FCE for School exam. You will complete papers Reading and use of English, Writing and Listening on the same day. The Speaking may be on the same or a different day. You do the speaking part with two examiners and one other candidate.