Hello ExamSeekers,
How are you today?
Well, last week, when I finished posting the overview of the YLE – Pre A1: Starters (make sure to check it out), I realized that there are still many exams to be covered, so I decided that I will divide the days of the week into posting days. One day I will be posting mainly about YLE (Young Learners Exams) and another day only for the Main Suite (A2-C2).
I will still separate a day to talk about methodology, as I did last Friday when I posted about the CELTA – Preparing a Lesson Plan [Part 2]. So don’t worry, there is still a lot of content to be covered. However, if you have a preference for something to be covered first, be sure to comment in the comment section below, okay?!
As for today, let’s talk about YLE – A1: Movers.
The A1 Movers, formerly known as Cambridge English: Movers (YLE Movers), is one of the Cambridge English Qualifications. It is the next step (after the Pre-A1 Starters) of a child’s language learning journey. It is the second exam of a series of three.
This exam is prepared specially for children ranging from 6 to 12 years old. As I mentioned in the previous text about the Pre A1 Starters, offering kids the opportunity to sit for these exams at a young age boosts their confidence. It also prepares them to deal better with any other examinations in the future.
They are fun, colorful, interactive, and activity-based. It’s an excellent way to get children interested in taking these exams and don’t feel threatened by them or feel that they are taking an exam at all.
By taking this exam, a child at an A1 level can answer questions about their everyday life.
These exams focus on the skills needed to communicate effectively in English through listening, speaking, reading, and writing. They are paper-based, and they take about 1 hour.
Listening: It takes about 25 minutes. It’s divided into 5 parts (25 questions overall). Each part begins with two examples. Children will listen to the recording twice.
Reading and Writing: It takes about 30 minutes. It’s divided into 6 parts (30 questions overall). Each part begins with one or two examples. For all parts of the Reading and Writing test, children must spell their answers correctly.
Speaking: It takes about 5-7 minutes. It’s divided into 4 parts. Children take the test alone with the examiner, but someone they know who speaks their language (like their teacher) will introduce them to the examiner and explain what to do in their own language.
Children take all their test papers within five days. The Listening paper is always taken before the Reading and Writing paper. By the way, this is the 2018 version (it’s the newest so far), and here is a list of what you will find in each of the papers:
There is no pass or fail at this level. All children receive a certificate showing the number of shields they have received (up to five shields) for each part of the test. A result of one shield means a child can improve a lot in that skill. Five shields mean that a child did very well in that skill and answered most questions correctly.
Also, the back of the certificate shows how the results align with the CEFR. If a child has achieved 4 or 5 shields in each skill, they are ready to start preparing for the next Cambridge English exam – A2 Flyers.
The children will also receive a Statement of Results, which includes the number of shields they have received for each part of the test, information on their strengths, areas for improvement, and ideas on how to improve. This Statement of Result is also available in Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, Russian, Turkish, and Vietnamese. Here is a sample of the Statement of Result in English:
Schools and parents will be able to access learner results directly through their preparation center and Cambridge Online Results Service as soon as they’re available.
Well, I guess this is it for now. An A1 Movers certificate is a great way to celebrate children’s achievement, build their confidence and reward their own individual ability. So if you are a parent and are still deciding if you will give your children this opportunity, I do recommend it! Here is a booklet with some info to help you prepare your children at home. Next time I’ll bring some information on A2 Flyers, and tips to prepare and take the YLE Exams.
I hope that this overview was useful. Soon there will be more updated content for you! Also, don’t forget to follow the blog on:
You can also listen to this post at Anchor!
Have a great week,
Patricia Moura