Young Learners: Tests for Children 7-12

Many parents have found that taking Cambridge exams significantly boosts children's interest in learning English. Taking Cambridge exams also helps build valuable experience of exam-taking, and the certificates earned serve as evidence of a serious attitude towards study for university admissions, and, importantly, confirm English proficiency at an international level.

The exams' main goal is to help children build confidence in their skills and increase their interest in further English learning. Many parents whose children have taken these tests confirm that the Cambridge Young Learners exams offer:

• motivation to keep learning English;
• a first experience of taking international exams;
• growing self-confidence;
• a memorable event for the child;
• engaging, fun exam tasks in a game-like format;
• good preparation for more serious exams in future;
• a significant life achievement, confirmed by an international Cambridge University certificate.

The Cambridge Young Learners exams have 3 levels of difficulty: Starters, Movers and Flyers. They're designed for children aged 7 to 12. The exams are structured to increase in difficulty, so children start with simple words and phrases at Starters level and gradually progress to more complex language at the Movers and Flyers levels.

The Cambridge Young Learners exams are based on developing language skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking, each assessed in the relevant part of the exam (every child takes a speaking test with a qualified examiner), so during lessons and preparation, children need to learn to actively use and speak English. This is good practice and builds their confidence.

Our observations confirm that children enjoy both preparing for and taking the Young Learners exams. The exams include tasks such as drawing or colouring, puzzles and jigsaws, which engage children and provide great motivation.

The Cambridge Young Learners exams set international English standards in primary education, for both learners and teachers.

All candidates take the exams to the same standards and receive a Cambridge English certificate.

Every child who takes a Young Learners exam receives a certificate at some level of achievement: up to 5 shields featuring the Cambridge crest for each language skill (listening, reading, writing and speaking). This clearly shows your child's progress and gives them good motivation to keep learning English.

Once a child has mastered the Flyers level on the Cambridge Young Learners scale, they can begin preparing for the Key English Test (KET) or Preliminary English Test (PET). These are international English certificates for older children and teenagers. Starting with Young Learners  and progressing to each next level, a child effectively masters English.

More information: YLE website.