Pre A1 Starters (YLE Starters)

Duration: about 20 minutes

Number of parts: 4 parts

Candidates write their answers in the question paper booklet using pen or pencil in parts 1 to 3 and coloured pencils or markers in part 4.

Number of questions: 20 questions in total

Marks: a maximum of five shields

Part 1 (5 questions)

A big picture which shows people doing different things. Above and below the picture are some names. Candidates have to listen carefully to a conversation between an adult and a child and draw a line from each name to the correct person on the big picture

Part 2 (5 questions)

A short conversation between a child and an adult and some questions. Candidates will listen to the recording and write the correct answer (a name or a number) after each question.

Part 3 (5 questions)

Five short conversations between different pairs of people. For each conversation there is a question and three pictures. Candidates need to listen carefully to each conversation and choose the right answer (A, B or C).

Part 4 (5 questions)

A big picture which has seven examples of the same object (for example seven balls or seven books). Candidates need to listen carefully to a conversation between an adult and a child and colour (black, blue, brown, green, grey, orange, pink, purple, red, yellow) each object using the colour they say in the conversation.     

Duration: 20 minutes

Number of parts: 5 parts

Candidates write their answers in the question paper booklet using pen or pencil.

Number of questions: 25 questions in total

Marks: a maximum of five shields

Part 1 (5 questions)

Five pictures of objects. Under each picture there is a sentence which begins ‘This is a…’ or ‘These are…’. If the sentence is correct, candidates should put a tick next to the picture. If the sentence is not true, candidates should put a cross.

Part 2 (5 questions)

A big picture and some sentences about it. If the sentence is correct, candidates should write 'yes'; if the sentence is not true, candidates should write 'no'.

Part 3 (5 questions)

Five pictures of objects. Candidates have to find the right word in English for the object. After each picture there are some dashes (- - -) to show how many letters are in the word, and some jumbled letters. Candidates have to put the jumbled letters in the right order to make the word.

Part 4 (5 questions)

A semi-factual text which has some missing words (gaps). Below the text there is a box with some pictures and words. Candidates have to choose the right words from the box and copy it into each gap.

Part 5 (5 questions)

Three pictures which tell a story. Each picture has one or two questions. Candidates have to look at the pictures and write the answer to each question. Candidates only have to write one word for each answer.

Duration: 3-5 minutes

Number of parts: 4 parts

Marks: a maximum of five shields

Part 1

After asking the candidate ‘What’s your name?’, the examiner familiarises the candidate with the picture first and then asks the candidate to point out certain items on the scene picture, e.g. ‘Where’s the door?’ The examiner then asks the candidate to put two object cards in various locations on the scene picture, e.g. ‘Put the robot on the red chair.’.

Part 2

The examiner asks questions about two of the people or things in the scene picture, e.g. ‘What’s this?’ (Answer: banana) or ‘What colour is it?’ (Answer: yellow). The examiner also asks the candidate to describe an object from the scene, e.g. ‘Tell me about this box.’   

Part 3

The examiner asks questions about four object cards, e.g. ‘What’s this?’ (Answer: (juice/orange juice)) and ‘What do you drink for lunch?

Part 4

The examiner asks questions about the candidate, e.g. ‘Which sport do you like?’ .

Time: maximum 40 minutes

Tasks: 5 (25 questions)

For the Listening test, headphones with volume control help test takers listen comfortably and concentrate to perform the best of their abilities. Test takers use their mouse to select and submit their answers. The Pre A1 Starters Digital Listening test is a digital component consisting of five tasks. Each task starts with an example. In most tasks, children will hear the audio twice. In task 4, they can listen as many times as they need.

Marks: a maximum of 5 shields

Task 1: Minimal differences (2 questions)

Candidates listen to a short sentence or phrase and select the correct picture from a choice of three. They practise hearing the different letter sounds in words.

Task 2: Story scene (5 questions)
Candidates listen to and understand details in a story, as well as select correct pictures from a choice of three. They practise listening to short, simple stories at this level. 

Task 3: Note-taking (5 questions)

Candidates listen for spellings and numbers, and drag and drop letters and numbers to complete a set of notes. They practise spelling and writing words, counting and pronouncing numbers.

Task 4: Interactive dialogue (3 questions)

Candidates listen to questions/prompts and choose the appropriate response from a choice of three. They practise answering open and closed questions with short replies.

Task 5: Picture editing (5 questions)

Candidates listen to the descriptions and follow the instructions by dragging and dropping objects into the correct place in the picture (questions 1-3) and by colouring objects with digital crayons (questions 4 and 5). They practise using prepositions, colours, acting on instructions, asking and answering questions about where something is.

Time: maximum 25 minutes

Tasks: 5

The Pre A1 Starters Digital Reading and Writing test is a digital component consisting of five tasks. Each task starts with an example. Test takers use their keyboard and mouse to select, compose and submit their answers. 

Marks: a maximum of 5 shields

Task 1: Information posters (5 questions)

Candidates read a short phrase on a poster and choose the correct picture from a choice of three to add to it. They practise matching pictures to words from the Pre A1 Digital wordlist.

Task 2: Online messages (5 questions)

Candidates read a text/online message exchange and choose the correct picture, emoji, or sticker from a choice of three. They practise reading and responding to short messages.

Task 3: Spelling (5 questions)

Candidates complete words by choosing the correct letter combinations (questions 1 and 2) and unscrambling the letters (questions 3-5). They practise spelling short, simple words. 

Task 4: Factual topic (5 questions)

Candidates read some sentences on a factual topic and drag and drop a word to fill the gap in each sentence. They practise reading short factual texts, guessing what missing words might be.

Task 5: Comic book story (5 questions)

Candidates type one-word answers to questions about a picture story. They practise copying words from a story (questions 1-3) and writing words identified in a picture (questions 4-5). 

Time: 3-5 minutes

Tasks: 4

The Pre A1 Starters Digital Speaking test is a face-to-face component consisting of four tasks. 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.

Marks: a maximum of 5 shields

Task 1: Scene picture and object cards

Candidates point to correct parts of a picture, and place object cards on the scene picture as directed. They practise identifying people, animals and things in different pictures.

Task 2: Scene picture

Candidates give short answers to questions, including a "Tell me about..." question. They practise answering simple questions about pictures.

Task 3: Object cards

Candidates give short answers to questions. They practise giving one-word answers to simple questions about pictures.

Task 4: Personal questions

Candidates give short answers to questions. They practise answering questions on basic information about themselves.