Pre A1 Starters Practice Tests

What is Pre A1 Starters?

Pre A1 Starters (often called Cambridge Starters or YLE Starters) is the first of the three Cambridge English Qualifications for young learners, followed by A1 Movers and A2 Flyers. It is set by Cambridge University Press & Assessment for children aged roughly 6 to 12 who are just beginning English, and it tests the level below A1 on the CEFR scale: simple words, short phrases and very basic questions about everyday things such as family, animals, colours and the classroom.

The whole exam takes about 45 minutes. The standard version is taken on paper at an authorised centre, with a face-to-face Speaking test. Cambridge also offers Pre A1 Starters Digital, where the Listening and Reading & Writing papers are done on a computer or laptop (not a tablet) and the Speaking test is still face to face. Both versions test the same skills at the same level. The current task types were introduced in Cambridge’s 2018 revision of the young learners tests and are described in its 2024 handbook for teachers.

Who takes Starters and why

Most candidates are primary-school children. Schools and language academies use Starters as a first, friendly experience of an English exam, and parents use it to see what their child can already do. It is not an admissions or visa test: its purpose is to motivate young children and give them a clear, positive goal.

Starters works best when a child can:

• recognise and spell common words from the official Cambridge word list;
• understand short, slow instructions such as “Put the ball under the chair”;
• answer simple questions about their name, age and favourite things.

Children who finish Starters comfortably usually move on to A1 Movers about a year later.

Pre A1 Starters format at a glance

In Listening, each recording is played twice, and children answer by drawing lines, writing names or numbers, ticking pictures and colouring. The Speaking test is one child with one examiner, who begins with a simple greeting to help the child relax.

Results: how the shields work

There is no pass mark. Every child who takes the exam receives a certificate, and each paper is shown with one to five shields, so the best possible result is 15 shields in total. Five shields means the child did very well on that skill; fewer shields show where there is still room to grow. The back of the certificate explains how the young learners exams link to the CEFR, and Cambridge also maps the results to the Cambridge English Scale.

Results for the digital version usually arrive 5 to 10 days after the exam; paper-based results take longer. Cambridge certificates do not expire. Fees and dates are set by each exam centre, so check the fee in your country.

How to prepare with 7ESL

Our Starters practice tests are written in the public Starters format, so your child meets every task type before exam day. You can take a full test or practise one skill at a time:

• Listening practice – clear audio at a child-friendly speed, with instant marking;
• Reading & Writing practice – picture tasks, yes/no questions and spelling, all marked automatically;
• Speaking practice – the examiner’s questions are read aloud, then there is a quiet pause for your child to answer, followed by a model answer.

Each test uses a different topic, such as the park, the kitchen or the zoo, so vocabulary builds up naturally. Shields and XP keep young learners motivated.

Tips for parents

Keep practice short: one paper a day is plenty at this age. Sit with your child for the Speaking practice and let them point at the picture as they answer, just as they will in the real test. Praise full answers, but remember that one-word answers are often acceptable at Starters level. On exam day, bring the pencils and coloured pencils the centre asks for, and make sure your child knows the examiner is friendly and will help if they get stuck.