Cambridge listening A1

Hello Exam Seekers,

Last month I posted some general information about the Cambridge English YLE [Young Learners Exams]. If you havent read my texts yet, make sure you check them out:

• YLE Pre-A1 Starters an overview
• YLE A1 Movers an overview
• YLE A2 Flyers an overview

As for the past few weeks, Ive written more specifically about these exams, focusing on the Reading and Writing, Listening, and Speaking Exams. So far, Ive written:

• YLE Pre A1: Starters Reading and Writing Exam
• YLE A1: Movers Reading and Writing Exam
• YLE A2: Flyers Reading and Writing Exam

• YLE Pre A1: Starters Listening Exam

Now, Im going to talk about the CambridgeYLE A1 Movers Listening Examto explain how the exam works and help you guide your young learner to get the best score.

The A1 Movers Listening exam hasfive parts. Each part begins with one or two examples. Since this is a listening exam, children willhear the recording for each part twice. For all parts,children must spell their answers correctly.

It is a very friendly exam, with colorful pictures, and they are all activity-based. There are25 questionsthat must be answered in25 minutes. The test has to be done inpencil. For the listening exam, learners are required tobring colored pencilsfor part 5 of the exam.

Here is an overview task table:

As you can see, learners get1 markfor each correct answer. Now, lets dig into the tasks:

Part 1 Listen and draw lines

There is a big picture showing some people doing different things. Around the image, there are some names. Children must listen carefully to a conversation between an adult and a child and draw a line from each name to the correct person on the picture. Make sure learners pay close attention because there are extra names.

This task requires young learners to listen for names and descriptions and match them. Here is a sample:

Practice tips:Do plenty of practice describing people in pictures: their hair, their clothes, and what they are doing. Also, make sure that the learners know which first names on the vocabulary lists are male and which are female. Note that Alex, Kim, Pat, and Sam may refer either to a boy or a girl. Tell students that they must draw clean straight lines and that the starting and finishing points of the lines are visible. It doesnt matter if their lines cross over each other and cross other people in the picture as long as it is clear which person each line leads to.

Part 2 Note-Taking

There is a small picture showing something [i.e., animals]. Below the picture, there is a form or a page of a notebook with some missing words [gaps]. Children have to listen to the recording and write a missing word or a number] in each gap.

This task requires young learners to listen for names and numbers and spell them correctly in the right places. Here is a sample:

Practice tips:Make sure that the learners know what is expected of them in this task. They only need to write a word or a number to answer each question. Where a number is required, ask them to write the digit instead of spelling the numbers to avoid mistakes. However, some misspellings will be allowed for words that are not spelled out on the recording. Moreover, all the names and numbers [up to 100] come from the Movers vocabulary list [check the pdf file below]. Ensure that candidates realize that they have to write responses that make sense, given the prompts on the question paper. They should look at these prompts carefully and think about what they mean before listening to the recording.

Part 3 Listen and match

There are two sets of pictures. There are some pictures of people and their names or named places or objects with a box next to the names to be filled on the first page. On the other page, there is a set of pictures with letters but no words. Children have to listen to a conversation between two people and match each of the pictures on the right to one of the named pictures on the left. There are two extra pictures on the second page.

This task requires young learners to listen for words, names, and detailed information. Here is a sample:

Practice tips:Children have to match a picture from the right-hand page with one on the left-hand page. For example, they may have to match a picture to the person who took that picture, or an activity to the place where someone did that activity. Reading the introductory question above the pictures on the left-hand page before listening to the recording will help children to understand what the specific task is about. Also, make sure children realize that they will not hear information about the pictures in the order in which they appear on the page. Pictures on both the left and right-hand pages will be mentioned in random order.

Part 4 Listen and tick the box

There are five sets of pictures with a question [plus 1 set for the example]. Each set consists of a 3-option multiple choice with pictures. Children have to listen to five dialogues in which the speakers are clearly differentiated by age or gender, decide which picture shows the right answer to the question, and put a tick in the box under it.

This task requires young learners to listen for specific information of various kinds. Here is a sample:

Practice tips:Make sure that learners understand that they need to listen to the whole dialogue before deciding on their answer. Dont rush to answer, because they always mention all the images somehow in the recording.

Part 5 Listen and color

There is a big black and white picture with different objects and situations going on. This task consists of a dialogue in which an adult asks a child to color different things in a picture. Children need to listen carefully to a conversation between an adult and a child and color each object using the color they say in the conversation. There is one colored example.

This task requires young learners to know lexis, particularly names of colors, and prepositional phrases which describe exactly where something is [e.g. the bag behind the chair or the towel under the desk]. Here is a sample:

Practice tips:Make sure that learners understand what is expected of them in this part of the test, besides, ensure that they bring colored pencils [red, yellow, pink, green, orange, purple, blue, black, brown, and grey] to the test and that they are familiar with the names of the colors that they are expected to know at this level. Remember that they have to identify which one of the seven similar objects in the picture is being described and color it correctly. They should not color anything else in the picture except the objects that they are told to color. Also, reassure them that this is an English test and not a coloring skill test. They should focus on what they hear rather than worrying about how well they are coloring.

As I told you before, I am leaving here theA1 Movers Vocabulary listfor you to help learners to practice for the exams:

This exam should be done in 25 minutes, as I mentioned. It is vital that you practice this exam with the young learners so that they get familiar with this format. Otherwise, they might not know how to complete the gaps. So make sure you practice it with them whenever possible. This will build students confidence, and if they get them all correct, they will earn 5 shields.

Please leave a comment with questions or general comments, and make sure you check the answers below!

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Have a great week,
Patricia Moura