A1 Movers (YLE Movers)

The second of three exams for children, at level A1. The child shows that they understand simple instructions and conversations and can express themselves in writing in a few sentences.

Apply for A1 Movers See the dates

There is no pass or fail: a child earns up to five shields for each of the three skills.

Level: A1
Length: about 1 hour
Format: paper-based or digital
Speaking test: the child talks one to one with the examiner
Fee: €89
Results: digital exam: 5 to 10 working days; paper-based: 4 to 6 weeks
Recommended for: children aged 9 to 10 (grade 4 or 5 of primary school)

What the certificate shows

Movers corresponds to level A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). It shows that a child can manage in simple, everyday situations in English and is making progress from year to year.

A candidate who passes the exam can

understand basic instructions and take part in a simple conversation
understand simple notices and short texts
fill in a simple form and write a short message with a time, date and place
describe a picture and tell a short story from pictures

What the exam consists of

Paper	Time	Content
Listening	about 25 minutes	5 parts, 25 questions
Reading and Writing	30 minutes	6 parts, 35 questions
Speaking	5–7 minutes	4 parts

Who we recommend it for

We recommend it for children who have taken Starters or have been learning English for two to three years.

The next step is A2 Flyers, the last exam for children.

How to prepare

Children prepare best through regular lessons at a language school or at their own primary school, with a teacher who knows the format. The exam does not call for learning by heart: the tasks are pictures, stories and conversation.

Ask your child's teacher whether they prepare the group for the exam, or find a preparation centre in your town.
At home, do one sample test from the Cambridge website together, so that your child sees what the exam looks like.
Cambridge publishes the word lists for Starters, Movers and Flyers free of charge.

Official Cambridge pages: Exam page, Sample tests and preparation materials

Dates and applying

Applications are accepted until the closing date shown with each session. After the closing date you can still apply up to ten days before the exam, for a late entry fee of €33, if there are places left.

No session is open for this exam at the moment. Write to us and we will tell you when we expect the next one. Write to us

All dates and fees

Questions about the exam

Can a child fail the exam?

No. There is no pass or fail in A1 Movers. For each of the three skills the child receives between one and five shields, and every child who sits the exam receives a certificate.

What is the Speaking test like?

The child talks one to one with the examiner for a few minutes, with pictures and simple questions. There is no writing and no reading aloud.

When do the results and the certificate arrive?

Results of the paper-based exam usually arrive in 4 to 6 weeks, and the certificate three to four weeks after the results. For the digital exam, results arrive in 5 to 10 working days. Children entered through a preparation centre receive their certificate at their school.