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Pre A1 · Starters

Starters English

Start your English journey with Pre A1 Starters – build confidence and learn basic everyday English. Take a free Reading & Writing practice test now!

Starters English
🌍

Real English

  • Understanding basic English content in books and on the internet.
  • Enjoying songs, television and films in English.
  • Making friends with English speakers.
📝

Placement Test

Try our free Cambridge English placement test for young learners (ages 6–12). Complete it in 20 minutes to find the right course level!

Young Learners English Level Test


Before You Begin 🎯

What You Need:

✅ A computer or tablet with internet
✅ Headphones or speakers (for listening)
✅ A quiet place to sit
✅ 20-30 minutes of time
✅ A positive attitude!

What This Test Is:

📚 A way for us to see what English you already know
🎮 Like a fun game with pictures and sounds
⏰ About 20-30 minutes long

Please type your name to get your results.

Please add your email address if you would like your results for the Young Learners English Level Test to be sent to you via email.

1 / 17

Look and read. Choose the correct answer.

ear

This is an ear.

2 / 17

Look and read. Choose the correct answer.

piano

This is a piano.

3 / 17

Look and read. Choose the correct answer.

This is a burger.

4 / 17

Look and read. Choose the correct answer.

plane

This is a plane.

5 / 17

Look and read. Choose the correct answer.

hippo

This is a horse.

6 / 17

Part 2
- 5 questions -

Look and read. Write Yes or No.

Examples

The boy is pointing at the map.Yes ✓
There is a backpack on the desk.No ✘


Questions

1It is a rainy day.
2Two students are sitting down.
3A boy is reading a book.
4The teacher is writing on the board.
5One boy is wearing blue shorts.

7 / 17

Part 3
- 6 Questions -

Read the story. Choose a word from the list.

Jack and Jill’s mum is a police officer. The children and their dad were at home last Tuesday evening when Mum phoned.

She said, ‘I have to do some more work here at the (1) . Ask Dad to make your dinner.’

‘Oh no!’ said Jack. ‘Dad can’t (2) !

The family looked for some food in the kitchen cupboards, but it looked like they needed to go to the (3) .

Luckily, they found some potatoes, tomatoes and carrots. ‘What can we make with these?’ asked Jack. ‘I’m very (4) !’ Then Jill said, ‘I know! We can make soup.’ Jack was not happy. He said, ‘I don’t like soup. I want pizza!’ ‘Sorry, Matt,’ Dad said. ‘We haven’t got any frozen pizzas in the fridge. We only have these (5) to eat for dinner.’

Jill and Dad made the soup. Then the three of them sat down and started eating. Jill asked Jack, ‘So, what do you think?’ ‘It’s delicious! I love it!’ Jack answered. ‘Can I have another (6) of soup, please?’ And they all laughed.

8 / 17

Part 4
- 5 Questions -

Read the text. Choose the right words in the spaces.

Bears are big, strong animals (1)  eat fish, meat and plants. They are different colours and can be big or small. They have hair (2)  their bodies which is called fur.

Sometimes, they can be loud and angry (3) they are clever and are good at hiding too. They have four legs, but they can stand on (4)  two back legs when they have to. They can climb and run quickly.

Bears are often found (5) in forests or mountains, and some live in very cold places in the snow.

1whenwhichwere
2oninat
3sobecausebut
4mytheirhim
5livinglivedlive

9 / 17

Part 5
- 7 questions -

Look at the picture and read the story. Write some words to complete the sentences about the story. You can use 1, 2, 3 or 4 words.

A Day at the Animal Park

Last Friday, Miss Evans took her class to the animal park for a science project. It was a warm, sunny day, and everyone was excited.

When they arrived, Miss Evans said, “Please stay with your groups and don’t run!”

The first animals they saw were the giraffes. “Can I feed them?” asked Tom. A zookeeper smiled and said, “Yes, but only with these leaves.” Tom gave the giraffe some leaves and laughed when it licked his hand.

Then the class walked to the elephant area. “They’re so big!” shouted Mia. Miss Evans explained how elephants use their trunks. The children listened carefully and asked lots of questions.

Later, two girls sat on a bench to eat their ice cream. “This is the best trip ever,” one of them said.

Just before they left, a monkey jumped into a tree and made everyone laugh.

Examples

The children visited the animal park on Friday.
Tom gave the giraffe some leaves to eat.

1. Miss Evans told the children not to .
2. Tom laughed when the giraffe .
3. The children saw the giraffes .
4. The elephants used their to move things.
5. Two girls sat down and on a bench.
6. Mia thought the elephants were .
7. A monkey jumped before the children left.

10 / 17

Part 6
-7 questions-

Read the diary and write the missing words. Write one word on each line.

We're staying in a small hotel near the beach. This morning, I got (1) early and went outside. The sun was already shining, and I could (2) the sea from our window.

After breakfast, we walked to the beach. The sand felt really (3) under our feet. My little brother wanted to (4) a sandcastle, so I helped him. Then we all went swimming. The water was colder (5) I thought, but we still had lots of fun.

(6) swimming, we played volleyball on the beach. Now we're going to have ice cream. I will choose chocolate (7) , that's my favourite flavour!

 

This is the listening section of the placement test.

A1 Listening Test,A2 Listening Test,Pre A1 Listening Test

 

11 / 17

Part 1
- 5 questions -

Look at the picture. Listen and look. There is one example.


Birthday Party
1: Becky

2:
3:
4:
5:
6:

12 / 17

Part 2
- 5 questions -

Look at the picture. Listen and write a name or a number.
There are two examples.

talking to Ben

Examples:

What's the boy's name?  Ben

Where does the boy live? Flower Street

1. How many brothers does the boy have?

2. What is his friend's name?

3. How old is his friend?

4. How often does he ride his bike? times a week

5. What is the name of the dog?

 

13 / 17

Part 3
-5 questions-

Jack is telling his mother about his friends from school and their different hobbies. What is each person’s favourite hobby?


cinema, new movie, B1 Preliminary Part 2swimming pool
ABCD
EFGH

BenD
Tom
Sally
Bill
Anna
Charlie

14 / 17

Part 3
-5 questions-

Who likes which hobby?
Listen and write a letter in each box. There is one example.

drums
ABCD
school cinema trip,A1 listening part 2swimming pool
EFGH

WilliamE
Vicky
Daisy
Richard
Fred
Peter

15 / 17

Part 4
-5 questions-

Look at the pictures. Listen and look. There is one example.

What clothes does Nick want to wear to school today?

fancy dress party
ABC


Answer: A

1. What does Nick see in the tree?

catshoechickens
ABC


Answer:

2. What does Harry like to do on Sunday afternoon?

cinema, new movie, B1 Preliminary Part 2shops
ABC


Answer:

3.  What does Mr. Brown have?

parrotlizardduck
ABC


Answer:

4. What is Sam's mum cooking for dinner?

saladpizzabeefburger, food and drink
ABC


Answer:

5. What can't Sally find?

rucksackcaptoothbrush
ABC


Answer:

 

16 / 17

Part 4
-5 questions-

Look at the pictures. Listen and look. There is one example.

What kind of party does Emma want?

cinema, new movie, B1 Preliminary Part 2swimming pool
ABC


Answer: A

1. Where will Emma's party be?

ABC


Answer:

2. What activity does Emma want most at her party?

film 
ABC


Answer:

3. What kind of cake will they have?

ABC


Answer:

4. What will Mum do at the party?

gym
ABC


Answer:

5.  How will most of Emma's friends get to the party?

taxi
ABC


Answer:

 

17 / 17

Part 5
-5 questions-

Listen and write a word next to the number. Use only one word. There is one example.

Exploring Space

1 =
2 =
3 =
4 = orange
5 =
6 =

 

Your score is

0%

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Starter Practice

Prepare for the Pre A1 Starters Reading and Writing test with our fun and interactive practice activities, designed especially for young learners at a starter level. Our resources follow the Cambridge English Qualifications for Young Learners (YLE) and help build confidence in essential exam skills. Bookmark our site today and enjoy unlimited access to practice anytime, anywhere!

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Starter Success

Alongside reading and writing practice, we regularly upload ESL listening and speaking exercises and videos specifically designed for the Pre A1 Starters test. These resources help young learners build confidence and improve their skills for the listening and speaking sections of the Cambridge English Starters exam.

Here are video of the full test from Cambridge Assessment English.

You see a big picture and you point to things. Then you put three things on the picture and answer questions about it.

You will see three pictures and you will answer three questions about each picture.

You will answer three questions with a word or short phrase.

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Links

We have many English exercises, resources and activities for young learners at a beginner and elementary level. So why not check out the different activities available as your English improves?