Listening
About 20 minutes · 4 parts · 20 questionsUnderstanding short spoken language and instructions.
Tuhina← All programmesPre A1
Pre A1 Starters
The first Cambridge English Qualification for young learners, introducing children to everyday spoken and written English through familiar topics.
Who it's for
Young learners taking their first step in the Cambridge English Qualifications pathway.
Cambridge exam snapshot
Know the
qualification.
These details summarise the current official Cambridge English qualification and exam format.
CEFR levelPre A1
Papers3
Total lengthApproximately 45 minutes
FormatPaper-based, with face-to-face Speaking
Reading & Writing
20 minutes · 5 parts · 25 questionsRecognising words, reading simple language and spelling answers.
Speaking
3–5 minutes · 4 partsResponding to an examiner using pictures, objects and familiar language.
What learners develop
Purposeful skills.
Visible progress.
01Listening to simple instructions, descriptions and questions
02Reading and copying short words, phrases and sentences
03Spelling very simple words
04Naming familiar people and things
05Describing objects and animals
06Responding to very simple questions
Inside the qualification
What candidates encounter.
- Listening activities across four parts
- Reading and writing tasks across five parts
- A short face-to-face speaking test
- Picture-based tasks and familiar everyday topics
- A certificate reporting achievement in shields
Skills demonstrated
What the level represents.
- Follow very short, simple stories
- Understand basic questions and instructions
- Use familiar words to identify people and things
- Give very simple spoken responses
- Show early ability across listening, speaking, reading and writing
Vocabulary resource
Build the words
for this level.
Pre A1 Starters Digital and A1 Movers Digital Wordlists
The official 20-page Cambridge resource containing vocabulary by topic, example language and alphabetic wordlists for Pre A1 Starters Digital and A1 Movers Digital.
Download the wordlist ↓About the qualification
Watch the
course overview.
Play the video here to learn more about Starters.
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