What you'll learn
- Listening
- Reading
- Writing
- Speaking
Young Learners' English Test
LRN Young Learners (YL) English Tests are designed for primary school-aged children seeking to develop their English language skills through exposure to everyday spoken and written English. These tests focus on familiar topics to enhance learners’ confidence and improve their English abilities. The YL tests align with the language proficiency descriptions in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and the levels in the National Qualifications Framework for England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Course Overview
The YL English Tests (Pre A1, A1, A2) cater to non-native English speakers beginning their English language journey. Candidates must demonstrate and meet the criteria for their chosen level, with expected language proficiency corresponding to the CEFR for Young Learners.
Target Audience
Primary school-aged children from diverse national and cultural backgrounds interested in taking the YL English Tests.
Course Materials:
For an enjoyable English learning experience, download the Young Learners English app: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/young-learners-english/id1493416855
Introduction
This document offers an overview and orientation of the YL English Tests for candidates, centers, administrators, teachers, and examiners, outlining the key features and administrative procedures required for this assessment.
Objective
The YL English Tests (Pre A1, A1, A2) aim to provide non-native English speakers with a solid foundation for learning English. Candidates must demonstrate and meet the criteria based on their chosen level, with language proficiency corresponding to the CEFR for Young Learners.
Candidates
Primary school-aged children from diverse national and cultural backgrounds are the target audience for the YL English Tests.
Entry Requirements
No prior knowledge, understanding, or qualifications are necessary for candidates to register for these tests. However, Aspire Education recommends thorough preparation, with sample materials available on the LRN website. LRN-approved centers ensure candidates are well-prepared by employing trained teachers and appropriate resources.
Progression
The YL English Tests are designed to enable candidates to progress from one level to another (Pre A1, A1, A2), and eventually to B1 and above.
Language of Assessment
Aspire Education aims to use plain, clear, unbiased, and age-appropriate English for YL candidates. Assessments and related materials are written in English and rigorously checked by LRN officers and subject specialists. Teachers are expected to ensure their materials are clear, diverse, and suitable for YL English Test candidates.
Qualification Overview
The YL English Tests are based on the CEFR and assess listening, reading and writing, and speaking components. The total qualification time is 304 hours for each of the three levels.
Qualification Features
The YL English Tests assess four language skills: listening, reading and writing, and speaking, with references to the CEFR in the mark schemes to demonstrate alignment between the test and the CEFR.
Results
LRN-trained examiners mark the writing and speaking components, with results issued within 4-6 weeks of receiving the candidate results from the test center. Reading and writing components are marked by clerical markers using answer keys, while speaking examinations are conducted by one examiner and recorded. All assessments are externally assessed by an LRN-approved examiner.
Reading/Writing
The evaluation of Reading/Writing and Listening components in LRN YL Entry Level Certificates for ESOL is conducted by clerical markers utilizing answer keys for each respective question paper. In order to maintain a standardized assessment for each exam, Listening clerical markers undergo induction training, followed by standardization exercises before evaluating each paper, as needed.
Subsequently, the moderation team reviews the results in alignment with LRN’s moderation policy. Once the moderation process is completed, the moderated results are submitted to the Lead Moderator for final approval.
Speaking & Reading/Writing
The Speaking examination is administered by a single examiner, who has been trained by LRN, and the assessment is recorded using a dictaphone. Marks are allocated for speaking as well as reading and writing skills for each candidate, following the LRN YL Entry Level Certificates in ESOL marking scheme. The LRN YL Entry Level Certificates in ESOL are 100% externally assessed by an approved LRN examiner.
Speaking sub-skills are evaluated in pairs. In cases where there are an odd number of registered candidates, a dummy candidate will be utilized as a pairing partner.
After the assessment, the moderation team reviews the results in compliance with LRN’s moderation policy. The moderated results are subsequently submitted to the Lead Moderator for final approval.
Grading
Results are reported as distinction, merit, pass, or fail grades based on the following minimum marks:
0-39: Fail
40-51: Pass
52-63: Merit
64+: Distinction
Administration and Assessment Delivery
The YL English Tests last between 45 minutes and 1 hour 14 minutes, with the main test session (reading and writing, listening) taking approximately 40 minutes (YL Pre A1), 50 minutes (YL A1), and 1 hour 5 minutes (YL A2) in a continuous assessment session on the same day (with a short break between each component). Speaking tests are scheduled one to three days before or after the main test session.
One invigilator is assigned to every 15 candidates for reading and writing, listening, with an additional invigilator to accompany candidates in instances where they are leaving the assessment room for any reason. The invigilator is responsible for checking candidate identification and ensuring their presence throughout the assessment. Invigilators also ensure that candidates have no unauthorized materials in the examination room.
For more information on the course, exam, or certification, please email us at: contact@aspireducation.com
