Understanding

YLE

Aims of this seminar

• to ensure understanding of the format and content of

the YLE tests

• to analyse the tasks used in the YLE tests

• to consider the testing focuses of different parts

• to highlight the progression in level of the tests

• to consider the assessment criteria

• to suggest exam tips and classroom preparation ideas

The Listening test

Overview of the Listening tests

Length

(approximate)

Number of

tasks

Number of

questions

Starters 20 minutes 4 20

Movers 25 minutes 5 25

Flyers 25 minutes 5 25

Task types

Part Starters Movers Flyers

1

Draw lines between

object and scene

Draw lines to match

names to people in

a picture

Draw lines to match names

to people in a picture

2 Write numbers and

names

Write words or numbers

in gaps

Write words or numbers

in gaps

3

Choose correct

option from three

pictures

Draw lines from days of

week to correct picture

Match pictures with

illustrated word or name

4

Carry out

instructions, locate

objects and colour

correctly

Choose correct option

from three pictures

Choose correct option from

three pictures

5

Carry out instructions to

colour and draw or write

correctly

Carry out instructions to

colour and draw or write

correctly

Similarities between the tests

• identical format

• choose the correct picture

• question written and spoken

• key information given once

• understand the overall meaning

• answer may come at any point

• understand whole dialogue, not just one word

Progression up the levels (1)

• number of objects

• increased detail in pictures

• tasks more complex

2 3

Progression up the levels (2)

Starters Movers Flyers

one repeated object range of objects

colour only colour and

write/draw

colour, write and

draw

short, predictable

exchanges

more varied exchanges

varied length

limited range of

language

wider range of language

more natural-

sounding language

object and colour

given twice

object twice,

colour once

no repetition

Part 2 format

Part Starters Movers Flyers

2 dialogue dialogue dialogue

write numbers

and names

write words or

numbers in gaps

write words or

numbers in gaps

Skills for Starters Part 2

Candidates have to:

• recognise and write letters of the alphabet

• recognise and write numbers 1–20

• pick out key information

Skills for Movers Part 3

Candidates have to:

• draw a line linking day and picture

• recognise sound–spelling relationship for days

• understand language for daily activities,

weather, etc.

• pick out key information

Skills for Flyers Part 3

Candidates have to:

• match pictures to a word or name

• write a letter in the correct box

• read instructions for context and task

• understand overall meaning

• choose correct answer

The Reading and

Writing test

Overview of the Reading and

Writing Tests

Length Number of

tasks

Number of

questions

Starters 20 minutes 5 25

Movers 30 minutes 6 40

Flyers 40 minutes 7 50

Part 2 language Starters

there is/are

present continuous

numbers

have got

prepositions of place

Movers comparatives and superlatives

adjectives

quantifiers

Flyers more complex sentences

relative clauses

in/with for possessions, hair type, etc.

Movers Part 4 Starters Movers Flyers

Kind of text a story

Language in text present simple, past

simple, conjunctions,

longer sentences,

several paragraphs

Number of gaps 6

Type of words missing Nouns, verbs,

adjectives

Number of distractors 2

Picture support? yes

Global comprehension

task? yes

Starters, Movers, Flyers Part 4

Starters Movers Flyers

Kind of text descriptive,

factual

a story a story

Language in text present simple,

short

sentences

present simple, past

simple, conjunctions,

longer sentences,

several paragraphs

past simple,

present simple

(direct speech),

conjunctions,

longer sentences,

several paragraphs

Number of gaps 5 6 5

Type of words missing nouns Nouns, verbs,

adjectives

nouns, verbs,

adjectives, adverbs

Number of distractors 2 2 4

Picture support? yes yes no

Global comprehension

task? no yes yes

Progression up the levels

• length of text

• language in text

• sentence length

• number of distractors

• picture support

• language needed for answers

Movers and Flyers Part 5

Movers

10 questions

1, 2 or 3 words

3 pictures

text in 3 sections

questions in 3 groups

Flyers

7 questions

1, 2, 3 or 4 words

1 picture

text in one block (with

paragraphs)

questions all together

on opposite page

Part 5 exam tips

• spot mistakes to begin with

• underline parts of the text where the

information is

• work on paraphrase

Why is correct spelling required?

• part of ‘knowing’ a word

• all words appear on the page

• increases fairness

• ease of marking

• little impact on grading

The Speaking test

1 2

Test set-up

In the Speaking Test there is …….. examiner

and ………… candidate.

The candidate is taken into the room and

introduced to the examiner by …………….

At the start of the test, the examiner ……….

one

one

an usher

starts with a greeting and introduces him/herself

Starters Parts 3–5

Part 3

four questions

name the object

say what colour it is

say how many there are

what’s the (x) …ing?

Part 4

three questions

what’s this/what are these?

yes/no question

wh… question

Part 5 questions about themselves

3 4

Starters assessment criteria

• Reception – listening and interaction

• Production – language: words and phrases

• Production – pronunciation

3 4

Part 1 – types of differences

• number

• colour

• size

• position

• weather

• activity

• clothes

• different object/animal, etc.

• direction (up/down, etc.)

• opposites (round/square, etc.)

• There is/are

• This is (blue) but

• comparatives

• prepositions of place

• weather vocabulary

• present continuous

• action verbs

• opposite adjectives and

adverbs

Types of differences Language needed

Picture stories:

examiner expectations

Candidates are only expected to say

a few words about each picture in the

sequence without necessarily developing

these comments into a narrative.

YLE Handbook 2006 p.21 and p.32

5

Movers assessment criteria

• Reception – listening and interaction

• Production – appropriacy, extent and

promptness of response

• Production – pronunciation

Tips for picture stories

In the classroom:

• grammatical structures

• actions and feelings

In the test:

• all the pictures

6

Flyers assessment criteria

• Reception – listening and interaction

• Production – appropriacy, extent and

promptness of response

• Production – grammar and vocabulary

• Production – pronunciation

Flyers Part 2 task

Emma’s room

colour/walls green

pictures yes – animals

where/bed next to the window

upstairs/downstairs downstairs

what/newest thing computer

7

Flyers Part 2 – key points

• examiner first

• different order

• yes/no question

• two-option question

• short phrases

• communication

Speaking tests –

common features • set-up of the tests

• topics chosen to meet children’s interests

• tests are scripted

• variety of materials to use

• tasks at each level are always the same

• emphasis on communication

• talk about themselves and pictures

Progression up the levels

• length of test

• input from examiner

• amount of language to produce

• assessment criteria

• cognitive challenge

• pictures more abstract

• produce questions (Flyers)

8

Websites

www.CambridgeESOL.org/

www.teachers.CambridgeESOL.org/ts/

Teachers’ seminars

Handbook

Sample/Past Papers

Exam Report

DVD – ‘All about YLE’

Leaflet for parents and guardians

‘How to do well in the Cambridge YLE Tests’

Support for teachers

Further information

University of Cambridge

ESOL Examinations

1 Hills Road, Cambridge, CB1 2EU, UK

Tel: +44 (0)1223 553997

Fax: +44 (0)1223 553621

Email: esolhelpdesk@cambridgeesol.org

Keep up to date with what’s new via the Cambridge ESOL website:

www.CambridgeESOL.org