The Young Learners Tests of English (YLTE) are a set of English language tests for learners in primary and middle grades. The tests are developed by CaMLA, a not-for-profit collaboration between the University of Michigan and the University of Cambridge.
Contents
The YLTE are designed to be fun and motivating tests that have a positive impact on young learners and their subsequent language learning. They can be taken by any learner, regardless of the school they attend.
The tests cover all four language skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking. They focus on American English and are available at three levels: Bronze (beginner), Silver and Gold (early intermediate).
Test format
The YLTE is a pen-and-paper test. Students need to bring colored pencils or pens (red, blue, green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, black, brown and gray) and an ordinary pen or pencil.
The Bronze, Silver and Gold tests all have three test sections:
The printed test booklets use American English spellings and vocabulary. However, both British and American English are accepted in the student’s written answers and in the speaking test.
Bronze
The YLTE Bronze test has the following test sections:
Silver
The YLTE Silver test has the following test sections:
Gold
The YLTE Gold test has the following test sections:
Scoring
There is no pass/fail score. All test takers receive a certificate, which has the following information:
Students are given a score for each section of the test so they can see the areas in which they have done well and the areas in which they need to improve (a score of five medals means the student did very well in that skill and a score of one medal means the student can improve significantly in that skill).
Students who achieve a total of 10 medals or more are ready to start preparing for the next level. The following table shows the percentage of test takers in 2014 who achieved 10 or more medals at the Bronze, Silver and Gold levels:
Certificates are sent to the test taker’s school/center within 12 business days of receipt of the test booklets at the scoring center.
Usage
The YLTE are designed to be used as a positive and motivating way to prepare students for future English-language learning and help them develop their English skills, rather than as an institutional measurement device. The tests can be used to celebrate the student’s achievements and show parents the progress they are making.
The YLTE is taken by students living in many different countries around the world, such as: Afghanistan, Albania, Brazil, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Colombia, Greece, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Malaysia, Mexico (Ministry of Education), Peru, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Ukraine, Uruguay and USA.
Preparation
Free practice tests, answer keys and student instructions are available on the official website, along with links to other practice materials.