Test levels
International Certificate Young Learners
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Firstwords (Level 1)
Exam time: 80 minutes
Download our Guide to the International Certificate Young Learners - Firstwords (Level 1)
Who is it for?
This test is for test takers who can read the English alphabet and recognize simple words and phrases in both written and spoken English; understand and talk about basic facts related to their own lives and environments. The emphasis is on real-life situations that learners will encounter, not on how well they remember vocabulary and structures.
How is it structured?
The test has a written paper and a spoken test. The written part of the International Certificate Young Learners at this level lasts 60 minutes and has six tasks. It tests listening, reading and writing skills. The spoken part of the test lasts for 20 minutes and has two tasks that candidates engage in with an examiner and four other test takers.
Test structure
The written test at this level lasts for 60 minutes. There are six tasks which test listening, reading and writing.
Written test: 60 minutes
Task 1: Skill - listening
Task 2: Skill - listening
Task 3: Skill - reading
Task 4: Skill - reading
Task 5: Skill - reading
Task 6: Skill - reading and writing
Spoken test: 20 minutes
The spoken test at this level lasts for 20 minutes and there are two tasks.
Springboard (Level 2)
Exam time: 80 minutes
Download our Guide to the International Certificate Young Learners - Springboard (Level 2)
Who is it for?
This test is for test takers who can talk about their feelings, habits, likes and dislikes; form questions to obtain the above information from others; read and listen with an understanding of key information and write a simple text about their own lives to a standard that communicates meaning
How is it structured?
The test has a written paper and a spoken test.The written part of the International Certificate Young Learners at this level lasts 60 minutes and has six tasks. It tests listening, reading and writing skills. The spoken part of the test lasts for 20 minutes and has two tasks that candidates engage in with an examiner and four other test takers.
Test structure
The written test at this level lasts for 60 minutes. There are six tasks which test listening, reading and writing.
Written test: 60 minutes
Task 1: Skill - listening
Task 2: Skill - listening
Task 3: Skill - reading and writing
Task 4: Skill - reading
Task 5: Skill - reading and writing
Task 6: Skill - reading and writing
Spoken test: 20 minutes
The spoken test at this level lasts for 20 minutes and there are two tasks.
Quickmarch (Level 3)
Exam time: 80 minutes
Download our Guide to the International Certificate Young Learners - Quickmarch (Level 3)
Who is it for?
This test is for test takers who can read texts with understanding, and understand the gist and key information in familiar listening contexts; talk about their own lives in terms of habits, likes, dislikes, future plans and past events and write a simple text about their own life or a familiar environment to a standard that can be readily understood.
How is it structured?
The test has a written paper and a spoken test.The written part of the International Certificate Young Learners at this level lasts 60 minutes and has six tasks. It tests listening, reading and writing skills. The spoken part of the test lasts for 20 minutes and has two tasks that candidates engage in with an examiner and four other test takers.
Test structure
The written test at this level lasts for 60 minutes. There are six tasks which test listening, reading and writing.
Written test: 60 minutes
Task 1: Skill - listening
Task 2: Skill - listening and writing
Task 3: Skill - reading and writing
Task 4: Skill - reading
Task 5: Skill - reading and writing
Task 6: Skill - writing
Spoken test: 20 minutes
The spoken test at this level lasts for 20 minutes and there are two tasks.
Breakthrough (Level 4)
Exam time: 1 hour, 35 minutes
Download our Guide to the International Certificate Young Learners - Breakthrough (Level 4)
Who is it for?
This test is for test takers who can describe sensations; give instructions and explanations; describe purpose; give opinions and express preferences and deal with hypothetical situations.
How is it structured?
The test has a written paper and a spoken test.The written part of the International Certificate Young Learners at this level lasts for 1 hour and 15 minutes and has six tasks. It tests listening, reading and writing skills. The spoken part of the test lasts for 20 minutes and has two tasks. There are two types of task that test takers engage in with an examiner and four other test takers.
Test structure
The written test at this level lasts for 1 hour, 15 minutes. There are six tasks which test listening, reading and writing.
Written Test: 75 minutes
Task 1: Skill - listening
Task 2: Skill - listening and writing
Task 3: Skill - reading and writing
Task 4: Skill - reading
Task 5: Skill - reading and writing
Task 6: Skill - writing
Spoken Test 20 minutes
The spoken test at this level lasts for 20 minutes and there are two tasks.
Task 7: Skill - speaking
Task 8: Skill - speaking