LanguageCERT Young Learners ESOL
A set of English Language qualifications created specifically for young candidates (7+ years old) at pre-A1 (Fox) and A1 (Owl) levels. These exams aim to motivate children to improve their English language skills while familiarising themselves with examination processes. Ideal for learners who want to assess their progress after having attended English courses, e.g. at a language school, with a private tutor or at a summer camp abroad.

Pre-A1 Fox
The first step in English language assessment for young learners (aged 7+). A Written (Listening, Reading, Writing) and Spoken (Speaking) exam, mapped to the pre-A1 level of the CEFR*.
Certificates are issued by LanguageCert and delivered by the Test Centre.
*Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), developed by the Council of Europe, is widely used to describe levels of language proficiency.
- Created specifically for children
- Themes based on age-appropriate topics of interests to children such as family, hobbies or daily life situations
- Consists of a Written (Listening, Reading, Writing) and Spoken (Speaking) exam, leading to 2 separate certificates
- Paper-based
- Duration 1 hour
- Face-to-face
- Duration 5 minutes
Written Component
Key Features
Key Features
EXAM LEVEL | Approximately pre-A1 |
FORMAT | Paper-based |
CERTIFICATE | All candidates receive a certificate. The number of foxes (from 1 to 4) achieved in each skill tested indicates the candidate’s performance. |
MAXIMUM MARKS | Listening 15 Reading 20 TOTAL SCORE 41 Writing 6 |
Exam Format
Exam Format
FORMAT Paper-based 1 hour
Listening: 10 minutes Speaking & Writing: 50 minutes uninterupted
Listening
Part 1: 5 multiple choice questions (each with 3 options)
Task: Listen and look at the pictures and choose the appropriate response
Part 2: 5 questions (matching descriptions of people to pictures)
Task: Listen and draw lines
Part 3: 5 questions (fill in the gap with the correct answer)
Task: Listen and write a name or a number
Reading
Part 1: 5 questions (matching words to pictures)
Task: Look and read, draw lines
Part 2: 5 questions (true or false)
Task: Look and read, put a tick or a cross
Part 3: 5 questions (choose from 7 options to correctly fill in the gaps in the text)
Task: Choose the correct options to fill the 5 gaps in the text
Part 4: 5 questions (answer questions based on a picture)
Task: Look at the picture and read the questions, write 1 word answers
Writing
Part 1: 3 sentences (to communicate personal information)
Task: Write 3 sentences
Part 2: 3 sentences (describe a simple picture)
Task: Look at the picture and write 3 sentences about it
Official Practice Material
Spoken Component
Key Features
Key Features
EXAM LEVEL | Approximately pre-A1 |
FORMAT | Face-to-face |
CERTIFICATE | All candidates receive a certificate. The number of foxes (from 1 to 4) achieved in each skill tested indicates the candidate’s performance. |
MAXIMUM MARKS | Speaking 16 |
Exam Format
Exam format
Face-to-face Speaking : Approx. 5 mins
Speaking:
Part 1
Task:
- Answer simple questions in order to give personal information (name, age, etc.)
Part 2
Task:
- A picture card with 2 objects is presented by the Interlocutor and candidates are asked to identify the object and answer some follow up questions
Part 3
Task:
- Hold a short discussion to make a plan, arrange or decide something using written text as the prompt
Part 4
Task:
- A scene card on a particular topic is presented by the Interlocutor
- Students respond to simple questions about the picture
- Students are asked to answer 3 follow up questions on the same topic
Official Practice Material
Official Practice Material
Download
A1 Owl
The second step in English language assessment for young learners (aged 7+). A Written (Listening, Reading, Writing) and Spoken (Speaking) exam, mapped approximately to the A1 level of the CEFR*.
Certificates are issued by LanguageCert and delivered by the Test Centre.
*Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), developed by the Council of Europe, is widely used to describe levels of language proficiency.
- Created specifically for children
- Themes based on age-appropriate topics of interests to children such as family, hobbies or daily life situations
- Consists of a Written (Listening, Reading, Writing) and Spoken (Speaking) exam, leading to 2 separate certificates
- Paper-based
- Duration 1 hour 15 minutes
- Face-to-face
- Duration 7 minutes
Written Component
Key Features
Key Features
EXAM LEVEL | Approximately A1 |
FORMAT | Paper-based |
CERTIFICATE | All candidates receive a certificate. The number of owls (from 1 to 4) achieved in each skill tested indicates the candidate’s performance. |
MAXIMUM MARKS | Listening 20 Reading 25 TOTAL SCORE 55 Writing 10 |
Exam Format
Exam Format
FORMAT Paper-based 1 hour 15 minutes
Listening: 15 minutes Speaking & Writing: 1 hour uninterupted
Listening
Part 1: 5 multiple choice questions (each with 3 options)
Task: Listen and look at the pictures and choose the appropriate response
Part 2: 5 questions (matching descriptions of people to pictures)
Task: Listen and draw lines
Part 3: 5 questions (fill in the gap with the correct answer)
Task: Listen and look at the pictures and choose the appropriate response
Part 4: 5 questions (fill in the gap with the correct answer)
Task: Listen and write a word or a number
Reading
Part 1: 6 questions (yes or no)
Task: Look at the image, read the sentences and write yes/no
Part 2: 5 questions (choose from 7 options to correctly fill in the gaps in the text)
Task: Choose the correct options to fill the 5 gaps in the text
Part 3: 6 questions (choose from 8 options to correctly fill in the gaps in the text)
Task: Choose the correct options to fill the 6 gaps in the text
Part 4: 8 questions (answer some questions using 1 word answers)
Task: Read a short story, read the questions, write 1 word answers
Writing
Part 1: 4 sentences (to communicate personal information)
Task: Write 4 sentences about a real situation
Part 2: 6 sentences (describe a picture story)
Task: Look at the pictures and write 2 sentences about each picture
Official Practice Material
Spoken Component
Key Features
Key Features
EXAM LEVEL | Approximately A1 |
FORMAT | Face-to-face |
CERTIFICATE | All candidates receive a certificate. The number of owls (from 1 to 4) achieved in each skill tested indicates the candidate’s performance. |
MAXIMUM MARKS | Speaking 16 |
Exam Format
Exam format
Face-to-face Speaking : Approx. 7 mins
Speaking:
Part 1
Task: Answer simple questions in order to give personal information (name, age, hobbies etc.)
Part 2
Task: An objects card is presented by the Interlocutor and candidates are asked to identify objects of the same type
Part 3
Task: A “find the differences” card is presented by the Interlocutor and candidates are asked to identify the things that are different
Part 4
Task: A “scene card” is presented by the Interlocutor and candidates are asked to describe the picture
Official Practice Material
Official Practice Material
Download