While various English assessment tests are available to adults, the same can happen to younger learners!

PTE Young Learners is one of the English tests designed specifically for young students. PTE Young Learners is a friendlier exam than others, featuring games and activities kids can play with their peers.

This post will talk about the PTE Young Learners test, including its purposes, benefits, structures, and upcoming test dates.

Key Takeaways

• Edexcel offers the PTE Young Learners (PTE YL), the UK’s largest examination body for students aged 6 to 13.
• The test consists of two sections conducted separately: A written and a spoken section.
• Read the blog below to discover six fantastic benefits of PTE Young Learners to support your children’s future.

(Click here to read our Vietnamese version)

Related: Check out our FREE PTE academic mock test today!

What is the purpose of the PTE Young Learners (PTE YL) test?

The PTE Young Learners (PTE YL) is offered by Edexcel, the UK’s largest examining body. It is a fun, stress-free English test for young students between 6 and 13.

PTE Young Learners tests do not focus on knowledge of specific language items and vocabulary. Instead, tests assess young students’ abilities to use English communicatively through oral and written communication in real-life situations.

The test is suitable for students with English proficiency levels from pre-A1 level to A2 level on the Common European Framework of Reference.

Related: PTE full form and its modules

What are the benefits of it?

Here are several benefits of PTE Young Learners:

• The tests prepare children for real-life situations instead of focusing solely on knowledge from school.
• The tests are designed to be entertaining and enjoyable, making children’s initial experiences with English memorable and motivating.
• The tests help young students to confidently demonstrate their English abilities in a more formal exam setting.
• The relaxing testing setting offers name-to-picture matching, story-writing, participation in a discussion, and a group speaking part delivered as playing a board game.
• The test offers engaging and familiar content following the adventures of the Brown family through all test levels.
• PTE Young Learners grants young students an English certificate accredited by Pearson Edexcel, regardless of performance and scores.

What’s the structure of the test?

The test consists of two sections:

• A written section measuring listening, reading, and writing skills.
• A spoken section.

These two parts are conducted separately.

Moreover, PTE Young Learners tests have four different test levels:

Level 1 – Firstwords (Pre-A1): Kids at this level can read the English alphabet and understand simple words and phrases in both written and spoken English. This level is suitable for test takers under 8.

• Written test: 60 minutes
• Spoken test: 20 minutes

Level 2 – Springboard (A1): Children at this level can express their feelings, habits, likes, and dislikes. This level is suitable for students between 8 and 10.

• Written test: 60 minutes
• Spoken test: 20 minutes

Level 3 – Quickmarch (A1-A2): Children at this level can read texts and understand the main ideas in familiar listening contexts. This level is recommended for students aged 8 to 10.

• Written test: 60 minutes
• Spoken test: 20 minutes

Level 4 – Breakthrough (A2-A2+): Children at this level can explain feelings, offer instructions and explanations, express ideas and preferences, and cope with hypothetical scenarios. This level is suitable for students aged 11 to 13.

• Written test: 1 hour and 15 minutes
• Spoken test: 20 minutes

All test levels have the same question types at increasing length and difficulty levels.

Written section
Tasks	Levels	Skills	Task types
One	L 1-4	Listening	3-option picture-based multiple-choice
Two	L 1-3	Listening	Match the name to the picture
	L 4	Listening and Writing	Answer question
Three	L 1 & 3	Reading	Match question to answer
	L 2 & 4	Reading and Writing	Dialogue completion
Four	L1–4	Reading	Match utterance to picture
Five	L 1 & 3	Reading	Match the word to picture
	L 2 & 4	Reading and Writing	Gap-fill
Six	L 1 & 3	Reading and Writing	Gap-fill
	L 2	Writing	Write sentence
	L 4	Writing	Write sentence

 

Spoken section
Task	Task Types
Seven	Question and answer – board game
Eight	Short talk

 

Unlike other English tests, grammar is covered throughout all sections; therefore, students do not need to memorize PTE grammar rules.

With a focus on real-life contexts, skills assessed in a child’s performance include literacy, flexibility, language ability, and confidence in English.

More information about test centers & exam dates

Test dates for young PTE learners are set by each test center. If you are a test-taker, please get in touch with your nearest exam center for further information.

The table below gives the reference exam dates 2023 for all levels of the International Certificate Young Learners test.

Click here to get the latest PTE exam dates for PTE Young Learners.

October 2023

Session	October 2023
Access arrangements request deadline	16 Sep
Deadline for submission of interlocutor/assessor application forms	16 Sep
Entry window opens	11 Aug
Entry deadline	08 Sep
Test taker withdrawal deadline	29 Sep
Oral test period	30 Sep – 14 Oct
Written test	14 Oct
Deadline for completed tests to be received by Pearson	19 Oct
Upload LWT audio submission period	30 Sep – 21 Oct
Deadline for special consideration requests to be received by Pearson	21 Oct
Results available via Edexcel Online	27 Nov
Results despatched by post from the UK	27 Nov
Review of marking submission window	04 Dec – 18 Dec
Performance reports sent by email from the UK	04 Dec
Certificates dispatched by post from the UK	04 Dec

 

November 2023

Session	November 2023
Access arrangements request deadline	14 Oct
Deadline for submission of interlocutor/assessor application forms	14 Oct
Entry window opens	08 Sep
Entry deadline	06 Oct
Test taker withdrawal deadline	27 Oct
Oral test period	28 Oct – 11 Nov
Written test	11 Nov
Deadline for completed tests to be received by Pearson	16 Nov
Upload LWT audio submission period	28 Oct – 18 Nov
Deadline for special consideration requests to be received by Pearson	18 Nov
Results available via Edexcel Online	08 Jan 24
Results despatched by post from the UK	08 Jan 24
Review of marking submission window	15 Jan 24 – 29 Jan 24
Performance reports sent by email from the UK	15 Jan 24
Certificates dispatched by post from the UK	15 Jan 24

 

December 2023

Session	December 2023
Access arrangements request deadline	18 Nov
Deadline for submission of interlocutor/assessor application forms	18 Nov
Entry window opens	06 Oct
Entry deadline	03 Nov
Test taker withdrawal deadline	01 Dec
Oral test period	02 Dec – 16 Dec
Written test	16 Dec
Deadline for completed tests to be received by Pearson	30 Dec
Upload LWT audio submission period	02 Dec – 23 Dec
Deadline for special consideration requests to be received by Pearson	05 Jan 24
Results available via Edexcel Online	05 Feb 24
Results despatched by post from the UK	05 Feb 24
Review of marking submission window	12 Feb – 26 Feb 24
Performance reports sent by email from the UK	12 Feb 24
Certificates dispatched by post from the UK	12 Feb 24

Conclusion

Thousands of young students worldwide are taking PTE Young Learners to prove their English skills.

Plan to book a PTE Young Learners test for your kids? First test them with our PTE practice tests.

Contact us today!