A1 Movers

It is for children who already have a first grounding in English. The official description calls it the second of three Cambridge English Qualifications for young learners, introducing children to everyday written and spoken English so they can develop their skills and gain confidence. It sits at CEFR level A1.

There are three papers and the test length is approximately one hour. The exam is paper-based, and Speaking is a face-to-face test with an examiner rather than a computer-based task. Plan for the appointment to take a little longer than the advertised test time.

No. There is no pass or fail – every child gets a Cambridge English certificate to celebrate their achievements. Results also include strengths and improvement areas, so parents and teachers can see what the child did well and what to work on before the next level.

Tasks are familiar and enjoyable, such as colouring, finding differences and matching. The test uses realistic everyday situations to contextualise the language, and the content is written around familiar topics, so children meet language they are likely to have already used in class.

By this stage children are expected to understand very simple dialogue and descriptions, express agreement and disagreement using short, simple phrases, tell a very simple story with the help of pictures, read and understand short factual texts, signs and notices, ask someone simple questions, and write short, simple phrases and sentences.

A1 Movers is the middle step: the second of three Cambridge English Qualifications for young learners, after Pre A1 Starters and before A2 Flyers. It is a sensible next step for a child who has completed Starters, and it prepares them for the more demanding Flyers level.

An extensive range of support exists for teachers, learners and parents, including official preparation courses and materials. Because the exam checks all four skills, preparation should cover listening, speaking, reading and writing rather than grammar drills alone, and practice tasks should resemble the colouring, matching and difference-finding activities used in the test.

The official pages do not state a retake policy, how soon a child may sit the exam again, or any restriction on the number of attempts, so this is not confirmed here. Your local exam centre can advise on available dates and whether a re-entry is possible.

The test covers all major varieties of English, for example British English and American English. Children are not penalised for using a different standard variety, so there is no need to switch to a particular accent or spelling system before exam day.

The official sources do not publish a fee for this qualification, and prices vary by country and exam centre, so no figure is given here. Contact your local authorised exam centre for current entry fees and registration deadlines before booking a test date.