Exam Preparation
Cambridge Young Learners (YLE) Courses: Online Prep for Starters, Movers and Flyers
Cambridge Young Learners English is Cambridge’s English qualification designed for children, in three levels, Starters, Movers and Flyers, with no pass or fail: results come as shields. More important than the shields, PLI students enjoy class and actually speak.
Three Levels, One Clear Path
| Level | CEFR | Suggested age (yle.tw) | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starters | Pre-A1 | 7 and up | Core vocabulary, listening, speaking confidence |
| Movers | A1 | 8 to 10 and up | Everyday conversation, simple reading & writing |
| Flyers | A2 | 9 to 12 and up | Full-sentence expression, springboard to KET |
Suggested ages are from the registration page of yle.tw, one of Taiwan’s Cambridge exam centres (checked 2 October 2026). They are only a guide; what really decides it is level.
Cambridge Starters (Pre A1)
The first, entry-level Young Learners level. yle.tw suggests 150+ hours of study and about 500 words, for children aged 7 and up in lower primary. Start the words with the Starters word list.
Cambridge Movers (A1)
The second of the three levels: one step above Starters and one below Flyers. yle.tw suggests 250+ hours of study and about 900 words, for children aged 8 to 10 and up, in lower and middle primary. See the Movers word list.
Cambridge Flyers (A2)
The top Young Learners level, at the same CEFR level as KET (A2). yle.tw suggests 350+ hours of study and about 1,400 words, for children aged 9 to 12 and up, in middle and upper primary and junior high. See the Flyers word list, and for how Flyers differs from KET, the Cambridge exam levels page.
Study hours and word counts are also yle.tw’s suggestions from its registration page (read on 6 October 2026), not Cambridge rules.
After Flyers, students move naturally into KET · PET · FCE, building toward B2. Wondering when the next sitting is? See 2026–2027 exam dates and deadlines. Comparing Cambridge with GEPT? Full comparison and level chart.
How Cambridge Young Learners works, and how results are reported
Starters, Movers and Flyers all work the same way: three papers (Listening, Reading and Writing, Speaking), with Speaking done face to face with an examiner. On paper, Starters takes about 45 minutes, Movers about 1 hour and Flyers about 1 hour 15 minutes; Cambridge also runs digital versions of Starters and Movers, with different timings.
The result is not a score. Each paper earns 1 to 5 shields, up to 15 in all, and the certificate does not print a total. Young Learners has no pass and no fail, and every child who sits the exam receives a certificate. Cambridge’s guidance is that four or five shields in every paper means a child can start preparing for the next Cambridge English Qualification. For how to read the shields, see what the YLE shields mean; for every level from Starters to C2, see Cambridge exam levels, Starters to C2.
How PLI Prepares Kids for YLE
All Four Skills
Every YLE level tests listening, reading/writing and speaking. We cover it all, with extra emphasis on the speaking practice Taiwanese kids rarely get.
Small Group or 1-on-1
Groups capped at 4 so every child speaks constantly; 1-on-1 available for sprints.
Mock Exams & Tracking
Official-format practice tests and regular progress reports, so parents always know how close their child is to the goal.
How lessons work, and the free trial
Group classes have four students at most, grouped by age and level, with 45-minute lessons that are fully online and taught personally by Teacher Matt; materials are sent digitally before class. Lessons run Monday to Saturday, 2:00 to 9:00 PM. For many children, Starters is the first formal exam of their life; in a class of four, a shy child’s turn comes round within minutes, and with no audience there is far less pressure.
The free 45-minute trial lesson is itself a full level assessment. Afterwards, Teacher Matt tells you which level fits your child now, how far they are from the target and what to work on first. One LINE message books it, he usually replies the same day, and there is no lock-in contract.
Preparing and registering
- If your child has not sat any level yet and you are not sure where to start, see choosing between Starters, Movers and Flyers.
- Vocabulary: Cambridge publishes the Starters, Movers and Flyers wordlists in one free PDF, and we explain how to use it level by level: Starters word list, Movers word list and Flyers word list.
- Taiwan has more than one Cambridge exam centre: yle.tw, the LTTC and the Taipei YMCA each run their own sessions, and LTTC’s YLE is open to primary-school children only. For each centre’s dates and deadlines, see Cambridge exam dates.
Parents Often Ask
My child has never taken an English exam. Which level first?
The free trial lesson doubles as a level assessment: in 45 minutes Teacher Matt will gauge your child’s level and recommend the right exam and class format. To read up on the three levels first, see choosing between Starters, Movers and Flyers.
What are the Cambridge Young Learners levels? What level is Flyers?
There are three: Pre A1 Starters, A1 Movers and A2 Flyers, and the first part of each name is its CEFR level. Flyers is the top Young Learners level, CEFR A2, the same level as KET. All three test Listening, Reading and Writing, and Speaking.
Can a child fail YLE?
There is no "fail": results are shown as shields (max 15). Our goal is fours and fives on every paper, which sets up the next step. Later, in KET, PET and FCE, the Cambridge exams that do have a pass mark, every PLI student has passed to date.
What comes after Flyers?
Cambridge’s guidance is that four or five shields in every paper means a child can start preparing for the next Cambridge English Qualification, and after Flyers that is A2 Key (KET). KET brings scores and a pass mark: 120 or above is a pass. For the full ladder from Starters to C2, see Cambridge exam levels, Starters to C2.
How long does preparation take?
Typically 3–6 months of regular lessons depending on the starting point. Message us on LINE and we’ll give you an honest estimate.
Already sat the exam and holding the certificate? What the YLE shields mean explains the three numbers and what Cambridge says about being ready for the next Cambridge English Qualification.
Book a Free 45-Minute Trial Lesson
One message on LINE is all it takes. Tell us your child's age and goals, and Teacher Matt will reply personally, usually the same day. The free trial doubles as a full level assessment. No lock-in contracts, and places are limited.