ADULT LEARNER LOWER LEVELS
This suite of exams is made up of 4 different levels: Adult Learner Step 1, Adult Learner Step 2, Adult Learner Step 3 and Adult Learner Step 4 (CEFR A1).
The aim of these Adult Learner Lower Levels is to focus on adult students who have just begun studying English as a foreign language. Therefore, these exams have been designed so that any adult learner can validate their level of English, from the very beginning of the learning process, by taking an exam with a format suitable for their age.
The Adult Learner Lower Levels include the four skills (Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking) and each level is equivalent in content to our Young Learner Levels as shown in the chart below:
A1 – Breakthrough (CEFR) |
Preliminary / Adult Learner Step 4 |
Primary / Adult Learner Step 3 |
|
Junior / Adult Learner Step 2 |
|
First Step / Adult Learner Step 1 |
Overview of Tasks
Reading & Writing:
Section |
Adult Learner Step 1 |
Adult Learner Step 2 |
Adult Learner Step 3 |
Adult Learner Step 4 |
Section A |
Match words with pictures (10 marks) |
Choose the correct word and write it below picture (20 marks) |
Read advertisement Answer questions on main points e.g. time, price, etc. (10 marks) |
R1 (10 marks) Reading email 4 x True / False 1 x function question |
Section B |
Vocabulary recognition Tick or Cross (10 marks) |
B1- months B2- days of the week Write missing letters (20 marks) |
Read 2 postcards and answer ‘Which person..’ type questions (10 marks) |
R2 (10 marks) Reading narrative Four-option multiple choice |
Section C |
Days of the week Choose missing letters from box (10 marks) |
Write out numbers in words (5 marks) |
Choose the correct answer to the question (10 marks) |
R3 (10 marks) 10 x four-option multiple choice- Grammar |
Section D |
Identify number and object. Tick the correct picture (10 marks) |
Four-option multiple choice Grammar (10 marks) |
10 x Four-option multiple choice Grammar (10 marks) |
R4 (10 marks) Choose and write the opposite from the list |
Section E |
Write out numbers in words (10 marks) |
5 x Four-option multiple choice Prepositions of place (10 marks) |
Cloze passage Choose words from the box to complete text (10 marks) |
R5 (10 marks) Tenses Put verb into past or present into passage |
Section F |
Choose the correct colour and write it. (10 marks) |
Identify actions from picture Tick or cross (5 marks) |
Singular to plural (10 marks) |
W1 (5 marks) Singular to plural (irregular) |
Section G |
Write the word that the picture shows (10 marks) |
Read text and label picture with correct colours (10 marks) |
Factual reading Three-option multiple choice (10 marks) |
W2 (10 marks) Forming questions to suit responses given |
Section H |
Colour, number and object. Write what the picture shows (10 marks) |
Write 3 sentences about self (10 marks) |
Write the times and dates in words (10 marks) |
W3 (10 marks) Answering questions about self |
Section I |
Choose the correct answer to the question (10 marks) |
Choose the correct answer to the question (10 marks) |
Cloze email Choose words from the box to complete text (10 marks) |
W4 (5 marks) Write 5 sentences on one of the two topics given Possible Topics: My family, My country, My house, My job |
Section J |
Topic vocabulary Add more words (10 marks) |
Reading. Three-option multiple choice (10 marks) |
W5 (10 marks) Word order Re-order words to make a sentence |
|
Changes to syllabus |
Numbers 1 – 20 Common questions - How are you? What colour is this? Where do you come from? |
Numbers 1 – 30 Clothes – jacket, tie Common questions – Where do you live? What (job) do you do? |
W4 Topics My family My country My house My job |
Listening:
Section |
Adult Learner Step 1 |
Adult Learner Step 2 |
Adult Learner Step 3 |
Adult Learner Step 4 |
Section L1 |
Listen to the words Tick the box (10 marks) |
Listen to the words Put a tick in the box (10 marks) |
Listen to the sentences Tick the correct box (10 marks) |
Listen to the conversations Tick the correct box (10 marks) |
Section L2 |
Listen and tick the correct box (20 marks) |
Listen to the sentences Write the missing word (20 marks) |
Listen to the story Write one word in each gap (10 marks) |
Listen to the passage Write the missing words (20 marks) |
Section L3 |
--------- |
--------- |
Look at the list Listen and write the words (10 marks) |
Listen to the passage True or false (20 marks) |
Speaking:
Section |
Adult Learner Step 1 |
Adult Learner Step 2 |
Adult Learner Step 3 |
Adult Learner Step 4 |
Section S1 (Task 1) |
Introduction – Warm up (1-2 min) |
Introduction – Warm up (1-2 min) |
Introduction – Warm up (1-2 min) |
Introduction – Warm up (2-3 min) |
Section S2 (Task 2) |
Naming objects Naming pictures Answering YES/NO questions (2-3 min) |
Identifying actions and objects Answering questions Picture prompts (3-4 min) |
Name and explain Find the odd one out (3-4 min) |
Narrative and sequencing |
Section S3 (Task 3) |
Understanding word groups Finding multiple pictures (2-3 min) |
Describing pictures Naming objects Answering questions Picture prompts (3-4 min) |
Answering questions (3-4 min) |
Giving information |
Syllabus and Specifications:
ADULT LEARNER STEP 3
Performance Indicators
The student:
Has a basic vocabulary recognition of about 300 words.
Can tell the time can describe present actions, give personal and family information, describe habits, routines, and everyday activities.
Can communicate when and how often an action or event takes place.
Can form questions and negatives.
GRAMMAR AND STRUCTURES LIST
Grammar and Structures |
What are they used for? |
Some examples |
VERBS |
||
Thereis / there are |
Identifying something / someone |
There is a book on the table. |
Present simple |
Talking about habits, routines, facts (such as where a person lives), the actions of everyday life |
My uncle lives in a small house. |
The present simple with the verb 'like' + 'ing' in the third person singular and plural |
Describing what people or animals like doing |
My cat likes sleeping in the garden. |
Present continuous |
Talking about present actions |
My brothers are playing football in the park at the moment. |
Interrogative forms of the above two tenses |
Asking and answering questions about the above |
Do they often go to the cinema? |
Negative forms of the above two tenses |
Making the above negative |
Sue doesn't like dogs. |
The modal 'can' |
Describing an ability or skill |
He can play the guitar. |
PRONOUNS |
||
All personal pronouns as subject or object - I, you, he, she, it, we, they, me, you, him, her, it, us, them |
Describing and identifying people, animals and objects |
Do you want my father? |
Demonstrative pronouns - this, these, that, those |
Asking for, and giving information |
These are tables. |
CONJUNCTIONS |
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Because, and, or, but |
Linking sentence parts and ideas |
John and Mary are in the garden because it is sunny. |
INTERROGATIVE WORDS |
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What, Who, Where, When, Why, How many |
Asking questions about people, animals and objects |
What is this? |
ADVERBS |
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Adverbs of time - today, now, at the moment |
Describing when and how often someone does something or something happens. Discriminating between the present continuous and the present simple |
I usually eat an egg for breakfast. |
PREPOSITIONS |
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In, on, at, to |
Talking about time, place, position |
The examination finishes at 4p.m. |
TIME EXPRESSIONS |
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10.15 = ten fifteen or (a) quarter past ten |
Telling the time |
Ten fifteen, twenty past one, half past ten, a quarter to two, eleven forty-five, etc. |
NOUNS |
||
Singular/plural |
Talking about numbers of things |
eg, book-books, box-boxes man-men, woman-women, child-children, party-parties |
SALUTATIONS (WRITING) |
||
The formulaic salutations of informal writing in messages such as emails, postcards |
Writing communication |
Dear |
WORDLIST
1 - NOUNS |
SETS OF LEXICAL ITEMS |
Animals |
monkey, lion, bear, elephant, crocodile, cat, dog, snake, tiger, zebra, rabbit, mouse, fox, frog, spider, hippo, giraffe, horse, sheep, cows, pets |
Birds |
penguin, parrot, duck, hen, chicken |
Cardinal Numbers |
one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty, twenty-one to sixty |
Clothes |
dress, shirt, T-shirt, trousers, skirt, boots, socks, shoes, trainers, hat, watch. jeans, jacket, tie, coat |
Days of the week |
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, weekend |
Exams |
letters, words, sentence, question, answer, story |
Family members and people |
mother, father, brother, sister, baby, girl, boy, man, woman, children , child, aunt, uncle, cousin, grandmother, grandfather, Mum, Dad, friend |
Fish |
dolphin, octopus, shark, whale, starfish, fish, goldfish |
Food, meals and drink |
cake, ice-cream, biscuits, pizza, hamburger, hot-dog, omelette, steak, fish, salad, breakfast, lunch, dinner, milk, juice, party, bread, tea, coffee, water, lemonade, egg, chicken, sandwich, sugar, ketchup, chips, cheese, sweets, butter |
Fruit |
pear, peach, apple, banana, orange, lemon, cherry, strawberry, melon |
Garden |
flower, tree, grass |
Household |
television, CD/DVD, (mobile) phone, video, chair, table, house, bed, bath, clock, picture, vase, photo, radio, door, mat, window, floor, cupboard, mirror, sofa, armchair, shower, wardrobe |
Jobs |
teacher, doctor, farmer, secretary, businessman/woman, policeman/woman, shop assistant, in the army, student |
Kitchen |
glass, plate, bowl, cup, knife, fork, spoon |
Letters |
a-z |
Miscellaneous |
film, holiday, money, newspaper, magazine, star, moon, thing, photograph |
Months of the year |
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December |
Musical Instruments |
guitar, piano, drum |
Parts of the body |
hair, eyes, mouth, nose, face, arms, legs, foot/feet, head, hands, tail |
Places |
park, garden, home, school, shop, house, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, living room, zoo, farm, supermarket, office, cinema, cafe, restaurant, car park, flat, swimming pool, town centre, beach, sea, mountains, town, city, village, fields, country (e.g. England etc.), countryside |
School |
pen, pencil, rubber, ruler, book, desk, computer, blackboard, classroom, bag, teacher, homework, work, test, exam, student, lesson |
Shapes |
square, circle, triangle, rectangle |
Sport |
football, tennis, swimming, basketball, volleyball, baseball, fishing, football match, tennis racket, running |
Time expressions |
four fifteen, [a] quarter past/to four, half past four, ten past four, four ten, ten to four, etc. / morning, evening, today |
Toys |
ball, kite, castle, soldiers, paint, paintbrush, puppet, drum, gun |
Transport |
helicopter, boat, bus, bicycle, car, train, aeroplane, taxi, bike, motor bicycle, motorbike, tractor, lorry (Brit), truck (Am) |
Vegetables |
potato, tomato, carrot, cabbage |
Weather |
sun, rain, wind, snow, hot, cold |
2 - ADJECTIVES | SETS OF LEXICAL ITEMS |
Size |
tall, short, big, small, favourite, best, little |
Feelings |
happy, sad |
Colours |
black, blue, green, yellow, white, orange, red, grey, brown, pink, purple |
Age |
old, young, new |
Other |
clever, difficult, good, nice, pretty |
Modifiers |
Very |
3 - VERBS | SETS OF WORDS |
am, are, is, cook, drink, eat, go, have, has, listen, play, read, sit, stand, watch, wear, write, buy, can, clean, do, drive, hate, have/has got, get up, give, go, like, live, look, love, make, ride, run, sit, sleep, start, swim, talk, tell, understand, want, walk, wash, work |
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4 - ARTICLES | SETS OF WORDS |
a, an, the |
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5 - PERSONAL PRONOUNS | SETS OF WORDS |
I, you, he, she, it, we, they, me, him, them, us |
|
6 - POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES | SETS OF WORDS |
my, your, his, her, our, their |
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7 - PREPOSITIONS | SETS OF WORDS |
in, under, behind, on, near, in front of, at, to, (by, about, for - may appear in certain expressions; not tested) |
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8 - QUESTION WORDS | SETS OF WORDS |
What, When, Why, Where, Who, Whose |
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9 - ADVERBS | SETS OF WORDS |
today, now, at the moment, never, always, sometimes, often, usually, every day, every week |
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10 - CONJUNCTIONS | SETS OF WORDS |
because, and, or, then, next |
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11 - DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS | SETS OF WORDS |
this, that, these, those |
Grade Boundaries:Grades are calculated by weighting the Listening % by 0.2 and the Written % by 0.8 - adding the results together and then using the information above. Relevant Documents |