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🎧YLE Starters20 dk
ListeningYLE Starters Exam Guide
20
minutes
20
questions
3
task type
There is no pass or fail. Children earn 1 to 5 shields for Listening, with a friendly maximum of 5 shields per skill (15 across the test).
Tested Skills
Basic listeningPicture descriptionNumber and date recognitionDetail catchingEveryday vocabulary
Question Types
1Listen and Draw Lines
2Listen and Colour
3Listen and Tick the Box
Task Types
YLE Starters Listening
1
Listen and Draw Lines
6 questionsChildren hear short conversations and draw lines to connect names with people in a big picture.
Strategies:
- •Listen for the name first, then find the matching person.
- •Draw clear lines so the examiner can read your answers.
2
Listen and Colour
6 questionsChildren colour items in a picture using the colours they hear in the recording.
Strategies:
- •Wait until you hear the whole sentence before you colour.
- •Keep your crayons ready for all the basic colours.
3
Listen and Tick the Box
6 questionsChildren listen and tick the correct picture from a set of options.
Strategies:
- •Look at all the pictures before the audio starts.
- •Only tick one box for each question.
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Golden Tips
- ✓Listen to lots of simple English songs and stories at home.
- ✓Practise colours, numbers, and everyday words before the test.
- ✓Stay calm if you miss a word — the recording is played twice.
- ✓Point to the picture as you listen to stay focused.
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Common Mistakes
- ✗Colouring or drawing before the full sentence is finished.
- ✗Forgetting that the audio repeats, so rushing the first time.
- ✗Mixing up similar-sounding colours or numbers.
- ✗Ticking more than one box for a single question.
Preparation Resources
Recommended resources for Listening section
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Practice
Cambridge Starters Sample Papers
Free official sample listening tasks with audio from Cambridge.
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Guide
English Picture Dictionary
A colourful book to learn colours, animals, and everyday objects.
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Video
Nursery Songs and Rhymes
Simple sing-along videos that build listening confidence.
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