Pearson Test Of English

Pearson Testof EnglishYoung Learners21st Century Skills and the YoungLearner: what English languagetests are teaching us9 April 2020V1.0Copyright Pearson Education (2018). All rights reserved.

AgendaWhy do parents want children to learn English?21st Century skills – what are they?What is PTE Young Learners?How does PTE Young Learners test 21st Century Skills?Videos of the oral examTeacher toolsHow students perform – globally2PTE Young Learners & 21st Century Skills

Why do parentswant their childrento learn English?3

WHY DO PARENTS WANT THEIR CHILDREN TO LEARN ENGLISH?Parents reasons for childrenstudying EnglishParents’ reasons for children studying EnglishOtherStudy abroadIncrease state exam ateStudy at a foreign universityStudy at a local universityBetter employment opportunities01020304050607080904PTE Young Learners & 21st Century Skills

INTRODUCING PEARSON ENGLISH ASSESSMENTWhat skills are most important toparents of young learners?What does good progress look like?OtherDemonstrating good English reading skillsDemonstrating good English listening skillsDemonstrating good English writing skillsDemonstrating good English speaking skillsSeeing my child using English language with friends and familyAn internationally recognized certificate01020304050607080905PTE Young Learners & 21st Century Skills

WHY DO PARENTS WANT THEIR CHILDREN TO LEARN ENGLISH?Parents rely on teacherrecommendationsHow do parents validate appropriate English-languagelearning resources?OtherEndorsement by internationally-recognized businesses(ex. British Council, Pearson, etc.)Endorsement by opinion leaders (authors, influentialacademics, celebrities)Word of mouth from other parentsTeacher recommendation051015202530356PTE Young Learners & 21st Century Skills

21st Century Skills7

21st CENTURY SKILLS8PTE Young Learners & 21st Century Skills

AboutPearson Test of EnglishYoung Learners9

ABOUT PTE YOUNG LEARNERSIntroduction to PTE Young LearnersFor young learners to test their English language skills.PTE Young Learners is a test of a fun way to assess their ability to use English using a communicative approach with an emphasis on real-life scenarios unlike exams based on knowledge of specific language items andvocabulary.10PTE Young Learners & 21st Century Skills

ABOUT PTE YOUNG LEARNERSKey facts about PTE Young LearnersFor young learners (ages 6 – 13)Four levels: pre-A1 – A2 (GSE 14 – 37)Seven sessions per year (7 in 2019)Paper-basedAligned to the CEFRTests Speaking, Reading, Listening, WritingCandidate performance report that providesbreakdown of scores available for all studentsCertificates available for students at Attendance,Pass, Merit and Distinction grades11PTE Young Learners & 21st Century Skills

ABOUT PTE YOUNG LEARNERSReceiving resultsMarking is delivered: by professional UK examinersusing an online marking system(e-Pen)And (speaking) by local examinersthe test is moderated12PTE Young Learners & 21st Century Skills

ABOUT PTE YOUNG LEARNERSHow to Use the Test1. As a proof of English language proficiency tool:Objective measure of English language proficiency2. As evidence of achievement:Teachers validate students’ progressparents monitor their children’s learning3. As a springboard for other formal exams:Learners get familiar with formal examinationsResult:- enhanced student confidence and- reduced stress levels, thereby contributing towardstheir success in formal exams13PTE Young Learners & 21st Century Skills

Why choosePearson Test of EnglishYoung Learners ?14

WHY CHOOSE PTE YOUNG LEARNERS?The test was designed withyoung learners in mindFactors affecting learner performance anxieties over second language use an overly formal testing environment unfamiliar content and format of assessmentIn contrast, PTE YL is aligned to: Learning skills- Curriculum goals- Imaginative illustrations/creativity Literacy skills- Story plots and recurring themes- Encourages language production Life skills- Delivered in a social and interactive setting- Facilitates flexibility and confidence15PTE Young Learners & 21st Century Skills

WHY CHOOSE PTE YOUNG LEARNERS?Key benefits of PTE YoungLearnersFor School Leaders and Teachers A measure of students’ English language proficiencyagainst an internationally recognised standard. benchmarked against Global Scale of English andCEFR. Tests all four skills. Can be used with any materials. Awarded by Edexcel, UK’s largest awarding body.16PTE Young Learners & 21st Century Skills

WHY CHOOSE PTE YOUNG LEARNERS?Key benefits of PTE YoungLearnersFor StudentsFor Parents Familiar content - the Brown family Enjoyable experience for their child 4 levels of test – options for everybody Realistic scenarios Fun activities: e.g. board game Formal certificates awarded by PearsonEdexcel Information on future learning andprogression to next level Testing covers the four skills Assessed by teams of examiners in the UK All test takers receive a candidateperformance report17PTE Young Learners & 21st Century Skills

Which level to chooseand how to prepare for it18

WHICH LEVEL TO CHOOSE AND HOW TO PREPAREFour levels of testing facilitateprogression across CEFR levelsPTEYoung LearnersB1CambridgeYoung LearnersA2 oardFirstwordsStartersCEFR19PTE Young Learners & 21st Century Skills

WHICH LEVEL TO CHOOSE AND HOW TO PREPAREEach level can be used as a gatewayto the next, as there is overlap of thecontent testedAccording to a 2018 customersurvey, most teachers are using: Firstwords for learners underthe age of 8 Springboard andQuickmarch for 8-10 year olds Breakthrough for 11-13 yearolds.20PTE Young Learners & 21st Century Skills

How does PTEYoung Learners test21st Century Skills?21

HOW DOES PTE YL TEST 21st CENTURY SKILLS?Task One: Critical ThinkingIt assesses:the ability to identify the details of very simple spoken discourseFirstwords – times, locations, actions of people, prices, quantities, etc.Springboard – regular activitiesQuickmarch – reasons, past, present future activitiesBreakthrough – hypothetical outcomes22PTE Young Learners & 21st Century Skills

HOW DOES PTE YL TEST 21st CENTURY SKILLS?Task One: Critical ThinkingExampleLevels 1, 2, 3 and 43-option picture-based multiplechoiceListening23PTE Young Learners & 21st Century Skills

HOW DOES PTE YL TEST 21st CENTURY SKILLS?Task Two: LiteracyExampleLevels 1 and 2Match name to a pictureListening24PTE Young Learners & 21st Century Skills

HOW DOES PTE YL TEST 21st CENTURY SKILLS?Task Two: LiteracyExampleLevels 3 and 4Answer questionListening and Writing25PTE Young Learners & 21st Century Skills

HOW DOES PTE YL TEST 21st CENTURY SKILLS?Task Three: Critical thinking & LiteracyExampleLevel 1Match question to answerReading26PTE Young Learners & 21st Century Skills

HOW DOES PTE YL TEST 21st CENTURY SKILLS?Task Three: Critical thinking & LiteracyExampleLevels 2, 3 and 4Dialogue completionReading and writing27PTE Young Learners & 21st Century Skills

HOW DOES PTE YL TEST 21st CENTURY SKILLS?Task Four: Listening andliteracy in social situationsExampleLevels 1, 2, 3 and 4Match utterance to pictureReading28PTE Young Learners & 21st Century Skills

HOW DOES PTE YL TEST 21st CENTURY SKILLS?Task Five: LiteracyExampleLevel 1Match word to pictureReading29PTE Young Learners & 21st Century Skills

HOW DOES PTE YL TEST 21st CENTURY SKILLS?Task Five: LiteracyExampleLevels 2,3 and 4Gap fillReading and writing30PTE Young Learners & 21st Century Skills

HOW DOES PTE YL TEST 21st CENTURY SKILLS?Task Five: LiteracyLevels 2,3 and 4It assesses:Springboard - The ability to understand a text and knowledge ofvocabulary and grammar in context.Quickmarch - The ability to understand a text and knowledge ofvocabulary in context and past tense forms.Breakthrough - The ability to understand a text and knowledge ofvocabulary and grammar in context.31PTE Young Learners & 21st Century Skills

HOW DOES PTE YL TEST 21st CENTURY SKILLS?Task Six: Literacy & Critical ThinkingExampleLevel 1Gap fillReading and writing32PTE Young Learners & 21st Century Skills

HOW DOES PTE YL TEST 21st CENTURY SKILLS?Task Six: Literacy & Critical ThinkingExampleLevels 2 and 3Write sentenceWriting33PTE Young Learners & 21st Century Skills

HOW DOES PTE YL TEST 21st CENTURY SKILLS?Task Six: CreativityExampleLevel 4Write narrativeWriting34PTE Young Learners & 21st Century Skills

Oral Test:Assesses speaking skills,collaboration, flexibility,and social skills in agame format35

HOW DOES PTE YL TEST 21st CENTURY SKILLS?Task Seven (the oral exam):Collaboration, Flexibility, Communication SkillsLevels 1, 2, 3 and 4Question and answer (board game)Speaking36PTE Young Learners & 21st Century Skills

HOW DOES PTE YL TEST 21st CENTURY SKILLS?Task Seven (the oral exam):Collaboration, Flexibility, Communication SkillsExampleIt assesses:The ability to ask and answer shortquestions about personal informationand interests37PTE Young Learners & 21st Century Skills

HOW DOES PTE YL TEST 21st CENTURY SKILLS?Task Eight (short talk):Communication, Social SkillsExampleLevels 1, 2, 3 and 4Short talkSpeaking38PTE Young Learners & 21st Century Skills

HOW DOES PTE YL TEST 21st CENTURY SKILLS?Task Eight (short talk):Communication, Social SkillsExampleIt assesses:The ability to speak about a topic ofpersonal interest and answer questionsin relation to it39PTE Young Learners & 21st Century Skills

Teacher Tools40

TEACHER TOOLSFirstwordsAreas of language useMain grammatical structures Ask/answer about colour and position ofobjects Has / Have got Talk about: family/age/likes/activities Introduce and greet people Personal and possessive pronounsImperative Ask/Identify people by name ‘To be’ in the present Respond to simple instructions The present continuous Describe people’s appearance Simple conjunctions Identify key objects Basic question words Numbers from 1 to 20 Possessive ‘s’ There is / are and adjectives Prepositions ‘Can’ ‘Let’s’41PTE Young Learners & 21st Century Skills

TEACHER TOOLSSpringboardAreas of language useMain grammatical structures Answer questions about a picture Verb infinitive Use the alphabet Simple ordinals Express likes and dislikes Talk about habits and routines Prepositions Hours/days of the week The present continuous tense Express numbers from 1 to 100Conjunctions Like ing The simple present tense for habits Adverbs of frequency Other question words: How often?What kind? What time? How much?42PTE Young Learners & 21st Century Skills

TEACHER TOOLSQuickmarchAreas of language useMain grammatical structures Sports & hobbies Past tense of ‘to be’ Places & transport Comparatives & superlatives Order food in restaurants Simple past tense Tell time Present continuous Talk about:Past eventsEvery day activitiesFuture plans ‘can’ ‘going to’ Conjunctions Irregular past forms of common verbs43PTE Young Learners & 21st Century Skills

TEACHER TOOLSBreakthroughAreas of language useMain grammatical structures Describe:everyday objectssensations Present perfect Give instructions such as directions andprocedures Write a story/narrative about a special event Talk about past experiences Ask for/state:explanationsopinionspreferences ‘Will’ First conditional form ‘Would’ for polite offers & preferences Past continuous in narratives The infinitive to indicate purpose Tag questions Predict and discuss future possibility Offer, request, make spontaneous decisionsVocabulary lists and detailed grammatical structures lists for all levels can be found on pearsonpte.com/pte-young-learners44PTE Young Learners & 21st Century Skills

TEACHER TOOLSTest preparation resourcesLink to resources45PTE Young Learners & 21st Century Skills