Reading and writing

The Cambridge English: A1 Movers (YLE Movers) exam includes a Reading and Writing section. This section of the exam lasts 60 minutes and contains 32 tasks. It evaluates a test taker's ability to understand basic written language, such as that found in newspapers. This section of the Movers test can be practised by completing sentences, responding to questions, and writing sentences about a picture.

Part 1

In Part 1, children are given a set of eight words and a list of five short sentences. Each sentence describes a person, place, or thing. Learners must choose the correct word from the box and write it on the line next to each sentence. The words are all familiar vocabulary items, and the task tests the child’s ability to understand short descriptions and match them to the correct word.

Example:

This toy is soft and children often take it to bed.                           ...a teddy bear...

Now try these questions:

1. This is something you eat with bread — it often has 

meat or cheese inside.                                                                    ........................ 

2. Children fly this outside when it's windy. It goes high 

in the sky.                                                                                        ........................ 

3. You wear these on your feet when you go outside.                  ......................

✅ Tips for Success

• Don’t rush! Some words might look familiar, but the sentence gives clues about the correct answer. Look for key details like what the person does or where the object is used.
• Review words for jobs, places, food, and everyday objects. Flashcards, games, and picture dictionaries are great tools to build confidence with Movers-level vocabulary.
• If you're unsure, cross out words that clearly don’t match the sentence. This helps narrow down your choices and boosts your chances of picking the right one.

Part 2

In Part 2, children read a short dialogue between two characters, such as Daisy and Paul. The dialogue includes six exchanges, but only the first one is complete. For the remaining five, children must choose the best reply from three options (A, B, or C) to continue the conversation naturally. This part tests understanding of everyday language, question forms, and appropriate responses in spoken English.

Example:

Paul: What did you do last night, Daisy? Daisy: a) I watched television. b) I’m watching television. c) I don’t watch television.

✅ Correct answer: a) I watched television.

Now you try: 

1. Paul: Did you see the film about pirates? Daisy: a) Yes, so do I. b) Yes, it was great. c) Yes, that’s him.

2. Paul: Which was your favourite pirate in the film? Daisy: a) I liked it best. b) She was a pirate. c) Ben Bluebeard.

3. Paul: Was he the one with long, curly hair? Daisy: a) No, he hasn’t. b) Yes, that’s right. c) He’s got one.

✅ Tips for Success

• Before choosing an answer, read both the question and the possible replies. Think about what makes sense in a real conversation — not just what sounds correct on its own.
• If the question is in the past tense ('What did you do last night?'), the correct answer should match ('I watched television.'), not present tense ('I’m watching television.').
• Get used to short conversations about school, hobbies, food, and films. Role-play with a partner or teacher to build confidence in choosing natural replies.

Part 3

In this part, children read a short story with five missing words. They choose the correct word from a set of six illustrated cards — five correct and one distractor. At the end, they pick the best title from three options.

Last Saturday, Tom and his sister went to visit their grandma. She lives in a small house near the forest.

When they arrived, Grandma gave them some (1) ______ to drink. Then they went to play in the garden.

Tom took his (2) ______ off because it was hot. His sister brought her favourite (3) ______ to show Grandma.

After lunch, they were tired, so they lay down on the (4) ______ in the living room.

Before they left, Grandma gave them a new pet (5) ______ to take home.

Which is the best title for this story?

A. A Day at the Zoo.  B. A Visit to Grandma’s House.  C. Playing with Elephants.

✅ Tips for Success

• Look carefully at the whole picture: Don’t rush — check each detail before answering. Sometimes the answer is hidden in a corner!
• Read each sentence slowly: Make sure you understand what it’s asking. Look for key words like colours, actions, or positions.
• Use your finger to match the sentence to the picture: Pointing helps focus attention and makes it easier to spot the correct answer.

Part 4 

In this part of the test, children read a short factual text (about 90–100 words) on a familiar topic — often animals, places, or food. The text has five missing words, and for each gap, learners choose the correct word from a set of three options. This part tests grammar and vocabulary, including prepositions, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and determiners. There is one example provided to guide them.

Foxes are wild animals that look like dogs. They live in forests, grasslands, and sometimes near people’s homes. Foxes have red or orange fur, long tails, and sharp teeth. They mostly come out at night to look for food. Foxes eat rabbits, birds, and other small animals. Their ears are big, and they can hear very well. ← Example

Some foxes live on their own, while others stay (1) ______ their family. They use sounds and smells to (2) ______ with each other. Foxes are known for being clever and (3) ______. Sometimes they sleep under trees or in small (4) ______. People often see foxes (5) ______ near houses during the evening.

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. a) with b) on c) under

2. a) call b) tell c) communicate

3. a) noisy b) quiet c) loudly

4. a) places b) holes c) beds

5. a) walk b) walking c) walked

✅ Tips for Success

• Read the whole sentence before choosing: Don’t just look at the word — read the full sentence to understand what fits best.
• Say the sentence aloud in your head: Sometimes the correct word 'sounds right' when you imagine saying it.
• Start with the easiest gaps first: If one sentence is tricky, skip it and come back after filling the others — they might give you clues!

Part 5

In Part 5, children read a short story divided into three parts. The story is supported by pictures, but the answers must come from the text, not the images. Learners complete five sentences using one, two or three words from the story. This part tests reading comprehension, vocabulary, and the ability to extract key information from a narrative.

A Day at the Farm

Last Saturday, Sam and his sister Lily visited their uncle’s farm in the countryside. They arrived early in the morning and helped feed the chickens and sheep. Sam gave the chickens some corn, and Lily filled the water bowls for the sheep.

After breakfast, Uncle Tom showed them how to collect eggs from the henhouse. Lily found five eggs and put them in a basket. Then they walked to the orchard to pick apples for lunch.

In the afternoon, it started to rain, so they went inside and played board games with their aunt. Sam won two games, and Lily won one. They had hot chocolate and cake before going home.

Example: Where did Sam and Lily go on Saturday? → to the farm

1. What did Sam give to the chickens? → ___________

2. Where did Lily put the eggs? → ___________

3. What did they pick in the orchard? → ___________

4. What did the children do when it rained? → ___________

5. What did they drink before going home? → ___________

✅ Tips for Success

• Read the whole story first: Don’t jump to the questions — understanding the full story helps you find the right answers.
• Look for exact words in the text: All answers come directly from the story. Copy them carefully and check spelling.
• Use one, two or three words only: Don’t write full sentences — just the key words that answer the question.

Part 6

In Part 6, children look at a detailed picture and complete a set of tasks:

• Complete two sentences using one or two words.

• Answer two questions about the picture.

• Write two original sentences describing what they see.

This part tests vocabulary, sentence structure, and the ability to describe visual scenes using accurate language.

Complete the sentences:

    1. The boy singing on stage is wearing a blue _____________________. 

    2. One bag is green and one bag is _____________________.

Answer the questions:

    3. What is the girl with the red skirt doing______________________________.

    4. Where is the drum? ____________________________________________.

Write two sentences about the picture:             

    5. ______________________________________________________________.

    6. ______________________________________________________________.

✅ Tips for Success

• Look closely at the whole picture: Don’t just focus on the centre — check the corners and background too.
• Use clear and simple words: Stick to everyday vocabulary like colours, clothes, and actions.
• Write full sentences for the last two tasks: Make sure your sentences are true and describe something visible in the picture.

ANSWERS

Part 1  

1. a sandwich. 2. a kite. 3. shoes.

Part 2 

1. b.  2. c.  3. b.

Part 3

1. juice  2. cap  3. teddy  4. bed  5. dog. Best title: B. A Visit to Grandma’s House. 

Part 4

1. a.  2. c.  3. b.  4.  b.  5. b.

Part 5 

1. corn.  2. in a basket.  3. apples.  4. played board games. 5. hot chocolate.

Part 6

1. jacket.  2. brown.  3. she's playing the guitar.  4. the drum in on the right hand of the stage next to the guitar player.  5. The boy is singing on the stage.  6. The children are watching and smiling.

For more practice and activities go to the the Cambridge Examinations by clicking here.