Speaking

The Cambridge A1 Movers Speaking Test is a short and friendly interaction between the examiner and the child, lasting about 5–7 minutes. It's designed to make young learners feel at ease while showing how well they can speak and understand English in simple, everyday contexts. The test is not stressful, and there's no "pass or fail"—just an opportunity for children to show what they know.

The test is divided into four parts, each gradually increasing in complexity but staying within the familiar world of the child. Let’s walk through each stage like a little adventure in conversation 🌈.

Part 1 

🧩 Part 1 – Say Your Name and Point to Pictures

Purpose: Ease into speaking; test understanding of basic vocabulary.

What happens: The examiner greets the child, asks their name, and checks they're ready. Then, the child is shown a big picture filled with familiar objects (think toys, clothes, animals). The examiner asks questions like:

• 'Where’s the ball?'

• 'Point to the cat.'

• 'What’s this?' (holding up a card with an object)

Skills tested: Naming objects, using short phrases, responding with simple vocabulary.

🖼️ Part 2 – Find the Differences

Purpose: Use descriptive vocabulary and comparison skills.

What happens: The child gets two similar pictures with slight differences. The examiner might say:

• 'In my picture, the boy is wearing a hat. In your picture, he isn't. What’s different?'

The child must spot the differences and describe them simply:

• 'The ball is on the floor.'

• 'The girl has long hair.'

Skills tested: Vocabulary for describing appearance and actions; understanding comparative structures.

🗣️ Part 3 – Tell a Short Story

Purpose: Sequence events and describe actions using basic sentences.

What happens: Four picture cards tell a simple story. The examiner starts with a sentence like:

• 'Look at the first picture. The boy is eating lunch.'

The child continues the story by describing the next scenes, e.g.:

• 'Now he is walking to the park.'

• 'He is playing with his friend.'

Skills tested: Using simple grammar, verbs, sequencing words like then, next, and describing ongoing actions.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Part 4 – Talk About You

Purpose: Personal responses and confidence in everyday speech.

What happens: The examiner asks the child personal questions about their own life, such as:

• 'Do you have a brother or sister?'

• 'What’s your favourite food?'

• 'What do you do on Saturdays?'

The focus here is on relaxed conversation with short but meaningful answers. The child might say:

• 'I play football with my friends.'

• 'I like pizza.'

Skills tested: Personal vocabulary, speaking with confidence, connecting English to the child’s real world.

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