Last time, British Council’s Examinations Services Assistant Manager Angel Phu explained how the YLE Tests work. In this issue of the E-newsletter, we are glad to have Angel again to clarify some common queries of parents about YLE Starters.
- What criteria are used to assess a candidate’s performance? What is the passing mark? Will a candidate’s results be adjusted with reference to his/her age?
The ‘pass-or-fail’ concept doesn’t apply to YLE tests. A candidate’s performance is reflected by the number of ‘shields’ he/she earns, with five shields being the maximum for each paper. If your child gets ten or more shields in YLE Starters, it is suggested that he/she move up to Movers, the second level of YLE tests. The age of the candidate is not a factor affecting his/her test results.
- Did candidates from Hong Kong perform well in the past exams?
The majority of candidates excelled in the Oral and Listening Papers, though their overall performance in the Reading and Writing Paper was less brilliant. According to the 2008 YLE Statistics Report, 82.3% of Hong Kong candidates got five ‘shields’ in the Oral section on average. The same number of ‘shields’ were earned by 45.3% of candidates in the Listening part. However, only 30.1% of candidates performed equally well with reading and writing tasks.
- Are YLE results internationally recognised?
The three levels of YLE tests are designed and developed by Cambridge ESOL. Certificates issued by this world famous institution are widely recognised by thousands of schools and educational bodies across the world. Subsequent to the downward adjustment to the entry age of candidates to five in September 2008, the Starters Certificate has been widely used to demonstrate a child’s ability to use English in applying for primary school admission.
If you wish to register your child for a test session in January 2010, act NOW. More detailed information is available on the British Council’s website.
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