Cambridge Flyers Full Practice Test -- Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking

About This Test

This is a complete Cambridge YLE Flyers practice test. Work through all sections in order to get the most realistic exam experience.

• Level: A2 Cambridge English
• Listening time: 25 minutes (in this written version, a parent or teacher reads the listening scripts)
• Reading and Writing time: 40 minutes
• Speaking time: 7 to 9 minutes

Read the instructions for each part carefully before starting. Do not look at the answer key until you have finished each section.

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PART A: LISTENING

Listening Part 1: Choose the Right Picture (5 items)

A parent or teacher reads each item aloud. The child listens and writes the letter of the picture that answers the question.

Note: In the real exam, children draw a line to the correct picture. In this written version, children write A or B.

Item 1: A: "Sam, where did you go last weekend?" B: "I went to the museum, not the cinema." [Picture A = museum with large stone steps. Picture B = cinema with a bright ticket window.] Which picture? Write A or B: ___

Item 2: A: "What is your new bedroom like?" B: "It has a big window next to the desk, not next to the bookshelf." [Picture A = desk under a window. Picture B = bookshelf under a window.] Which picture? Write A or B: ___

Item 3: A: "What did the scientist find in the cave?" B: "She found ancient bones, not old tools." [Picture A = pile of old bones. Picture B = old wooden tools.] Which picture? Write A or B: ___

Item 4: A: "How did your dad travel to work yesterday?" B: "He rode his bicycle because his car broke down." [Picture A = man on bicycle. Picture B = man in a car.] Which picture? Write A or B: ___

Item 5: A: "Which animal did the children see at the wildlife park?" B: "They saw a cheetah, not a lion." [Picture A = cheetah running. Picture B = lion sleeping.] Which picture? Write A or B: ___

Answers: 1-A, 2-A, 3-A, 4-A, 5-A

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Listening Part 2: Write the Missing Information (5 items)

A parent reads the conversation below. The child fills in the form.

Parent reads: "Hello everyone. I have some exciting news about our School Science Fair. The fair will take place on Saturday the fourteenth of May, not Sunday. It will be held in the school hall, on the ground floor. The fair will start at ten o'clock in the morning. Please remember to bring a notebook to write down interesting things you discover. The winner of the best experiment will receive a special prize -- a book about space. We look forward to seeing you all there."

SCHOOL SCIENCE FAIR -- INFORMATION FORM

Event: School Science Fair Date: ___________________________ Place: ___________________________ Start time: ___________________________ Bring: ___________________________ Winner gets: ___________________________

Answers:

• Date: Saturday 14th May
• Place: the school hall
• Start time: ten o'clock (10 o'clock)
• Bring: a notebook
• Winner gets: a book about space

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Listening Part 3: Write A or B (5 items)

A parent reads the story below. For each sentence, write A (Kim) or B (Tom).

Parent reads: "Kim and Tom are best friends. They are talking about their summer holidays. Kim went on a long trip by boat to an island. She said the water was so clear she could see fish swimming below. She visited an old lighthouse and climbed to the top. Tom stayed at home but went to a science camp every day for two weeks. He built a small robot with sensors. He was very proud of it. Kim said the most beautiful thing she saw was a sunrise over the ocean. Tom said his favourite memory was when his robot picked up a tennis ball by itself."

Who said each thing? Write A (Kim) or B (Tom).

"I went on a trip by boat." ___

"I attended a science camp." ___

"I climbed to the top of a lighthouse." ___

"I built a small robot." ___

"My favourite memory was a sunrise over the ocean." ___

Answers: 1-A, 2-B, 3-A, 4-B, 5-A

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Listening Part 4: Complete Sentences (5 items)

A parent reads each sentence. The child writes the missing word.

"The most popular sport in the world is ___." (football)

"Scientists believe the universe began with a huge explosion called the Big ___." (Bang)

"Animals that are at risk of dying out are described as ___." (endangered)

"The layer of air that surrounds the Earth is called the ___." (atmosphere)

"A person who studies rocks and the history of the Earth is called a ___." (geologist)

Answers: 1-football, 2-Bang, 3-endangered, 4-atmosphere, 5-geologist

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Listening Part 5: Colour and Write (5 items)

A parent reads the instructions below. The child follows them on a picture (or imagines the picture based on the description).

Picture description: A market scene with several stalls. There is a flower stall on the left, a fruit stall in the middle, and a bookseller's stall on the right. Above the middle stall there is a sign. A boy is standing near the flower stall holding a yellow bag. A girl is sitting on a bench reading a book.

Parent reads:

"Colour the flowers on the stall on the left red and yellow."

"Write the word MARKET on the sign above the middle stall."

"Colour the bag the boy is holding green."

"Draw a hat on the girl sitting on the bench."

"Write the word OPEN on the small sign near the bookseller's stall."

(Check with your child that they followed each instruction correctly by comparing with the description.)

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PART B: READING AND WRITING

Time: 40 minutes. Do all parts.

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Reading and Writing Part 1: Definitions Match (10 items)

Write the correct word next to each definition. Choose from the words in the box.

Words: atmosphere, recycle, laboratory, endangered, gravity, frustrated, heritage, satellite, explorer, ceremony

The layer of gases that surrounds the Earth or another planet. ___

An object that travels around a planet in space, either natural (like the moon) or man-made. ___

A person who travels to unknown or unfamiliar places to discover new things. ___

The force that pulls objects toward the ground. ___

A room or building where scientists carry out experiments. ___

The cultural traditions and objects passed down from earlier generations. ___

To process used materials so they can be used again. ___

Feeling annoyed or upset because something is difficult or not working. ___

In danger of dying out completely. Used to describe some animals and plants. ___

A formal event or celebration that follows a set of traditional actions. ___

Answers: 1-atmosphere, 2-satellite, 3-explorer, 4-gravity, 5-laboratory, 6-heritage, 7-recycle, 8-frustrated, 9-endangered, 10-ceremony

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Reading and Writing Part 2: Story Cloze (10 items, 3 choices each)

Read the story. Choose the best word (A, B or C) for each gap.

THE ISLAND EXPEDITION

Last summer, twelve-year-old Oliver (1) ___ on an exciting trip to a small island off the coast. He had (2) ___ dreamed of exploring a real archaeological site. His aunt, Dr Patel, was a scientist who had (3) ___ on the island for three years.

When Oliver arrived, he (4) ___ amazed by the size of the site. Dr Patel (5) ___ him a special brush and showed him how to carefully remove sand from (6) ___ objects. Oliver worked all morning. Suddenly, his brush (7) ___ something hard just below the surface.

"Don't move!" called Dr Patel. Together, they slowly uncovered a small clay pot. It (8) ___ more than two thousand years old.

"I have never (9) ___ something like this before," said Oliver, his voice full of wonder. "I think I want to (10) ___ an archaeologist when I grow up."

A) went B) goes C) has gone

A) always B) never C) yet

A) worked B) works C) working

A) is B) was C) has been

A) gives B) gave C) is giving

A) ancient B) modern C) recent

A) felt B) feels C) feel

A) was B) is C) has been

A) found B) find C) finding

A) become B) became C) becoming

Answers: 1-A, 2-A, 3-A, 4-B, 5-B, 6-A, 7-A, 8-A, 9-A, 10-A

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Reading and Writing Part 3: Comprehension (5 items)

Read the story. Choose the best answer (A, B or C) for each question.

THE ROBOT COMPETITION

Zara had been working on her robot for four months. It was the school's annual technology competition and this year the challenge was to build a robot that could sort objects by colour. Zara had named her robot "Spark."

On the day of the competition, twelve teams gathered in the sports hall. Zara felt extremely nervous as she watched the other robots. One team had a robot with flashing lights. Another team had a robot that played music while it worked. Spark had no lights or music -- just a simple arm that moved back and forth.

When Spark's turn came, Zara held her breath. The robot picked up a red cube and placed it in the red tray. Then a yellow ball, then a blue cylinder. Every single object went into the correct tray. Spark was perfect.

The judges took a long time to decide. Finally, the head judge stood up. "In first place," she said, "is Spark, because it was the most accurate robot in the competition." Zara screamed with joy and hugged her robot.

What was the challenge in this year's competition?

A) Build a robot that could run a race. B) Build a robot that could sort objects by colour. C) Build a robot that could play music.

How did Zara feel before her turn?

A) Confident and relaxed. B) Bored and tired. C) Very nervous.

What was different about Spark compared to the other robots?

A) Spark had no lights or music. B) Spark was the biggest robot. C) Spark could move fastest.

Why did Spark win the competition?

A) It had the most colourful lights. B) It was the most accurate. C) It was the loudest robot.

How did Zara feel at the end?

A) Disappointed that she only came second. B) Overwhelmed with joy. C) Confused about the judges' decision.

Answers: 1-B, 2-C, 3-A, 4-B, 5-B

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Reading and Writing Part 4: Complete the Sentences (7 items)

Read the text about animals. Complete the sentences below.

ANIMALS OF THE DEEP OCEAN

The deep ocean is one of the most mysterious places on Earth. It is so dark and cold that most animals there have developed special ways to survive. Many deep-sea creatures produce their own light in a process called bioluminescence. The anglerfish uses a glowing lure on its head to attract smaller fish. The giant squid can grow up to thirteen metres long and has the largest eyes of any living animal.

Pressure in the deep ocean is enormous. It is so strong that it would crush a human body. However, creatures like the blobfish have soft, flexible bodies that are perfectly shaped for surviving at great depths.

Scientists have explored less than twenty per cent of the world's oceans. Each expedition discovers new species that have never been seen before. It is thought that more species live in the deep ocean than in all the world's rainforests combined.

The deep ocean is very dark and ___.

Many deep-sea animals make their own light -- this is called ___.

The anglerfish attracts smaller fish using a glowing ___ on its head.

The giant squid can grow up to ___ metres long.

The blobfish can survive deep water because its body is soft and ___.

Scientists have explored less than ___ per cent of the world's oceans.

It is thought that the deep ocean may contain more species than the world's ___.

Answers: 1-cold, 2-bioluminescence, 3-lure, 4-thirteen, 5-flexible, 6-twenty, 7-rainforests

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Reading and Writing Part 5: Choose the Right Word (5 items)

Choose the best word (A, B or C) to complete each sentence.

My grandmother ___ lived in this village all her life.

A) have B) has C) had

She is the ___ talented singer in our school.

A) most B) more C) much

If you do not water the plants, they ___ die.

A) would B) will C) can

The ancient temple ___ built over five hundred years ago.

A) was B) were C) is

He has been interested ___ astronomy since he was six years old.

A) on B) at C) in

Answers: 1-B, 2-A, 3-B, 4-A, 5-C

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Reading and Writing Part 6: Re-order Words to Make Sentences (5 items)

Re-order the words to make a correct sentence. Use all the words.

never / I / have / been / to / Japan

the / most / beautiful / place / she / ever / visited / has / been / Iceland

should / we / protect / endangered / animals / because / they / part / are / of / our / planet

built / the / pyramid / was / thousands / years / of / ago

if / harder / you / practise / better / will / become / you

Answers:

I have never been to Japan.

The most beautiful place she has ever visited has been Iceland.

We should protect endangered animals because they are part of our planet.

The pyramid was built thousands of years ago.

If you practise harder, you will become better.

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Reading and Writing Part 7: Write About the Picture (20+ words)

Look at the picture described below. Write 20 or more words about what you can see. You can also write what you think about the picture.

Picture description: A busy outdoor market. On the left, a woman is selling fruit -- mangoes, bananas and oranges are piled in colourful displays. In the centre, a man is talking to a customer about some vegetables. On the right, a boy is helping an old lady carry her bag. The sky is bright and sunny. There are many people walking through the market.

Write your composition here. Remember:

• Write at least 20 words.
• Use capital letters and full stops.
• Include who you can see, what they are doing, and what you think.

Model answer (24 words): "A woman is selling fruit at the market. A man is talking to a customer about vegetables. A boy is helping an old lady. I think this market is very busy and friendly."

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PART C: SPEAKING

(For use with a parent, teacher or speaking partner)

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Speaking Part 1: Find 5 Differences

Look at the two shopping street scenes described below. Find and describe 5 differences. Use the structure: "In Picture A... but in Picture B..."

Picture A (Day scene):

• A bakery on the left has fresh bread in the window.
• A woman is walking a dog past the post office.
• The flower shop has yellow flowers outside.
• A boy is riding a bicycle.
• The street is sunny and quiet.

Picture B (Evening scene):

• The bakery on the left has a "CLOSED" sign in the window.
• A man is talking on the phone outside the post office.
• The flower shop has red flowers outside.
• A girl is sitting on a bench.
• The street has streetlights on and looks busier.

Practise saying all 5 differences out loud.

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Speaking Part 2: Picture Story Narration

Narrate this 4-frame story out loud. Use: First, Then / After that, Suddenly, Finally.

Frame 1: Maya wakes up early one winter morning. She looks out of the window and sees that everything is covered in snow. She looks delighted.

Frame 2: Maya puts on her coat, hat and boots and goes outside. She and her younger brother Jack start building a snowman together. They give it a carrot nose and two buttons for eyes.

Frame 3: Suddenly, a big energetic dog runs into the garden. It jumps at the snowman and knocks it over completely. Maya and Jack look shocked.

Frame 4: Maya, Jack and the dog all laugh (in dog language, it is wagging its tail wildly). They decide to build a new snowman -- this time with the dog sitting next to it so it cannot knock it down. They all look very happy.

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Speaking Part 3: Suggest and Discuss

A speaking partner describes two problem pictures. You give your opinion.

Problem 1: "There is a park full of plastic rubbish. What could people do?" Practice answer: "I think people should pick up the rubbish and put it in bins. They could also organise a clean-up day. In my opinion, the government should make stronger rules about littering."

Problem 2: "A river near a town is very polluted. Fish are dying. What could they do?" Practice answer: "I believe the factories near the river should stop putting chemicals into the water. People could also recycle more so less rubbish ends up in rivers. I think everyone has a responsibility to protect nature."

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Speaking Part 4: Personal Questions

Answer each question in a full sentence. Your answer should be 2 to 3 sentences for the best marks.

"Tell me about something you have done to help the environment."

"What is your favourite hobby and why do you enjoy it?"

"If you could visit any country in the world, where would you go and what would you do there?"

"Do you think children should learn about science at school? Why or why not?"

"What job would you like to do when you are older? Why?"

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Answer Key Summary

Listening

• Part 1: 1-A, 2-A, 3-A, 4-A, 5-A
• Part 2: Saturday 14th May / the school hall / ten o'clock / a notebook / a book about space
• Part 3: 1-A, 2-B, 3-A, 4-B, 5-A
• Part 4: 1-football, 2-Bang, 3-endangered, 4-atmosphere, 5-geologist

Reading and Writing

• Part 1: 1-atmosphere, 2-satellite, 3-explorer, 4-gravity, 5-laboratory, 6-heritage, 7-recycle, 8-frustrated, 9-endangered, 10-ceremony
• Part 2: 1-A, 2-A, 3-A, 4-B, 5-B, 6-A, 7-A, 8-A, 9-A, 10-A
• Part 3: 1-B, 2-C, 3-A, 4-B, 5-B
• Part 4: 1-cold, 2-bioluminescence, 3-lure, 4-thirteen, 5-flexible, 6-twenty, 7-rainforests
• Part 5: 1-B, 2-A, 3-B, 4-A, 5-C
• Part 6: See model sentences above.
• Part 7: Model answer provided above. Check for 20+ words, correct sentences, opinion included.

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Score Guide (0 to 45 Shields)

Each of the three skills is marked separately. At the actual Cambridge exam, trained examiners use detailed mark schemes. For this practice test, use the following self-assessment guide:

Listening (15 shields max)

• 20 to 25 correct: 13 to 15 shields (Distinction)
• 14 to 19 correct: 9 to 12 shields (Merit)
• 8 to 13 correct: 5 to 8 shields (Pass)
• Below 8 correct: below 5 shields (needs more practice)

Reading and Writing (15 shields max)

• 37 to 44 correct: 13 to 15 shields (Distinction)
• 27 to 36 correct: 9 to 12 shields (Merit)
• 17 to 26 correct: 5 to 8 shields (Pass)
• Part 7 bonus: add up to 3 shields for excellent writing (20+ words, no errors, good vocabulary, opinion included)

Speaking (15 shields max)

For home practice, ask an adult to rate each part using these questions:

• Part 1 (Differences): Did the child find all 5 differences and describe them clearly? (3 shields)
• Part 2 (Story): Did the child use connectors and describe all 4 frames? (4 shields)
• Part 3 (Opinions): Did the child express opinions with reasons? (4 shields)
• Part 4 (Personal): Did the child answer in full sentences with details? (4 shields)

Overall Guide

• 35 to 45 shields: Pass with Distinction -- outstanding!
• 25 to 34 shields: Pass with Merit -- very good work.
• 15 to 24 shields: Pass -- well done.
• Below 15 shields: Keep practising -- progress is being made.

Remember: every child who takes Cambridge YLE receives a certificate showing their shields. There is no fail grade. The exam is designed to celebrate what children can do.