The table below give some examples at each Cambridge English: Young Learners level (Starters) of typical general ability, plus ability in each of the skill areas and in a range of contexts (Social & Leisure and School). These statements are linked to the CEFR.
| Typical Abilities | Listening & Speaking | Reading & Writing |
| Overall General Ability | CAN understand simple sentences about things around them, like ‘This is a chair’, ‘I like my school’, ‘That’s my pen’. CAN respond to personal questions on topics such as age, family and their home. | CAN recognise the letters of the English alphabet. CAN write the letters of the English alphabet and spell their name and simple words. |
| Social & Leisure | CAN understand simple expressions of communication, such as ‘Hello’, ‘How are you?’, ‘Thank you’. CAN respond to simple expressions of communication with ‘Yes, please’, ‘Sorry’, ‘I don’t understand’. | CAN read short, simple words and the names of some objects, such as animals, toys, clothes. CAN write simple sentences about themselves and their family. |
| School | CAN understand and follow simple classroom instructions given by the teacher, such as ‘Open your book’, ‘Read the question’, ‘Listen to me’. CAN listen to and repeat words and phrases appropriate to the level after their teacher. | CAN understand simple written instructions, for example how they should do an exercise in their coursebook. CAN recognise and copy words, phrases and short sentences from a text, a book, or the board in the classroom. |
