P L U S

British English

THE PEARSON TEST OF ENGLISH

FOR YOUNG LEARNERS

Big English Plus prepares learners for the requirements found

in the Pearson Test of English for Young Learners
(PTEYL – First Words, Springboard, Quickmarch, Breakthrough)
Summary

Big English Plus Starter and Level 1 prepare

learners for success in First Words.

Big English Plus Level 2 (plus all previous

Levels) prepares learners for success in
Springboard.

Big English Plus Levels 3 and 4 (plus all

previous Levels) prepare learners
for success in Quickmarch.

Big English Plus Levels 5 and 6 (plus all

previous Levels) prepare learners
for success in Breakthrough.
BIG ENGLISH PLUS (British English)
and PTEYL First Words

Areas of language use that are tested

Levels Units
in the First Words exam

Identify people by name 1 Welcome

Ask someone their name 1 Welcome

Respond to simple instructions 1 Welcome, 1

Identify key classroom, household

1 Welcome, 1, 8, 9
and other objects
Ask/answer about colour
1 Welcome, 1
and position of objects

Ask/tell someone their/your age 1 Welcome

Ask/talk about families 1 2

Request things 1 7

Express simple likes 1 9

2 2

Suggest simple activities 1 5

Describe people’s appearance in

1 3, 4
terms of age, height and features

Express numbers from 1 to 20 1 Welcome (1 - 15)

2 1 (1 – 100)
BIG ENGLISH PLUS (British English)
and PTEYL First Words

Main structures that are tested

Levels Units
in the First Words exam

Has/Have got 1 3

There is/are 1 8

The imperative and negative

1 Welcome, 1
imperative

The verb to be in the present tense 1 Welcome

1, 2 etc.

The present continuous

1 4, 5, 6, 9
(affirmative only)

Can for ability and requests 1 7

Let’s for simple suggestions 1 9

Basic questions words: where? who? 1 Welcome, 1, 2

Demonstratives – pronouns
1 Welcome, 1, 2
and adjectives

Possessive ‘s’ 2 3

Personal and possessive pronouns

1 Welcome, 2
and adjectives

Plural nouns 1 1

Prepositions of place: on, under, by 1 8

Simple conjunctions: and, but 1 3, 4

BIG ENGLISH PLUS (British English)
and PTEYL First Words

Topics that are tested

Levels Units
in the First Words exam
Families 1 2
Pets and animals 1 6
School 1 Welcome, 1, 9
The body and people’s appearance 1 3, 7
Toys 1 7, 8
Houses 1 5

Vocabulary that is tested

Levels Units
in the First Words exam
Simple colours 1 Welcome, 4, 6
Nouns for family members 1 2
Numbers from 1 to 20 1 Welcome (1 – 15)
2 1 (1 – 100)
The house 1 5
Parts of the body 1 3
Children’s clothes 1 4
Basic adjectives for feelings
1 9 (tired)
sad, happy, hungry, tired
2 9 (happy)
Common pets and zoo animals 1 6
2 8
Common toys/playthings 1 8, 9
Verbs often used for classroom
1 Welcome, 1
instruction
Classroom objects 1 Welcome, 1
BIG ENGLISH PLUS (British English)
and PTEYL Springboard
(including all of First Words)

Areas of language use that will be

Levels Units
tested in the Springboard exam

Answer questions about a picture 2 1

Use the alphabet 2 9

Recognize words when spelt out 2 2 (phonics)

Ask/say what people are doing 2 1, 2

Express likes and dislikes 2 2, 7

Talk about habits and routines 2 6, 9

Tell the time (hours only)/ state the

2 6
day of the week

1 7

Express numbers from one to 100 2 1

Express ability 2 8
BIG ENGLISH PLUS (British English)
and PTEYL Springboard
(including all of First Words)

Main structures that will be tested

Levels Units
in the Springboard exam
The present continuous
– interrogative and negative
2 1
Is Ben wearing a red T-shirt?
Annie isn’t eating a cheeseburger.
Like + …ing
Ben doesn’t like getting up early. 2 2
Sophie loves school.
The simple present tense for habits
– affirmative, negative
and interrogative
2 6, 9
Lions eat meat.
The baby doesn’t eat hamburgers.
Does Mrs Brown start work at 8.00?
Adverbs of frequency
2 9
sometimes, always, never, often

Other question words

How often? What kind? What time? 2 1, 6
How much?

Verb + infinitive
2 4
want to, help to, plan to, decide to

Simple ordinals 2 4

Conjunctions
2 6
when, before, after + then (adverb)

Prepositions
2 3
opposite, between, in front of
BIG ENGLISH PLUS (British English)
and PTEYL Springboard
(including all of First Words)

Topics that will be tested

Levels Units
in the Springboard exam
Clothes 1 4
2 6
Food 2 7
Description of Animals 2 8
Homes 2 3

Vocabulary that will be tested

Levels Units
in the Springboard exam
Days of the week 1 7
Months of the year 2 9
Seasons and weather 2 9
Clothes and accessories 1 4
not specifically included but can be
Words associated with clothes
introduced in Level 1, Unit 4
button, zip, laces
and Level 2, Unit 6
Food and drink 2 7
Fast food 2 7
Around the world sections at the end
Continents
of all units, L1 onwards
2 9
3 4
Animals 2 8
Basic words to describe the
2 8
appearance of animals
Rooms in a house or flat 1 5
Parts of a house or flat 2 3
Furniture and household objects 2 3
Sports children play and/or watch
2 2
football, tennis, gymnastics
BIG ENGLISH PLUS (British English)
and PTEYL Breakthrough
(including all of First Words, Springboard and Quickmarch)

Areas of Language Use that will be tested

Levels Units
in the Breakthrough exam
Talk and ask about sports
3 8, 9
and hobbies
4 2, 8
Talk and ask about everyday
3 1
activities
4 2
Talk and ask about countries, cities,
2 4
towns, shops and buildings
3 9

4 3, 5, 7
Talk and ask about modes of
4 6
transport and journeys
Order food in a restaurant 4 3

Talk about past events 3 5, 9

4 6
Understand, ask and answer
3 1, 2, 3 etc.
questions about a story
Understand a simple story 3 1, 2, 3, etc.

Talk about future plans 4 7

5 6

Tell the time (hours and minutes) 3 1

BIG ENGLISH PLUS (British English)
and PTEYL Breakthrough
(including all of First Words, Springboard and Quickmarch)

Main Structures that will be tested

Levels Units
in the Breakthrough exam

Past tense of to be
3 5, 9
was, were

The simple past tense

3 9
walked, I didn’t walk, Did you walk?

Irregular past forms of common verbs

3 8, 9
went, got up, ate, drank, slept, came

4 6

Going to to express future plans

and intentions
4 2, 7
I am going to visit my aunt next week.
I am going to work hard this year.
Present continuous for future use
4 2, 7
She’s going out tonight.
Can for permission
Can we go to the cinema? 2 1
(using May – May I use smthg?)
Comparatives of adjectives
Ben is older than Sophie. 4 1, 8
Ben is better at English than Sophie.
Superlatives of adjectives
4 8
Anna is the youngest girl in her class.
Conjunction because
Billy was late for school because he 4 5
missed the bus.
BIG ENGLISH PLUS (British English)
and PTEYL Breakthrough
(including all of First Words, Springboard and Quickmarch)

Topics that will be tested

Levels Units
in the Breakthrough exam
Spare time 4 8
Time 3 1
Places 3 9
Jobs 3 2
Illness 4 4
Vocabulary that will be tested
Levels Units
in the Breakthrough exam
Common spare time activities
3 1, 8
swimming, dancing, playing computer games
Hobbies
collecting stamps or teddy bears, solving 4 8
puzzles
Common jobs and professions
3 2
teacher, doctor, police officer, taxi driver, nurse
Common illnesses which affect children
4 4
headache, toothache, sore throat
Names of countries and nationalities
France, French, China, Chinese, Canada, 3 7, 9
Canadian
4 3
Points of the compass not specifically included but can be
north, south, east and west introduced in Level 2, Unit 4
Basic geographical features
1 4
river, mountain, sea, lake
2 8
3 4
Town facilities
3 9
museum, cinema, supermarket, library
Shops and essential shopping items
bakers, bread, chemist’s, medicine, 3 2, 3
newsagent’s, newspaper
4 4