Anglia Exams: First Step
Perfect for children as young as five years old. The exams use simple language and brightly-coloured pictures to engage young learners.
An alternative version is available for adult learners at beginner level. For more information, please scroll down to the bottom of the page.
What does First Step test?
- an understanding of about 100 words from familiar categories such as colours, numbers, family members and items in the home
- an understanding of the first useful structures such as classroom commands and how to say who you are
What does the candidate have to do in their First Step exam?
- match with lines
- mark with a tick or a cross
- colour and draw
- find and copy single letters
Performance Indicators?
The candidate
- has a basic vocabulary recognition of about 100 words
- can read and follow simple instructions
- can understand the language of basic identification
Grammar and Structures List
| Grammar and Structures | What are they used for? | Examples |
| VERBS | ||
Commands | Understanding instructions | Draw a line.Tick or cross. Write the letter. Colour or write. Colour the right number. Listen to the words. Tick the box. Stop! Don't touch! Stand up. Sit down. |
| Present Simple of the verb 'to be' 3rd person | Identifying an object | The flower is red. It is a computer. |
| Present Simple of the verb 'to be' 1st person | Identifying yourself | My name is Bob. I'm 8. |
| A question | Identifying an object | What is it? |
| NOMINAL GROUPS | ||
| A noun with number and colour modifiers | Identifying objects | two green eyes/ one blue nose |
| PRONOUNS | ||
| I/ It | Identification | I'm six years old. It is a bike. |
| There is/There are | Identifying an object/objects | There is one apple. There are three apples. There is a/one/two red ball(s). |
| ARTICLES | ||
| a, an, the | As part of the identification of an object | an egg/ the teacher/ a book |
Wordlist
| NOUNS | SETS of WORDS |
| Days of the week | day, week, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday |
| Cardinal Numbers | one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten |
| Colours | colour, red, blue, yellow, green, black, white, orange, brown |
| The Home | house, table, chair, window, door, bed, television, garden |
| School | school, book, teacher, pen, computer, bag, name |
| Face | eye(s), nose, ear(s), mouth |
| Animals | animal, cat, dog, fish, bird |
| Transport | car, train, bus, bike |
| People | mother, father, brother, sister, baby, man, woman, boy, girl |
| Food | food, apple, banana, chocolate, cake, egg |
| Nature | tree, flower |
| Sport | sport, football, tennis, ball |
| Identification | Yes. No. My name is _________. I'm six years old. |
| Greetings | Hello. Goodbye. |
| Instructions | Stop! Don't touch! Stand up. Sit down. |
| Exams | tick, cross, word, letter, box, line, draw, read, write, colour |
Useful Links
First Step Past Exam Papers
- Link to First Step FF120 exam papers (Exam Template, audio file and marking keys)
- Link to First Step Speaking test
- First Step Past Exams for Teachers
First Step Speaking Assessment Video
Link to Speaking exam example video (please note: you have to sign in to view videos)
Step to Books
Link to audio file for First Step older edition Step To Book
Adult Version of First Step Level
An alternative version is available for adults learning at a beginner level. The exam consists of the same performance indicators, but is based more towards adult scenarios. For example instead of drawing or labelling a monster, there are photographs with questions, and answers to match with questions. The word list has been slightly revised.