100+ Free PEIC YL Breakthrough Practice Questions
Pass your Pearson English International Certificate Young Learners - Breakthrough (Level 4) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.
Listen to the conversation. Mum: "How was the school trip to the museum?" Sam: "It was great! We saw a real dinosaur skeleton." What did Sam see at the museum?
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Key Facts: PEIC YL Breakthrough Exam
PEIC Young Learners Breakthrough is Pearson's highest Young Learners level (CEFR A2) for ages 6-13, with an 80-point written paper of six listening, reading and writing tasks plus a 20-point spoken test, graded Pass, Merit or Distinction.
Sample PEIC YL Breakthrough Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your PEIC YL Breakthrough exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1Listen to the short conversation. Tom: "What time does the farm open on Saturday?" Mum: "It opens at nine o'clock in the morning." When does the farm open on Saturday?
2Listen to the dialogue. Anna: "Where did you go on holiday last summer?" Ben: "We went to the beach in Spain." Where did Ben go on holiday?
3Listen to the conversation. Grandma: "Would you like some cake, Diana?" Diana: "Yes, please. It smells delicious!" How does Diana describe the cake?
4Listen to the dialogue. Boy: "Why are you wearing a coat? It's sunny today." Girl: "Because the weather report said it will rain later." Why is the girl wearing a coat?
5Listen to the conversation. Dad: "What are you going to do this weekend?" Kirsty: "I'm going to visit my cousin and play football." What will Kirsty do this weekend?
6Listen to the dialogue. Examiner: "Have you ever been to London?" Boy: "Yes, I have. I went there last year with my school." What does the boy say about London?
7Listen to the conversation. Mum: "How was the school trip to the museum?" Sam: "It was great! We saw a real dinosaur skeleton." What did Sam see at the museum?
8Listen to the dialogue. Anna: "Which sport do you prefer, swimming or tennis?" Ben: "I prefer swimming because it's more relaxing." Which sport does Ben prefer?
9Listen to the conversation. Waiter: "What would you like to drink?" Girl: "I'd like an orange juice, please." What does the girl want to drink?
10Listen to the dialogue. Teacher: "Where is the library?" Boy: "Go straight on, then turn left. It's next to the gym." Where is the library?
About the PEIC YL Breakthrough Exam
The Pearson English International Certificate Young Learners - Breakthrough is Level 4, the highest of the four Young Learners levels, and is aligned to CEFR A2. It is a fun, scenario-based English test for children aged 6 to 13 who can describe sensations, give instructions and explanations, express preferences, and deal with simple hypothetical situations. The test has two parts taken separately: a written paper lasting 1 hour and 15 minutes with six tasks covering listening, reading and writing, and a spoken test of 20 minutes with two speaking tasks done in a group of five with an examiner. The written paper contains 36 listening, reading and writing items across Tasks One to Five plus a 75-word narrative-writing task, scored out of 80 points, while the spoken test is scored out of 20. Tasks follow the adventures of the Brown family, and grammar is integrated into real-life scenarios so children do not need to memorise grammar rules. Results are reported as Pass, Merit or Distinction with a detailed skills breakdown, and both parts must be attempted to gain a certificate.
Questions
100 scored questions
Time Limit
Written paper 1 hour 15 minutes; separate spoken test 20 minutes.
Passing Score
Pass, Merit or Distinction. The written part carries 80 points and the spoken part 20, for a maximum of 100. Both parts must be attempted to earn a certificate.
Exam Fee
Set by each registered test centre and country; typically about 25 to 60 US dollars. There is no single global fee published by Pearson. (Pearson, with certificates awarded by Edexcel.)
PEIC YL Breakthrough Exam Content Outline
Listening: picture multiple choice
Task One. Listen to a conversation twice and answer eight 3-option picture-based multiple-choice questions about times, places, reasons and activities (16 points).
Listening and writing: answer question
Task Two. Listen to a conversation twice and write short answers to seven questions about details of the text (14 points).
Reading and writing: dialogue completion
Task Three. Write five questions to match five given answers in a written dialogue, using correct question forms (15 points).
Reading: match utterance to picture
Task Four. Match five short written utterances to the pictures that illustrate their meaning, recognising functional language in social situations (5 points).
Reading and writing: gap fill
Task Five. Read a text with ten gaps and write the most appropriate word for each, testing vocabulary and grammar in context (10 points).
Writing: write narrative
Task Six. Write a story of about 75 words based on six pictures, using narrative tenses and linking ideas coherently (20 points).
How to Pass the PEIC YL Breakthrough Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Pass, Merit or Distinction. The written part carries 80 points and the spoken part 20, for a maximum of 100. Both parts must be attempted to earn a certificate.
- Exam length: 100 questions
- Time limit: Written paper 1 hour 15 minutes; separate spoken test 20 minutes.
- Exam fee: Set by each registered test centre and country; typically about 25 to 60 US dollars. There is no single global fee published by Pearson.
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
PEIC YL Breakthrough Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PEIC Young Learners Breakthrough level?
Breakthrough is Level 4, the highest of the four Pearson English International Certificate Young Learners levels, aligned to CEFR A2. It is designed for children aged 6 to 13 and tests listening, reading, writing and speaking.
How is the Breakthrough test structured?
It has two separate parts: a written paper of 1 hour 15 minutes with six tasks covering listening, reading and writing, and a 20-minute spoken test with two speaking tasks done in a group of five with an examiner.
How is the Breakthrough test scored?
The written paper is worth 80 score points and the spoken test 20, for 100 in total. The written tasks include 36 listening, reading and writing items plus a 20-point story-writing task. Grades are Pass, Merit or Distinction.
What grades can children get?
Test takers receive Pass, Merit or Distinction along with a candidate performance report showing scores for listening, speaking, reading and writing. Both the written and spoken parts must be attempted to earn a certificate.
Which skills are tested in the written paper?
Task One and Task Two test listening, Tasks Three to Five test reading and writing through dialogue completion, utterance-to-picture matching and gap fill, and Task Six tests writing a short narrative from pictures.
Is the Breakthrough certificate useful for immigration?
No. Pearson states the Young Learners tests are not recognised for immigration purposes. Breakthrough is a confidence-building school qualification for children; adults needing an immigration test should look at PTE Academic instead.