We’re excited to announce the launch of the English Benchmark Young Learners emulator. A free piece of software that lets students take the test from a laptop or desktop computer – giving teachers more opportunities to measure English proficiency in a fun and stress-free way.
Previously, the English Benchmark Young Learners app was only compatible with tablet devices. The updated emulator now makes the test more accessible for schools who don’t have access to tablets. It also makes it easier to incorporate this interactive ‘test that doesn’t feel like a test’ into your remote classroom. After all, not all students have access to a tablet at home.
So how does it work? And how can you get started? Let’s learn more:
How it works
The English Benchmark Young Learners emulator is an application that when installed, lets teachers and students run the test via a computer. Nothing else changes from the tablet version of the test – and the teacher’s admin experience and scoring are exactly the same.
To use English Benchmark Young Learners with a computer, all students need is:
- A laptop or desktop computer
- A headset with a microphone boom
- An internet connection
- A separate mouse and a keyboard (not mandatory but recommended)
Since the test records speaking, it’s also important for students to take English Benchmark Young Learners from a quiet, distraction-free space.
One of the best parts about the emulator? It’s free and simple to install for Windows, with the Mac version to launch in the coming weeks. It’s available at each of the six levels, and there is also a ‘light’ version, which doesn’t require test data to be downloaded but does need a reliably continuous internet connection.
Plenty of support
At Pearson, we’re committed to making the entire testing process as straightforward and smooth as possible for you, your learners and their parents. If you have a question about how to review scores, or how to troubleshoot a technical roadblock, then we’ve got you covered.
Our Teachers’ Guide to the English Benchmark Young Learners emulator includes a range of insight for teachers, including how to:
- Download the emulator and set it up
- Prepare the test room and devices
- Help students succeed on the exam with practice tests
- Model test behavior for younger students
- Review results and generate reports
- And lots more
For more information including links to download the emulator, see our Teachers’ Support pages here.
We also provide support to help teachers reach out to parents who need to set up the test at home. This includes template communications to give to parents, plus a Parent’s Guide with step-by-step set-up instructions to pass on to young learners’ parents or caregivers.
A powerful new tool for English Benchmark Young Learners
English Benchmark Young Learners tests speaking, listening, reading and writing. It uses interactive activities and game-like graphics – motivating students aged 6-14 to feel excited about assessment.
With quick and accurate computer-based scoring, teachers get detailed descriptions of how each student is performing. It also shows how the class is doing as a whole, as well as receiving recommendations for what to teach in future lessons.
And, English Benchmark empowers teachers with an excellent baseline measurement of learners’ English proficiency at the start of term. It has the ability to closely monitor students’ performance and process, and see when young learners are ready to take higher skate English exams based on their test scores – which are in line with CEFR and GSE scales.
Now, the English Benchmark Young Learners emulator paves the way to making testing fun – and simple – for even more younger learners and teachers.
Want to learn more? Visit the English Benchmark Young Learners page.
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