Key English Test


KET is the first level Cambridge ESOL exam, at level A2 of the Council of Europe's Common European Framework of Reference for Languages,. KET recognises the ability to cope with everyday written and spoken communications at a basic level.
Do you have basic English skills? Can you understand simple texts? Can you communicate in familiar situations? Can you understand short notices and simple spoken directions? If so, then KET is the exam for you.
KET is taken by more than 40,000 people each year, in more than 60 countries.
Why take KET?
KET uses language from real life situations and covers the four language skills - reading, writing, listening and speaking. It provides an assessment of practical skills, and encourages the development of abilities which can be used while travelling, as well as in study and working situations.
Although the KET exam is at a basic level, it helps you to find out your strengths and weaknesses. You can then plan further study and go on to take PET (Preliminary English Test) and the other Cambridge ESOL exams.
If you are successful, you will receive a certificate awarded by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations. You will also receive a statement of results, showing how you have performed in each of the three papers.

What does the exam involve?

KET has three papers:
• Reading & Writing
• Listening
• Speaking

Each paper is returned to Cambridge for marking and assessment, except the Speaking Test, which is conducted by two locally based examiners who examine candidates face to face. All examiners are accredited by Cambridge ESOL.
Reading and Writing (Paper 1), 1 hour 10 minutes
The Reading and Writing paper assesses your ability to read and understand factual texts from signs, brochures, newspapers and magazines. You need to be able to understand the main messages, and have ways of dealing with unfamiliar words and structures.
You are assessed on your ability to complete gaps in simple texts, transfer information to forms, and complete an everyday writing task, such as writing a short note or message of around 20-25 words, to show you can use structure, vocabulary, spelling and punctuation.
Listening (Paper 2), 30 minutes (approx.)
The Listening paper assesses your ability to understand recorded material such as announcements and monologues, delivered at a moderate pace, and to understand factual information in the recordings.
Speaking (Paper 3), 8-10 minutes
The Speaking Test assesses your ability to interact in conversational English with an examiner and with another candidate. You need to be able to answer and ask questions about yourself and to talk freely about your likes and dislikes. You normally take the Speaking Test in pairs.
How to register
To register for the exam, you need to contact an authorised Cambridge ESOL exam centre - entries cannot be made directly to Cambridge. The centre will give you full information about the fees for taking KET, the dates of the tests and other arrangements.
Many candidates take a preparation course before entering for the exam. If you are studying English at the moment, speak to your teacher about preparing for KET. If you are not studying at the moment, your nearest Cambridge ESOL exam centre will be able to advise you. Find a centre.
If you have a disability or a specific learning difficulty (such as dyslexia) it may be possible to ask for Special Arrangements to be made when taking the exam.

Results

Each skill carries 25% of the total marks. There are two pass grades (Pass with merit and Pass) and certificates are awarded to candidates who achieve these grades. Candidates who achieve a grade Narrow Fail or Fail are judged not to have reached the required standard for KET.
Exam scripts are sent to Cambridge ESOL for marking and grading and the results are sent back to the centres. For reasons of confidentiality, Cambridge ESOL does not give results to individual students or publish them on the website. If you have any questions about your results, you should contact the centre where you took the exam.
Once awarded Cambridge ESOL KET certificates are valid for life.