Test Advice - KET
The Key English Test is the easiest of the Cambridge exams.
Do this test if you want to know your studies havestarted well and you have a basic knowledge of reading, writing, speaking andlistening.
The test has three sections:
- Reading & Writing - 70 minutes
- Listening- 25 minutes
- Speaking -8-10 minutes
Score
A, B, C (pass), D, E or U (fail)
Take the test ata test centre.
The test can only be taken twice a year, in June and December.
Expect to pay around €75 Euros.
Speaking Test Advice
How many marks is the Speaking test worth?
There are a total of 20 marks, weighted to 25, making 25% of the total scorefor the KET exam.
Are candidates from the same schoolpaired together?
This depends on the centre. In some, candidates from the same school are pairedtogether. In others, where candidates from a number of different schools areentered, candidates may be paired with students from other schools. Candidatesshould check with the centre to find out the local procedure.
Do the candidates speak to each other aswell as to the examiner?
Yes, the interaction patterns vary during the test. In Part 1, the candidatesspeak to the interlocutor but in Part 2, they must interact with each other. Inthis part, it is essential that they speak to each other and NOT to theinterlocutor, unless asking for clarification.
Do both examiners speak throughout thetest?
No, only the interlocutor speaks. The assessor remains silent except forgreeting and saying goodbye to the candidates.
Does knowing your partner make it easierto do well?
There is no evidence that knowing their partner helps candidates to performbetter, or worse, in the Speaking test. Some people feel more relaxed andconfident when they are paired with someone they know, while others may feelinhibited or that the situation is unnatural. In both cases, the examiners aretrained to provide equal opportunities for all candidates to perform to thebest of their ability.
What happens if candidates are'mis-matched', for example by putting a shy person with an outgoing one?
Examiners are trained to deal with this situation and ensure that no-one isdisadvantaged. Everyone has the chance to show what they can do. However,candidates need to remember that they need to make the best use of the time toshow off their language skills without dominating their partner.
What happens if there is an unevennumber of candidates?
The last test will be conducted with a group of three candidates. In this casethe test will last 13-15 minutes.
Listening Test Advice
How many times will candidates hear the recording foreach part?
Each part is heard twice, so candidates can check their answers or fill in anygaps at the second listening.
Are different accents used in KETrecordings?
Yes, there are some regional British accents and occasionally American orAustralian speakers.
How fast are the recordings?
All KET recordings are delivered clearly at slightly slower than natural speed.
How long do candidates have to transfertheir answers?
8 minutes in total is allowed for this and candidates are warned after 7minutes that they only have one minute left.
What do candidates find most challengingon the paper?
Parts 4 and 5, which involve listening and writing words or numbers, are oftenfound to be challenging. Part 3, the multiple-choice task, is also quitechallenging.
Which part of the paper do candidatesfind the easiest?
The short dialogues in Part 1 are an easy introduction to the paper. Part 2,the matching task, is also usually problem-free for candidates.
Reading and Writing Test Advice
Do candidates have to pass each paper in order to passthe whole examination?
No. The candidates' grades are based on their overall score in all the papers.
If candidates make a mistake filling intheir answer sheets, is this picked up by the computer?
If a candidate omits an answer, the computer accepts the answer sheet. If theyfill in more than one lozenge, the computer rejects it. Cambridge ESOL requiresquestion papers to be returned with the answer sheet, in case there have beenproblems in transferring answers from one to the other.
What is the recommended timing for eachpart?
There is no recommended timing as some tasks will take longer than othersdepending how you approach them. Candidates have different strengths andweaknesses and this will affect how long they need to spend on each part.Overall, 1 hour and 10 minutes allows candidates plenty of time to complete allthe tasks.
