Ket English. Preparing for the KET exam. How is KET assessed?

Cambridge exams are becoming increasingly popular in our country. They allow you to objectively assess the general level of language proficiency, and their results are recognized throughout the world.

Among a fairly large number of different international exams in English, a separate category consists of tests for students with an initial level of language proficiency. Passing them is the first step that should be overcome by those who strive for perfect command of a foreign language. These exams include ket (key English test). The development of the test was carried out in 1991–1994, during this period it was tested. In 2004, the exam underwent significant revision

The Cambridge Key English Test is the first in a series of exams from the University of Cambridge. This is the easiest General English test. If we talk about the European system of levels of foreign language proficiency, the Common European Framework Reference ket can be classified as level A2 or Pre-Intermediate. If your knowledge of English is still quite modest, but you want to test yourself, you can take this test. A small victory will serve as motivation for further improvement in this area.

Those who speak English at an elementary level and are able to apply it in practice are allowed to take the ket. Anyone over the age of 15 can take it. Successfully passing the exam implies the ability to grasp the meaning of simple texts, be able to communicate in the most common everyday situations, and understand simple oral instructions. Every year, the number of ket takers exceeds 40 thousand people around the world.

In 2009, a special exam called ket for schools was released. This test is completely identical to the usual key English test, however, the topics covered in the exam materials also relate to school life. This test is more suitable for candidates who are under 15 years of age.

IMPORTANT! The Cambridge Key English Test is conducted six times a year on clearly fixed days in March, May and June, as well as November and December. Passing the specified language exam is possible only in centers accredited by the University of Cambridge. At the moment, there are over 2,400 of them in Russia and countries around the world. Many centers are ready to accept applications for taking ket even from a candidate who is not a student of this particular center. You should contact the organization where you plan to take such a test in advance - at least 10 weeks before the date of the test.

Cambridge Key English Test stages

Ket (key English test) covers 4 basic language skills at once, including reading, writing, perception and understanding of oral speech, and conversational communication skills. The exam includes sections designed to assess vocabulary and English grammar. The tasks and questions used in the tests are as close as possible to real everyday situations.

Key English Test includes only 3 components - successive stages of the exam:

1. Reading and Writing
2. Listening
3. Speaking

The duration of the first stage of the exam is 1 hour 10 minutes. This component accounts for as much as 50% of the grade for the entire exam. This includes nine tasks, five of which test reading skills and four test writing skills. This part of the test is designed to assess the test taker's understanding of everyday information in written form. The tasks of the Reading block only involve grasping the general message of a sign or sign, correlating a short statement with a suitable answer, filling in the given gaps in the dialogue, etc. The Writing block includes four tasks without giving answer options: fill in the gaps in the text, fill in a questionnaire, and write a short one within 20–25 words. Here you need to demonstrate your ability to handle grammatical structures, vocabulary, and spelling skills.

Listening– the next stage of the exam. This component requires the examinee to have the ability to perceive small oral messages and dialogues that are spoken at a moderately slow pace. You will need to capture the information that is transmitted via audio recording. About 25 minutes are allotted to complete this set of tasks, and the result of this stage is 25% of the entire grade for ket.

Speaking practice– the final part. In 8–10 minutes, the test participants’ ability to maintain a conversation, ask simple questions and give adequate answers is tested. The process of passing this component of the exam is carried out in pairs or threes with colleagues with the participation of two examiners. This creates an atmosphere of real conversation.

The final score, formed based on the results of passing the exam, is the sum of points for all three modules. There is no passing score for each individual test; only the total score matters.

Upon completion of all specified stages of the exam, the documents are sent to the University of Cambridge for verification. All assessors are competent specialists in the field of English language teaching who have experience working with the appropriate language level.

The ket result is expressed as 4 marks

• passed with honors (Pass with Merit) – must score more than 85%
• passed (Pass) – it is enough to get from 70 to 85%
• passed with defects (Narrow Fail) – 45% is enough
• not passed (Fail) – less than 45%

After 5–6 weeks after passing the key English test, applicants are given a report containing the results of the test passed and a graph with the number of points scored for each module. Students who successfully pass the ket will receive a certificate of completion 10 weeks after the exam. This certificate is recognized by many companies working in the field of tourism, hotel business, and administrative activities. Many educational institutions also accept the ket (key English test) certificate as proof of basic English proficiency.

Passing this test will allow you to assess your strengths and weaknesses and identify what you should pay close attention to in the course of further language learning. Although the ket level is considered basic, it will help you identify problems in your knowledge and begin preparing for the next pet, fce level. Obtaining a ket certificate will give you confidence in your own abilities and will greatly facilitate your preparation for passing exams at a higher level.

Advantages of passing ket (key enslih test)

• the certificate does not require further confirmation
• The validity period of the certificate is unlimited
• allows you to make an objective assessment of foreign language knowledge at a professional level

Cambridge University exams are recognized throughout the world. The quality and integrity of test verification is undeniable. To qualify for ket admission, training centers undergo a rigorous selection process. Examiners work in groups supervised by specialists with extensive experience in this field, which allows for unification of assessment criteria. ket exam centers operate in accordance with strict rules laid down by UCLES, a department of the University of Cambridge.

How to prepare for the Key English Test

Preparing for the key English Test is quite simple, although it is responsible. You can tackle the problem yourself. It is recommended to purchase, for example, Objective KET, KET Practice Tests Plus, and study with their help. It will be equally useful to go to the official website ket cambridgeesol.org, where all the necessary information is presented. Reviewing it daily will help you move forward in your ket preparation. Here you can find examples of real test tasks and try your hand at it. If you want to prepare and pass the test as quickly as possible, but the deadlines are running out, you can seek professional help. Foreign language courses will come in handy. Classes with teachers in . It is quite possible for even a beginner to prepare for the ket exam in this way. Working with professionals brings significantly more positive results in a short time. Qualified teachers will help you in a structured manner and to the required extent to master the knowledge and skills for successfully passing ket.

In the modern world, knowledge of foreign languages ​​is mandatory for educated people. But this is a way out not only to a cultural and enlightened society, but also to expanding people’s horizons, the disappearance of state borders for interethnic business and informal communication, and the exchange of experience and heritage of ancestors. This makes people, first of all, not indifferent to the life, traditions and problems of other nationalities.

Foreign languages ​​are recognized as necessary in the school education of new generations of people. In modern schools, from the first day of school, children are taught the words, colloquial phrases and folklore of other languages. English has a leading position in this.

And, of course, after a certain period of time, children in schools are tested in various ways. It depends on the child’s age and level of English language learning.

What is KET? This is the same test of knowledge. A test that allows the teacher to see how well the material has been learned.

What kind of exam is this?

What is KET? in the form of a test. The abbreviation stands for Key English, a test of knowledge of the English language that is needed in everyday life, that is, a spoken language of everyday use and practical purposes:

• At work;
• visiting friends;
• on a walk;
• when going out;
• on learning.

Essentially speaking, this is an English language exam, which is conducted on the basis of four types:

• oral speech;
• fluent reading and writing;
• listening.

This test is called Cambridge because it was created and developed at this institute for students and people who speak other languages ​​(that is, not English).

This happened in the nineties of the last century. But recently they remembered this exam and improved it a little, significantly changing the structure of the test itself and its content. Now KET is a type of knowledge test aimed mainly at schoolchildren.

But this testing is not limited to schools. Every year thousands of people confirm their level of English proficiency in this way. For what?

• This is necessary to understand what level exactly you have.
• Find out specific gaps in language knowledge and deepen your study in these areas.
• A KET certificate can be a great addition to your portfolio when looking for a rewarding job.

KET in schools

KET for schools is a version of the famous Cambridge test, designed to test the initial levels of knowledge of the English language in adolescents from 11 to 14 years old. Schoolchildren take an adapted version of the test, which allows them to understand in the future how to prepare for final exams, as well as reduce the psychological burden on the child’s psyche. It seems that such an exam has already been passed, for example, without any problems, so why be afraid of the next English language exam? The question of what KET is no longer exists. The schoolchild ceases to be afraid of him because he is familiar with him.

Test structure and content

The exam lasts on average 1 hour 50 minutes. During this time, the student goes through three stages of the test:

• reading and writing - reading and writing is the longest and most important part, in which you need to read a passage of text in English (unadapted text, most often from English literature) and answer questions about it in writing;
• listening is listening to dialogues and writing answers (in the form of a test) on them;
• conversational part - conducting a dialogue between four people on a given topic or specially selected material; two examiners and two examinees participate in it.

After summing up the test results, all answers receive passing scores according to the specified sample. Those who pass the Key English Test receive a certificate indicating this.

Important!

The exam is carried out only in institutes, schools and universities accredited by the University of Cambridge for this type of test. There are a little more than two thousand of them in our country.

The test is taken six times a year, mostly during the summer months.

After testing, a corresponding certificate with unlimited validity is issued.

Repeated confirmation of English language knowledge will not be required.

How to prepare for it?

Requires KET (Key English Test) preparation at a very serious and intensive pace.

It is necessary to have a good knowledge of the rules of the English language, syntax and spelling.

You need a vocabulary that covers diverse topics. Including colloquial words and phrases and slang.

A good help for your preparation will be to familiarize yourself with the Objective KET and KET Practice Tests Plus editions.

You can also find all the answers to your questions regarding this test on the official Cambridge English website.

Example exam

1) The first part of the test is exercises on - answer." Consists of approximately 60 such exercises, including texts. Approximate types of questions:

• you need to insert the missing word in an English sentence;
• put the words in an affirmative or interrogative sentence in their places;
• answer the question (in short or long form).

Examples of tasks:

• Put the words in the questions in the correct order:

1. who's going to? can the disco.
2. how the race is long.
3. does it how much cost.
4. is what prize the first.
5. are the runners old how.

• Fill in the missing word:

1. My mother... book at the moment. (reads, reading, reading)
2. Do you want...a film tonight? (to see, seeing, to seeing)
3. There are three... on the wall. (photos, photoes, photo)
4. This is... film I have even seen. (best, the best, the most best)
5. They ... to Russia last summer. (go, went, going)

2) The second part is listening to some prescribed text, and then answering questions about this text.

3) The third part is dialogue. Completely different topics can be covered here. For example:

• personal, including biography and family, favorite activities, hobbies and more;
• business topics, but not deep into a specific profession;
• everyday situations (at home, away, with friends);
• food, products, names of various dishes;
• natural landscapes, animals, birds and marine life;
• travel, excursions and trips;
• healthy lifestyle and sports.

Hint for the first part

Translation of sentences in which the words are already in the right order:

• Who can go to the disco?
• How long is this flight?
• How much does it cost?
• What's the first price?
• How old are the runners?

Translation of sentences with inserted words:

• My mother is reading a book at this moment.
• Do you want to watch a movie today?
• There are three photographs on the wall.
• This is the best film I've ever seen.
• They went to Russia last summer.

Necessary rules

To successfully pass the test, you need to understand the following topics in the English language:

• rules for constructing sentences (affirmative, interrogative and negative);
• noun and the use of the definite, indefinite and zero articles with it;
• adjective (use and degrees of comparison);
• pronouns (personal, possessive, demonstrative, interrogative, negative and indefinite, as well as reflexive and relative);
• cardinal and ordinal numbers;
• use of verbs, including in tense agreement and passive voice);
• verbs in different tenses - present, past and future (simple forms, continuous, perfect (perfect), perfect-continuous);
• gerund and participle;
• modal verbs.

Lexicon

Words can be learned immediately from the topics of the third part of the test. However, the list of familiar words and vocabulary constructions must be at least 2,500 thousand, including prepositions, participles and numerals.

This figure may seem very large and unattainable. But as soon as you, with a below-average level of knowledge of the English language, read some adapted book of 100 pages, you will understand that you already know perfectly well one and a half thousand words.

How to increase your vocabulary more effectively and quickly?

• Daily training (reading, working with a dictionary, listening to audio materials (including radio stations), watching films and television programs in English).
• Study a few words or phrase structures every day. It is better to have several meanings for one word or construction.
• Learning poems, idioms, proverbs, song lyrics in English.
• Constant contact with the dictionary.

On one day, you may not try to try all the workouts at once, but you definitely need to devote half an hour of your free time to them.

Other types of similar tests

We’ve already figured out what KET is. This is the very first and simplest exam for language proficiency at an upper-intermediate level. However, there are more complex tests:

1. Preliminary English Test (PET) - corresponds to the average level of language knowledge. It is often mandatory for office workers and secretaries serving in leading positions in companies and organizations. But basically the test is not much different from the Key English Test.
2. First Certificate in English (FCE) - tests knowledge of the English language at an upper-intermediate level. This is an understanding of the rapid English speech of native speakers, television programs and radio broadcasts, the ability to freely express one’s thoughts and opinions.
3. Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) - advanced level. The topics in it become noticeably more complex; the ability to read and understand specialized business texts and spoken language is necessarily tested.
4. Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) - professional level. The difficulty of the test is high. Native level knowledge of English is required.

A2 Key (formerly KET Key English test) is the first exam in the Cambridge English Language Assessment series, which corresponds to level A2 of the CEFR Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

To successfully pass the exam, the candidate must be able to:

• Understand phrases and expressions that directly relate to everyday life (friends, work, shopping, immediate environment, etc.);
• Explain in everyday situations that are limited to direct exchange of information on familiar topics;
• Use simple words to describe your background, education, environment and other issues;

HOW IS THE A2 Key (KET) EXAM WORKED?

The A2 Key Exam (KET) consists of three parts:

• Reading and Writing– The examinee must demonstrate understanding of simple written information on signs, brochures, magazines and newspapers. 70 minutes;
• Listening– a series of tasks to test the understanding of simple oral messages and dialogues. 30 minutes;
• Speaking– basic conversational skills are tested: the ability to take part in simple conversations, ask and answer basic questions. This stage of the A2 Key (KET) exam is carried out in pairs with another candidate, so that the conditions are as close to real life as possible. 10 minutes;

RESULT

Exam result A2 Key (KET) represents the arithmetic mean of the sum of scores for all three parts. The grade for reading and writing is 50% of the total score, listening and speaking - 25% each.

The estimates and their corresponding points are presented in the table:

“Pass with Distinction”, “Pass with Merit” and “Pass” grades mean that the exam has been passed and the desired level has been confirmed. It is important to note that the “Pass with Distinction” grade is a confirmation of the next B1 level (B1 Preliminary (PET) exam), and the “Level A1” grade is a confirmation of the previous level. If the candidate does not score enough points to level A1, the exam is considered failed and a certificate is not issued.

BENEFITS OF A2 Key (KET) CERTIFICATE

Certificate A2 Key (KET) recognized by many companies in the tourism, hospitality, administrative fields, as well as most educational institutions as confirmation of a basic level of English proficiency.

When passing the exam A2 Key (KET) you will be able to assess your strengths and weaknesses and understand what you should pay more attention to when improving your English. Certificate A2 Key (KET) will give you confidence in your abilities and make preparing for higher level exams much easier.

Cambridge certificates do not expire and do not require retaking over time.

EXAM PREPARATION A2 Key (KET) AT EF ENGLISH FIRST SCHOOL

The program of courses for schoolchildren at EF includes mandatory preparation for the Cambridge exams. It includes the systematic development of all language skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening comprehension. At your first consultation at EF, experienced teachers will help you determine your exact level of knowledge and create an individual schedule for achieving your goals, thanks to which successful passing of exams will become a reality!

WHERE CAN YOU TAKE THE A2 Key (KET) EXAM?

EF English First is one of the largest platinum centers for Cambridge exams in Russia, accredited by Cambridge English Language Assessment. At EF, adults and children pass YLE successfully, A2 Key (KET), B1 Preliminary (PET), B2 First (FCE), C1 Advanced (CAE), C2 Proficient (CPE) and TKT

You will receive a separate score for each of the three papers (Reading and Writing, Listening, and Speaking), giving you a clear understanding of your performance. These three scores are averaged to give you an overall result for the exam. You will also be given a grade and Common European Framework of Reference for Languages ​​(CEFR) level.

When will I get my A2 Key Statement of Results?

All candidates receive a Statement of Results, and if you are successful in the exam you will also receive a certificate.

Your Statement of Results is released online, approximately four to six weeks after the exam for paper-based exams, and two to three weeks after the exam for computer-based exams. The fastest way to get your results is to sign up to ours.

When will I get my A2 Key certificate?

We send your certificate to your exam center about three weeks after results are available. Your exam center then sends it on to you.

• If you took a paper-based exam, your certificate will be sent to your center seven to nine weeks after the date of your exam.
• If you took a computer-based exam, your certificate will be sent to your center five to six weeks after your exam date.

A2 Key Scale Scores

Depending on which university, college or organization you are applying to, you may be asked to achieve a specific score or grade, either overall or for a particular skill. For A2 Key, the following scores will be used to report results:

The exam is targeted at Level A2 of the CEFR. The examination also provides reliable assessment at the level above A2 (Level B1) and the level below (Level A1).

Scores between 100 and 119 are also reported on your Statement of Results, but you will not receive the Key English Test certificate.