About the KET

What is the KET?

The Cambridge A2 Key (formerly KET, Key English Test) is an English exam at the A2 level of the Common European Framework (CEFR) — the first Cambridge English qualification most learners take. It proves you can use English in everyday situations: understanding simple notices, writing short messages, following basic conversations, and talking about familiar topics.

Exam structure

• Reading and Writing — 60 minutes · 7 parts · 32 questions (Reading = 25% of total, Writing = 25%)
• Listening — 30 minutes (including 6 minutes to transfer answers) · 5 parts · 25 questions (25%)
• Speaking — 8–10 minutes for a pair of candidates (13–15 minutes for a group of three) · 2 parts, with a partner and two examiners (25%)

The Reading & Writing Paper (60 minutes)

It has 7 parts and 32 questions:

• Part 1: Multiple Choice (Short Texts) (6 questions) — Read 6 short real-world texts and choose the correct meaning.
• Part 2: Multiple Matching (7 questions) — Read 3 short texts and match them to 7 descriptions/questions.
• Part 3: Multiple Choice (Longer Text) (5 questions) — Read a longer text and answer 5 multiple-choice questions.
• Part 4: Multiple-Choice Cloze (6 questions) — Choose the correct word (grammar/vocabulary) to fill 6 gaps in a short text.
• Part 5: Open Cloze (6 questions) — Write ONE word to fill each of the 6 gaps in a short text.
• Part 6: Guided Writing (1 task, 15 marks) — Write a short message (25+ words) based on three bullet points.
• Part 7: Picture Story (1 task, 15 marks) — Write a short story (35+ words) based on three pictures.

The Listening Paper (30 minutes, 5 parts, 25 questions)

You hear every recording twice. The last 6 minutes are for transferring your answers onto the answer sheet.

• Part 1 (5 questions) — Five short dialogues. For each one, choose the correct picture from three options (A, B, C).
• Part 2 (5 questions) — One monologue (an announcement or talk). Fill 5 gaps in a set of notes with a word, number, date or time.
• Part 3 (5 questions) — One longer dialogue between two people. Answer 5 multiple-choice questions (A, B, C).
• Part 4 (5 questions) — Five separate short recordings (dialogues or monologues), each with its own multiple-choice question (A, B, C).
• Part 5 (5 questions) — One longer dialogue. Match 5 items to 8 possible options (A–H) — 3 options are never used.

The Speaking Test (8–10 minutes, 2 parts)

You take the Speaking test with another candidate, in front of two examiners: one asks the questions and talks with you (the interlocutor), the other listens and marks you without speaking (the assessor).

• Part 1: Interview (3–4 minutes) — The examiner asks each of you questions in turn about yourself: your name, where you're from, your family, school or job, hobbies.
• Part 2: Discussion (5–6 minutes) — The examiner gives you and your partner five pictures on a theme (e.g. free-time activities). You talk to each other — not the examiner — about which ones you like or don't like and why, then the examiner asks a few follow-up questions.

Scoring

Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking are each weighted equally at 25% of the final mark. Results are reported on the Cambridge English Scale, from 100 to 150. A score of 120 or above passes and earns the A2 Key certificate: Grade C is 120–132, Grade B is 133–139, and Grade A (140–150) is strong enough to also certify the higher CEFR level, B1. Scores from 100–119 don't pass A2 but do earn a certificate at CEFR A1.