KET Strategy

General strategy

The KET tests practical English you need for real life. The questions are straightforward — the challenge is speed and vocabulary.

Time allocation (Reading & Writing, 60 minutes)

• Parts 1-5 (Reading) — 40 minutes total (about 8 minutes each)
• Parts 6-7 (Writing) — 20 minutes (about 10 minutes each)

Top tips (Reading & Writing)

• Read each question carefully — the answer is usually in the text.
• For vocabulary questions, look at the words around the gap.
• For the writing tasks, make sure you cover all the required points.
• Always answer every question — no negative marking.
• Check your spelling in Parts 5, 6, and 7.

Listening (30 minutes, 5 parts, 25 questions, heard twice)

• Part 1 (5 short dialogues, 1 picture question each) — read the question and look at the three pictures before each dialogue starts; the correct picture is often only confirmed near the end, when someone changes their mind ("Actually, let's...").
• Part 2 (1 monologue, 5 gaps) — the missing words are usually spelled out or repeated slowly (names, numbers, times); write exactly what you hear — one word, number, date or time per gap.
• Part 3 (1 longer dialogue, 5 MC questions) — read all 5 questions first so you know what to listen for; answers come in the same order as the questions.
• Part 4 (5 separate short recordings, 1 MC question each) — each recording is unrelated to the others, so reset your attention between them; the whole answer depends on the speaker's final opinion or decision, not just any detail you catch.
• Part 5 (1 longer dialogue, 5 items matched to 8 options) — there are always 3 extra options that are never used; note them down as you rule them out on your first listen.
• Use the second listening to check answers you're unsure of, not to start from scratch.
• Never leave a gap blank — a sensible guess costs nothing and might be right.

Speaking (8–10 minutes, 2 parts, with a partner and two examiners)

• Part 1 (Interview, 3–4 min) — answer the examiner in full sentences, not one word. "Where do you live?" → "I live in a small town near Barcelona," not just "Barcelona."
• Part 2 (Discussion, 5–6 min) — talk to your partner, not the examiner: ask them questions ("Do you like...?", "What about you?") and react to what they say ("Me too", "Really? I don't agree").
• Always give a reason for your opinion — "I like it because..." scores much better than "I like it."
• If you don't understand a question, ask the examiner to repeat it: "Could you say that again, please?" — this is completely normal and doesn't lose you marks.
• Don't panic over one mistake — keep talking. Examiners mark your overall performance, not individual slips.