Difficulty level: A2 elementaryThe Key English Test is the easiest of the Cambridge exams.Who is it for?Do this test if you want to know your studies have started well and you have a basic knowledge of reading, writing, speaking and listening.What is the KEY test like?The test has three sections:Reading Writing 60 minutes, 30 reading questions and two writing parts.Listening 25 minutesSpeaking 810 minutesThere are two versions of the KEY test:KEYKEY for SchoolsBoth versions have the same type of questions. The KEY for schools test has content of interest to schoolage learners.ScoreThe Reading and Writing paper counts for 50% of your marks, and the Listening and Speaking papers each count for 25% of your marks. You will receive a separate score for each of the three papers. These three scores are averaged to give you an overall result for the exam.You will receive a Statement of Results.140–150 = Grade A = B1133–139 = Grade B = A2120–132 = Grade C = A2100–119 = Level A1
Reading & Writing test A2 Key (KET) Reading part 1: messages with comprehension questions EX1: For each question, choose the correct answer Go somewhere else to see the show There are no more tickets left for the show The event has moved from Room to the West Building You can take these magazines home with you Please return the magazines after reading them Your old magazines will be used and read here Hello Robert, Thanks for inviting me to dinner I’d love to come I don’t eat meat and I can’t eat food with milk in it because it makes me sick I hope that’s not too much trouble! Kate Kate doesn’t want dinner because she feels too sick Robert must buy meat and milk for dinner Robert may need to prepare special food for Kate If you buy something that’s too big, you can’t bring it back There isn’t anywhere for customers to try on clothes here The sale will end soon, so you should buy clothes soon 5 The heating may not come on every morning Don’t try to turn on the heating between 10am and 4pm Someone will come here to turn on the heating Paul, There’s still a little petrol in the car, so you won’t need to get any more until you reach Benton, where you can buy it cheaply Sally There is still some of the cheap petrol that Sally bought in the car Paul should buy more petrol before he gets to Benton There is enough petrol in the car to get to a cheap petrol station A2 Key (KET) Reading part 2: text matching Read the three texts about sports experiences For each question, choose the correct answer Jeanne We did lots of team sports at school, like football, volleyball and hockey But I’m not very fast or strong, so I couldn’t hit or kick a ball hard Often, members of my team laughed at me, and so I stopped playing sports as soon as I could because it upset me But later I learned that you can get exercise without other people around Now I sometimes go cycling, swimming and running, but always on my own Then no-one can get mad at me when I’m slow! Laura I used to every sport I could when I was at school I loved the exercise, and I also liked being a member of a team We had some great times together We travelled to matches by bus, and had parties when we won Then I was in a terrible car accident three years ago, and I hurt my leg It still isn’t better It’s made me really unhappy The only sport I can is fishing, and that’s so boring! But a friend of mine has suggesting going sailing It sounds fun, so I think I’ll try that Thea I don’t mind team sports I’m quite good at baseball and cricket, but I prefer doing sports when there aren’t lots of other people making noise, laughing and telling jokes That’s why I like surfing It’s just me and the sea and a few other people who also like quiet, beautiful places I think I would enjoy horse-riding and skiing too, for the same reason, but those sports are expensive I already spend a lot travelling to different beaches with my board Who doesn’t have enough money to try sports that she’s interested in? Who plans to try a new sport soon? Who is unable to the sports that she enjoyed in the past? Who only enjoys sports she can alone? Who made a lot of friends by doing sports? Who only enjoys playing sports with others if they aren’t too loud? Who had unhappy experiences when playing team sports? A2 Key (KET) Reading part 3: long text with comprehension questions Read the article about two sisters and answer the questions Something very strange happened to Tamara She never knew she had a twin sister until she started university! Tamara was born in Mexico Her parents could not look after her so she went to live with a family in Manhattan, USA When Tamara was twenty years old, she started university in Long Island She enjoyed her university life But one day she was walking home from class, and a student smiled at her “Hello Adriana!” said the student “I’m not Adriana,” said Tamara This happened to Tamara again and again People Tamara didn’t know kept calling her Adriana It was very strange One day, when a woman called her Adriana, Tamara asked “Why you keep calling me Adriana?” The woman replied, “You look like my friend Adriana You have the same face and the same hair Is Adriana your sister?” Tamara said that she did not have a sister called Adriana But she was interested in this girl Adriana Finally she asked someone for Adriana’s email address When Tamara wrote to Adriana, she found out that they both had the same birthday, they looked the same and both of them were from Mexico.When Tamara went to live with the family in Manhattan, Adriana moved to Long Island to live with a family there It had to be true! Adriana and Tamara were twin sisters! Tamara’s parents moved from Mexico to Manhattan sent Tamara and Adriana away Tamara and her sister were both born in Mexico in Manhattan in Long Island are still alive Adriana wrote to Tamara after speaking to friends to reply to an email to suggest a meeting How did the sisters meet? Adriana contacted Tamara A friend introduced them Tamara contacted Adriana Tamara didn't know that she was born in Mexico what day her birthday was that she had a sister A2 Key (KET) Reading part 4: text with gaps Read the article about a student Click on the gaps, then choose the best word to fill the spaces My name's Hannah and I'm twenty years old I've got a daughter three now I live in a small flat and dirty and there is Nicole She's nearly the city centre It isn't a nice place to live It's very noisy for Nicole to play I want to move out of the city and live in the countryside But it's very expensive to live there I will need to earn money to buy a house There aren't flats for sale in the small villages near here That's why I study at college I'm studying Business While I am at college, my mum looks Nicole My mum really likes spending time with her KEY Reading part Difficulty level: A2 / elementary This page will help you practise for the A2 Key English Test (from Cambridge English) This is the format of the fifth part of the reading and writing section You complete gaps in an email (and sometimes the reply too) using one word Complete this letter Write ONE word for each space Dear Sir / Madam, I stayed the Grand Hotel last week gold ring Tuesday to Thursday I think I left a my hotel room I was in room 309 It the bed Please you look for it? be in the cupboard next to you find it, can you send it to me? Thank you very much, Celia Hicks A2 Key (KET) Writing part 1: write an email based on notes You want to buy some clothes in an English city Write an email to your English friend, George In your email, - Ask George where to buy cheap clothes - Ask George how to get there - Ask what time the stores stay open Write 25 words or more A2 Key (KET) Writing part 2: write a story based on pictures Look at the three pictures Write the story shown in the pictures Write 35 words or more Reading & Writing test A2 Key (KET) Reading test part 1: messages with comprehension questions For each question, choose the correct answer Sorry, our card machine isn’t working Cash only today We hope it will be repaired by tomorrow morning Cash machine minute’s walk, opposite the chemist You can’t pay by card here today You can’t get cash from this machine You won’t be able to pay by card here tomorrow Hi Hannah Thanks for getting a concert ticket for me Now Ellie wants to come too Can you book an extra ticket for her and I’ll pay you back when I see you? John John wants Hannah to give him money for Ellie’s ticket John wants Hannah to some tickets for him and Ellie John wants Hannah to get one more ticket Fridge for sale Selling because I am moving to smaller house – Need smaller one! Cost £300 new Selling for just £50 Must go before this Saturday! Call Simon 05774-882383 Simon wants to buy a larger fridge Simon is selling the fridge at half price The fridge won’t be available in a week’s time Sorry Because one of our guides is sick we can’t offer museum tours every hour today They will run every two hours Next tour at 2pm The tour after the 2pm tour will be at 4pm There won’t be any guided tours of the museum today Today, there will be two tours of the museum every hour Holiday House to rent Sleeps people, Three bedrooms, free Wifi, Parking for car, Garden with barbecue, picnic table and sea view Available any month except July and October You can book to stay in this house all year round You can cook and eat meals outdoors there You need to pay extra to use the Internet if you stay here Jim, I’ve just come back from the supermarket and I forgot to get butter! Could you go to the little grocery store on your way home from work and pick some up? Thanks! Jess Why did Jess write this message? To tell Jim not to forget to buy butter from the supermarket To let Jim know that he doesn’t have to buy any groceries To ask Jim to buy something when he finishes work A2 Key (KET) Reading part 2, test 2: text matching Read the three texts about sports experiences For each question, choose the correct answer Capital Park Because it is on a hill, this big park has the best views of the capital Unfortunately, there are no train stations near here and buses not come here often, and it takes almost an hour to walk here from the city centre It’s a popular place to come at weekends, when many local people come to play baseball, basketball and soccer But on weekdays, there are very few people here There’s a small café which sells cheap fast food but it isn’t always open Cross Park Not many people know about this little park, but it is one of the loveliest places in the city and it’s just a two minute walk from an underground station There are lots of flowers which are attractive to bees and birds There are many different types of tree here too, so in the spring, when they are in flower, and in the autumn, when the leaves turn red, it is very beautiful There are plans to build a snack stall in the park soon, but for now, the nearest place to buy food is the grocery store two streets away Queen Elizabeth Park Queen Elizabeth Park is the largest park in the city Buses and trams go there from all parts of the city so it’s popular with both tourists and the people who live here As a result, it’s busy every day of the week There are lots of things to here, especially for families, such as golf, playgrounds and bicycles for hire However, sports players no longer come here because a zoo was built on the football and cricket fields two years ago There are lots of different restaurants to choose from, and in the summer, concerts often take place on the outdoor stage Which park is visited by the most people? Where can you see shows in the evenings? Which park is best for team sports? Which park is best for nature lovers? Which park is busy on Sundays and quiet on Wednesdays? In which park can’t you buy food? Which park is hardest to get to by public transport? KET Reading part 3, test 2: long text with comprehension questions Read the Instant Messaging Conversation Are the sentences ‘Right’ or ‘Wrong’? If there is not enough information to answer ‘Right’ or ‘Wrong’, choose ‘Doesn’t say’ Tiffany writes: Saturday 7th April - 10.43 am Are you free this afternoon? Do you want to go out? Jack writes: Saturday 7th April - 10.45 am I just have to finish my homework, but I think I can finish it this morning What you want to do? Tiffany writes: Saturday 7th April - 10.48 am Let’s go into town We can go shopping and then get a coffee We can go to the new cafe near the library The cakes look great there Jack writes: Saturday 7th April - 10.50 am You know I hate shopping Why don’t we go to the park? Kev and Rob will be there skateboarding We can meet up with them Tiffany writes: Saturday 7th April - 10.52 am I don’t want to spend my Saturday afternoon watching boys skateboarding! That’s so boring! But we can go to the park for a game of tennis if you like Jack writes: Saturday 7th April - 10.55 am I’m not really in the mood for tennis I don’t want to anything too active I want to just relax You could come to my house, and we could watch a movie We’ve got lots of good food Tiffany writes: Saturday 7th April - 10.56 am I could watch a film on my own Why don’t I bring some board games round? That’ll be a bit more fun Jack writes: Saturday 7th April - 10.57 am Okay, that sounds alright, but my little brother will probably want to play too Is that okay with you? Tiffany writes: Saturday 7th April - 10.58 am Sure Shall I invite anyone else? I think Sophie is free this afternoon Jack writes: Saturday 7th April - 11.00 am Okay, you can invite her, but no-one else I don’t want too many people round Tiffany writes: Saturday 7th April - 11.01 am Fine I’ll come round after lunch Is one o’clock okay? Jack writes: Saturday 7th April - 11.02 am Make it half past I have to write a few emails first See you l8r What is Jack doing this morning his homework meeting friends going to town What does Jack want to at the park? play tennis have a coffee watch skateboarding They decide to play board games at the new cafe at Jack's house at Tiffany's house They will meet up at 12.30 1pm 1.30 Which sentence is correct? Sophie may play board games this afternoon Tiffany is keener to play tennis than Jack The new cafe is in the library KET Reading part 3, test 2: long text with comprehension questions Read the Instant Messaging Conversation Are the sentences ‘Right’ or ‘Wrong’? If there is not enough information to answer ‘Right’ or ‘Wrong’, choose ‘Doesn’t say’ Tiffany writes: Saturday 7th April - 10.43 am Are you free this afternoon? Do you want to go out? Jack writes: Saturday 7th April - 10.45 am I just have to finish my homework, but I think I can finish it this morning What you want to do? Tiffany writes: Saturday 7th April - 10.48 am Let’s go into town We can go shopping and then get a coffee We can go to the new cafe near the library The cakes look great there Jack writes: Saturday 7th April - 10.50 am You know I hate shopping Why don’t we go to the park? Kev and Rob will be there skateboarding We can meet up with them Tiffany writes: Saturday 7th April - 10.52 am I don’t want to spend my Saturday afternoon watching boys skateboarding! That’s so boring! But we can go to the park for a game of tennis if you like Jack writes: Saturday 7th April - 10.55 am I’m not really in the mood for tennis I don’t want to anything too active I want to just relax You could come to my house, and we could watch a movie We’ve got lots of good food Tiffany writes: Saturday 7th April - 10.56 am I could watch a film on my own Why don’t I bring some board games round? That’ll be a bit more fun Jack writes: Saturday 7th April - 10.57 am Okay, that sounds alright, but my little brother will probably want to play too Is that okay with you? Tiffany writes: Saturday 7th April - 10.58 am Sure Shall I invite anyone else? I think Sophie is free this afternoon Jack writes: Saturday 7th April - 11.00 am Okay, you can invite her, but no-one else I don’t want too many people round Tiffany writes: Saturday 7th April - 11.01 am Fine I’ll come round after lunch Is one o’clock okay? Jack writes: Saturday 7th April - 11.02 am Make it half past I have to write a few emails first See you l8r What is Jack doing this morning his homework meeting friends going to town What does Jack want to at the park? play tennis have a coffee watch skateboarding They decide to play board games at the new cafe at Jack's house at Tiffany's house They will meet up at 12.30 1pm 1.30 Which sentence is correct? Sophie may play board games this afternoon Tiffany is keener to play tennis than Jack The new cafe is in the library KET Reading part 4, test 2: text with gaps Read the article about Jim Kendrick’s commute* Click on the gaps, then choose the best word to fill the spaces *commute = a journey to and from work Every day, Jim Kendrick leaves home at five o’clock in the morning and drives to work That’s not unusual of people get up early to drive to work But Jim Kendrick’s work is 320 kilometres away from his home It him three and a half hours to get from his home in San Antonio, Texas to his job at the port in Houston In the evening, he does the journey , and gets home at nine o’clock the evening Recently, Jim won a competition – ‘America’s Longest Commute’ He won $10,000, enough to pay for his fuel for one year Reporters asked Jim why he drives so far to work He replied, ‘I have a lovely house in San Antonio I want to leave it And I like the drive too It gives me energy I’ll probably this journey for another five or ten years Then I’ll look for a job home’ KET Reading & Writing part 5, test Difficulty level: A2 / elementary This activity helps with part of the Reading and Writing paper Complete this email Write ONE word for each space Dear Victoria, I will be 16 years old in June this year I’m to have a party Would you like to come? My birthday is the 21st, but that’s a Monday So the party will be the neighbours have a big field behind We have a tent? weekend – the 26th Our house Last year I camped there with my friends a great time I hope we can it again on my birthday weekend you don’t, you can stay in mine It’s big you for people Hope you can come! Love, Sam A2 Key (KET) Writing part 1, test 2: write an email based on notes You are going to stay with an English friend next week Write an email to your English friend, Jo In your email, - Tell Jo when you will arrive - Ask Jo what you should bring - Offer to bring some food with you Write 25 words or more _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A2 Key (KET) Writing part 2: write a story based on pictures