KEY ENGLISH TEST

(KET)
SPEAKING GUIDE AND ACTIVITIES

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 Prepared by: Teacher IAN

Cambridge English: Key (KET)

Key (KET) is an A2 level exam and the first step for students wishing to
progress towards the higher levels. It’s typically taken by students in
primary or secondary school and can be achieved after
approximately 180 – 200 hours of study*.

Students who are under 15 and are thinking of taking the Key
(KET) exam usually choose Cambridge English: Key for Schools instead,
an exam of the same value as Key (KET), but developed specifically for
their age group. Both versions have the same type of questions. The Key
for Schools test is built around content of interest to school-age
students.

Teacher's Resources for Key

This will probably be the first English exam that students have taken
since leaving school or even the first they have ever taken. They could
feel stressed by the thought of an exam and therefore they should be
encouraged to familiarise themselves with the exam structure and
content. Familiarisation instills confidence and confidence builds
success.

However, DON’T spend the whole year focusing too heavily on practice
exam tasks. It is more important to develop the skills and language
students need for communicating in the real world. Just give students
one or two exam questions once a week which will reinforce the
language work that they have been studying.

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PAPER 1 TOTAL 70 MINS
Reading & Parts 1 – 5 – Reading skills tested with a range of short
Writing texts
Parts 6 – 9 – Basic writing skills tested
PAPER 2 TOTAL 30 MINS
Parts 1 – 5 – Listening tasks include short conversations,
Listening
discussions, interviews and messages
PAPER 3 TOTAL 8 – 10 MINS
Speaking Part 1 – Students interact with examiner
Part 2 – Students interact with each other

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Teacher’s Notes
KEY (KET): SPEAKING
Encourage the students to enjoy role play and become good actors.
Forexample, if they are doing a telephone role-play, get them to make a
‘ring ring’ sound before starting the activity.

Fluency is much more important than grammatical accuracy for the Key
(KET) exam so let the students speak without interrupting them.
However, monitor and note down any major mistakes and ask the
students afterwards if they think they made any mistakes and if so how
they would have said it differently.

Another method of monitoring is ‘hot correction’. If you hear a pair

making an important mistake, write the correct form that they should be
using on a post-it note and place it in front of the students without
interrupting them.

Sometimes it is useful to get some of the stronger students to act as role

models before doing a speaking activity and then get the class to
comment.

Task: In most of the Key (KET) preparation course books, there is a

phrase bank. Look at the appropriate phrase bank with the stud1ents
before undertaking a speaking activity and get them to choose two
phrases to incorporate into their speaking activity. Alternatively, give
each individual student two phrases written on a slip to attempt to use
during the speaking task.

As the speaking test is with a partner, get candidates used to working in

pairs, but change the pairs around from time to time so that students
get used to working with different people. This will mean that they will
hear a different way of asking a question or perhaps a different accent.

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Remind the candidates that the examiners will be listening to
pronunciation but they do not have to sound like native English
speakers. The most important thing is that they are clear enough for the
listener to understand. Ensure that intonation is highlighted during
speaking activities, which will also help their listening skills.

As this will probably be their first English speaking exam, make students
aware that they can ask the examiner to repeat the question if they do
not understand. Encourage them too to avoid giving too many short
answers, but rather to try to extend their answers without worrying
about every mistake.

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Student’s Notes

Part 1 (5-6 minutes)

The examiner will ask each of you questions about yourself. In this part
you will talk directly to the examiner. If you do not understand the
question, ask for it to be repeated.

Don’t worry about making mistakes. It is better to say something than to

say nothing, as if you do not say anything the examiner cannot give you
any marks.

So if the examiner asks you, for example, if you play a sport, do not
simply answer ‘Yes’, but explain which sport you like, when and where
you play it and why you like it.

The tests are timed so don’t worry if the examiner stops you.

Think about the sort of questions you could be asked, but do not
memorize pre-prepared answers as they will probably not sound very
natural. Be ready to talk about your hobbies, job, where you live, your
family, etc.

The examiner will ask you to spell your name so practise spelling all
parts of your name and make sure you can do it perfectly.

Part 2 (3-4 minutes)

The examiner will give candidate A some information on a card and say,
for example, ‘You have some information about a cinema’. At this point,
read the information and make sure you understand it. Candidate B will
then be told, for example: ‘Imagine you do not know anything about the
cinema so ask A some questions. Here is a card to help you.’ On the card
will be question prompts such as: where/cinema?, name/film?,
time/film?, parking?, children/ price?. When A and B have asked and
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answered the five bullet point questions, the examiner will take back the
cards. The roles will then be reversed, with B receiving an information
card and A a question card. For this part of the test you will face your
partner and not the examiner.

Take a few seconds to read and understand the information. The

examiner will tell you when you can start.

If you do not understand the way your partner has asked you the
question, ask him/her to repeat it. When listening to your partner’s
questions, try to reply making natural conversation.

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KET SPEAKING EXAM EXAMPLE
Part 1 5–6 minutes
In this part of the Speaking test, each candidate interacts with the
interlocutor, using the language normally associated with meeting
people for the first time, giving factual information of a personal kind,
for example, name, place of origin, study, family, etc. Candidates are
also expected to be able to talk about their daily life, interests, likes, etc.

Answer these questions:

What’s your name?
And what’s your surname?
And how do you spell that?
Where do you come from?
What do you do / study?
Do you like your work / studies?
Who do you like going on holiday with?
Where did you go on your best holiday?
What is your favorite time of the year?
Tell me something about your family.

Part 2 3–4 minutes (Prompt card activity)

Prompt cards are used to stimulate questions and answers of a non-

personal kind. The interlocutor reads out instructions and gives a
question card to one candidate and an answer card to the other. After
the candidates have asked and answered the questions, they change
roles, as in the example below.

Example 1
The interlocutor reads out these instructions and gives a question card
to Candidate B and an answer card to Candidate A.

Candidate A, there is some information about a skateboarding

competition.
Candidate B, you don’t know anything about the skateboarding
competition, so ask A some questions about it.

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Now B, ask A your questions about the skateboarding competition and
A, you answer them.

Example 2
TV Program

Candidate B, here is some information about a TV programme.

Candidate A, you don’t know anything about the TV programme, so ask
Candidate B some questions about it. Now,
Candidate A, ask Candidate B your questions about the TV programme
and Candidate B, you answer them.

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PART 1
(These are the possible topics commonly being asked on part 1 of the
speaking test.)

FAMILY
Parents/ brothers/sisters/best friend: physical description (Physical
appearance): I look like my mother, we’ve got the same eyes/hair etc…;
personality (adjectives of personality: sweet, generous, friendly,
reliable, bossy, good-tempered). My brother is very friendly. Everybody
likes him. My sister is very bossy, she always touches my things….She/he
gets on my nerves.; relationship What do you argue about? Who do you
argue with? I argue with…., I argue about… TV programmes
(entertainment and media): I want to watch…, my brother wants to
watch…, about school, about parties, about the time to come back
home on Saturday night; about housework: My mother wants me to….
; I get o n well with….because…

BEST FRIEND
My best friend’s name is… I have known him for /since….
Physical description, personality. My best friend is very kind. She always
helps me if I have a problem. When I’m sad she makes me laugh. She
listens to me when I have a problem, She never talks behind my back.
She keeps my secrets.

HOMETOWN/PLACE YOU LIVE IN

What town do you come from? What do you think of your hometown?
Geographical features; historical places; Do you like living in your
village? Why/Why not? Villages vs cities/towns (making comparisons
using comparatives: less polluted, greener, safer, more dangerous,
people are friendlier etc….); the pros and cons of living in a small village
(like/don’t like living in a small village). I have been living in …for/ since…

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YOUR HOUSE
Do you live in a flat or in a house? What does it look like? Is it big or
small? How many rooms/floors are there? There is a…, there are
two…Upstairs/downstairs/on the ground/on the first floor. What room
do you like best? What does your bedroom look like? What colour is it?
Do you share it? Do you have your own bedroom? Describe it using in,
on , under. Do you help your mother with the housework? What do you
do to help?

SPORT
What do you usually do in your free time? What’s your favorite sport
(Sports ): type of sport ( individual/team sport, winter/summer
sport),special equipment to practice it; how often/where/ do you
practice it?; Why do you practice it (challenging, exciting, interesting,
great fun); who do you practice it with? When do you have a match? Do
you often win or loose? Who is your favorite sportsperson? Are you fit
enough? How often do you exercise? I have practiced football
for/since…

COMPUTERS/INTERNET
Where do you use it? (at home, at school); What do you use it for? (to
study, to do my homework, to practise languages, to play games ( types
of games: race games, adventure games, educational games, sports
games; vr games); What’s your favorite computer game? Why do you
like it? (fast, exciting, challenging, realistic, addictive); What’s the aim of
the game? Do you have computers at school? What do you think of
them? How many hours a week do you spend on a computer?

Have you ever visited the Internet? Where? When? What do you use
the Internet for? ( I usually surf the Internet: to look for information, to
listen to foreign radio stations, to get sports results, to download games
and software, music, to send e-mails, to visit sites, to learn English….)
What are your favorite websites?

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COLLECTING
Do you collect anything? What do you collect? Phone cards, stamps, old
postcards, model cars, cuddly toys, animal/glass ornaments, foreign
coins, fizzy drink cans, carrier bags. When did you start your collection?
I started when I was….; How many have you collected? Where do you
keep them? I keep them in a box/ a cabinet/an album/ a drawer/ a
cupboard; on a shelf/ on the bed. Do you exchange or buy them? What’s
your aim? My aim is to get….

YOUR DIET/FOOD
What do you usually have for breakfast, for lunch, for dinner? I usually
have…. I like, I hate…..,
Is your diet healthy? Why? Why not? My diet is very healthy, quiet
healthy, unhealthy. I eat a lot of, too many…./too much….; I shouldn’t
eat so much junk food/fatty food/ I shouldn’t drink so many fizzy drinks
because they contain a lot of sugar which causes tooth-decay. I should
eat/drink more….;less…; fewer French fries; ( food)

MY AMBITIONS/MY PLANS
What are you going to do when you leave school? When are you going
to leave school? Are you going to study at university? What are you
going to study? Law, medicine, business, economics, languages…; What
do you want to be? Why? (v. scheda jobs); Do you have any plans for
the future? When are you going to get married? What type of car are
you going to drive? I’m going to drive a BMW because I like fast cars,
sports cars etc…; Where are you going to live? I’m going to live in
another country, in the countryside, at the sea side; in the mountains;
What type of house are you going to live in ( v. types of houses sulla
scheda house and home).Are you going to live in another country?
Where? Why?; How many children are you going to have?

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FILMS/BOOKS/TV PROGRAMMES/MUSIC
What type of films/books/TV programs/music do you like best? Why?
(Entertainment and media). How often do you go to the cinema? How
many hours of TV do you watch every day? What is your favorite
program? When is it on? Do you watch sport on TV. Where do you
usually listen to music? Who is your favorite singer? Do you often buy
CDs? Why / Why not? Do you download music from the Internet? Have
you got an MP3 player?

SCHOOL
Is it big or small, old or new? How many classes are there? How many
students? Are there any special rooms/laboratories? Art room ,
computer room/lab, music room, video room; do you like going to
school? Why/Why not?, What is/are your favorite subject/s? (revise the
school subjects). I’m good/quite good at… I like Science best,
because…… Which subjects are the most difficult? How do you get to
school? How long does it take you? Do you have much homework? Do
you like school?

SHOPPING/CLOTHES
Do like food shopping? Do you like clothes shopping? Where do you
usually shop? What are your favorite shops? What do you usually buy?
What are your favorite clothes? Do you buy designer clothes?
Why/Why not? Do you buy your own clothes? Does your mother buy
them for you?
Where do you go to get the latest fashions? And the latest CDs? Are
you a fashion victim?. Why/Why not? When did you last go shopping?
What did you buy? How much pocket money do you get every week?
Do you save money or do you spend it all? I spend it on…

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KET CARDS-Pair Activities

Castle Black Castle Black

Open seven days a week: 9am
to 6pm
1. Open / Sunday?

2. Adult ticket? €?

3. Food?

4. Car Park? Adults: € 9 Students: € 5 Children: €

3 Snacks, cakes, coffee and cold
drinks
5. Telephone Number? For more information: Tel:
659244
Free Car Park

Air Museum Air Museum

1. Open?
2. Children ticket? €?

3. Buy / Postcard?
Monday to Saturday: 9am to
4. Telephone Number? 6pm Shop: guidebooks,
postcards & souvenirs
Tel: 767925
5. Food?
Restaurant: breakfast, lunch &
snacks
Adults: € 8 Students: € 5 Children:
€4

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 School Trip School Trip

1. Where?
2. Day?

3. Student / Bring?
Blue Mountains
4. Expensive? Tuesday 1st April, 9am
to 4pm
Students must bring: coat, boots
5. Take / Mobile
and lunch
Phone? € 20 per student
No mobile phones

School Disco School Disco

1. Time?

2. Student Ticket? €?
a
3. Wear?

4. Address?
Saturday Night: 7pm to 11pm
5. Food or Drinks? Student: € 8
Must wear a
costume
33, Main Street, The School Hall
Cold Drinks available

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 Library Library
Open Monday to Saturday
1. Open Sunday?
2. Adult cost? €?

3. When? Story
Time?
4. Telephone
Number?
5. Car Park? Adults: €5 per year. Students and
children: Free
Every Tuesday, 5pm: Story Time
Tel: 596279
Free Car Park behind the Library

Internet Café ABC Internet Café

1. Name? Café?

2. Address?

3. Open?

4. Per Hour? €?
Open 7 days a week: 10 am to
9pm 16
5. Buy / Shop? 43, Market Garden
€5 per hour, €8 for two hours
Shop: CDs, books and magazines
PRACTICE TEST
Test 1

Part 1 (5–6 minutes)

Greetings and introductions

At the beginning of Part 1, the interlocutor greets the

candidates, asks for their names and asks them to spell
something.

Giving information about place of origin, occupation, studies

The interlocutor asks the candidates about where they

come from/live, and for information about their
school/studies/work.

Giving general information about self

The interlocutor asks candidates questions about their daily

life, past experience or future plans. They may be asked, for
example, about their likes and dislikes or about recent past
experiences, or to describe and compare places.

Extended response

In the final section of Part 1, candidates are expected to give an

extended response to a ‘Tell me something about …’ prompt.
The topics are still of a personal and concrete nature.
Candidates should produce at least three utterances in their
extended response.

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Part 2 (3–4 minutes)
The interlocutor introduces the activity as follows:
Interlocutor: Here is some information about a club for young people.
 (Student A), you don’t know anything about the nclub, so ask
(Student B) some questions about it.)

1A

CLUB FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

1B

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When the candidates have asked and answered their questions about the club,
they then exchange roles and talk about a different topic.
 The interlocutor introduces the activity as follows:
Interlocutor: (Laura), here is some information about an air museum.
(Pablo), you don’t know anything about the
museum, so ask (Laura) some questions about it.
Use these words to help you. (Interlocutor indicates

prompt words.) Do you understand?

Now (Pablo) ask (Laura) your questions about the

party, and (Laura) you answer them.
Note: Candidates are assessed on both their questions and
answers in Part 2 of the test.
1C

1D

MUSEUM

Large free car park

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More KET CARDS-Pair Activities

 COME TO PARTY
HE’S PASSED
HIS SCHOOL EXAMS!!

GARDEN ROOM GRAND HOTEL

SATURDAY NIGHT 8 – 11.30 p.m.

2A

2B

9 3
?

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3A

THE PRESENT
3B
who for?

why?

name of book?

price? £? 21

shop?
4A North London Language School 6, Mill Road
BUSINESS ENGLISH COURSE
Starts April 29
Ends May 24

4-week course
15 hours every week

£180

4B

LANGUAGE SCHOOL
 name of school?
 English classes?
 number of hours?
 price? £? 22

 begin?
 New England Bookshop
5A
18 Preston Road

Largest bookshop in town

Tel # 8567-343

5B
BOOKSHOP

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