High is incorrect because a cup of tea cannot be high.

Oxford Entry Test Buildings can be high.

Answer key 4 C
Speak is correct because we say can + infinitive.
Part 1 Speaking is incorrect because it is the -ing form.
To speak is incorrect because it is to + infinitive.
1 C Speaks is incorrect because it is the third person form.
2 B 5 C
3 A A is correct because there is just one banana.
4 C An is incorrect because banana does not start with a
5 C vowel.
6 A Lots is incorrect because we say lots + of + noun.
Few is incorrect because it refers to more than one
7 C
noun and there is only one banana in this sentence.
8 A
6 A
9 A Well is correct because we say play + adverb.
10 C Good is incorrect because it is an adjective.
11 C Best is incorrect because it is an adjective.
12 A Better is incorrect because it is used as a comparative.
13 C 7 C
14 B Is there is correct because we use it with singular nouns
and a park is a singular noun.
15 A
Are there is incorrect because we use it with plural
16 D nouns and a park is not plural.
17 D There is is incorrect because we use it with a statement
18 D and this is a question.
19 A There are is incorrect because we use it with a
20 D statement and this is a question.
21 C 8 A
We always have is correct because we say adverb of
22 D
frequency + verb.
23 A We have sometimes is incorrect because we don't say
24 D subject + verb + adverb of frequency, we say subject +
25 C adverb of frequency + verb.
26 D Never we have is incorrect because we don't say never
27 C + subject + verb, we say subject + never + verb.
We have often is incorrect because we don't say subject
28 C
+ verb + adverb of frequency, we say subject + adverb
29 D of frequency + verb.
30 D 9 A
1 C Would like is correct because we use it to make
requests.
Am is correct because we say I am.
Am like is incorrect because we use it to compare two
Are is incorrect because we say you / they are.
things.
Is is incorrect because we say he / she / it is.
Do like is incorrect because we use do and like together
Be is incorrect because we say will / can / should be.
in questions, for example Do you like sandwiches?
2 B Can like is incorrect because we use can to talk about
Are you is correct because in questions we use verb + ability.
subject.
10 C
You have is incorrect because in questions we use verb
I am is correct because the short answer uses the verb
+ subject, not subject + verb. The verb here should be a
from the question. The question is Are you … ?
form of be.
I do is incorrect because the short answer uses the verb
Have you is incorrect because we say people are from a
from the question. The question is not Do you … ?
place, not have from a place.
I go is incorrect because a short answer uses I am or I
You are is incorrect because in questions we use verb +
do.
subject, not subject + verb.
I going is incorrect because a short answer uses I am or
3 A I do.
Hot is correct because a cup of tea can be hot.
11 C
Happy is incorrect because a cup of tea cannot be
Talk is correct because past questions use did + subject
happy. People can be happy.
+ infinitive.
Hard is incorrect because a cup of tea cannot be hard.
Talking is incorrect because it is the -ing form.
Questions can be hard.
Talked is incorrect because it is the -ed form.

© Oxford University Press Pre-A1 • Answer key 1

 Talks is incorrect because it is the third person form. 20 D
12 A Is doing is correct because Jack is working at the same
Pair of scissors is correct because a refers to one pair. time the speaker is talking. We need the present
Pair of scissor is incorrect because there is no singular continuous (be + -ing form).
form of scissor. Does is incorrect because it is the present simple.
Pairs of scissor is incorrect because pairs requires the Doing is incorrect because it is the -ing form without be.
plural form scissors. Has done is incorrect because it is the present perfect.
Pairs of scissors is incorrect because a refers to one 21 C
pair. Did you get is correct because we use wh- + did +
13 C subject + infinitive for past questions.
Was is correct because yesterday is in the past and was You got is incorrect because we use wh- + did + subject
is the past form of be. + infinitive for past questions.
Wasn't is incorrect because but suggests a contrast in You did get is incorrect because we use wh- + did +
the weather. subject + infinitive for past questions.
Were is incorrect because weather is an uncountable Have you got is incorrect because it is the present
noun. perfect.
Weren't is incorrect because weather is an uncountable 22 D
noun and but suggests a contrast in the weather. The most is correct. This is the #1 hotel among all the
14 B hotels on the island, so we need the superlative. We
To get is correct because after going we use the use the + most + adjective for the superlative.
infinitive with to. More is incorrect because more beautiful is the
Get is incorrect because after going we don’t use the comparative.
infinitive without to. Most is incorrect because the is missing from the
Gets is incorrect because after going we don’t use the superlative.
third person form of a verb. The more is incorrect because we don't use the more +
Getting is incorrect because after going we don’t use adjective for superlatives.
the -ing form of a verb. 23 A
15 A Than is correct because the comparative is -er / more +
At is correct because we say at + a time. than + noun.
In is incorrect because we say in + months or years. As is incorrect because the comparative is -er / more +
On is incorrect because we say on + a day. than + noun.
Until is incorrect because we say until + an end time. Like is incorrect because the comparative is -er / more +
16 D than + noun.
To have is correct because we say decide + infinitive More is incorrect because the comparative is -er / more
with to. + than + noun.
Have is incorrect because to is missing. 24 D
Having is incorrect because it is the -ing form. How many is correct because we use it for countable
To having is incorrect because we say decide + infinitive nouns.
with to. How much is incorrect because we use it for
17 D uncountable nouns.
Don’t is correct because we use don’t + infinitive to give How long is incorrect because we use it for time.
instructions. How often is incorrect because we use it to talk about
No is incorrect because we don’t use no to give regular activities.
instructions. 25 C
Not is incorrect because we don’t use not to give Who is correct because we use who to replace a
instructions. person.
Doesn't is incorrect because we use don’t + infinitive to Which is incorrect because we use which to replace a
give instructions. thing.
18 D Where is incorrect because we use where to replace a
Have never been is correct because we use the present place.
perfect to talk about any time in the past. Whose is incorrect because we use whose for
Wasn’t is incorrect because it is the past simple. possession.
Didn’t is incorrect because it is the past simple. 26 D
Never been is incorrect because the correct form of the Were sitting is correct because sitting was in progress
present perfect with never is never + has/have + past at the time of speaking. We need the past continuous.
participle. Sat is incorrect because it is the past simple.
19 A Have sat is incorrect because it is the present perfect.
Don’t have is correct because we use don’t + have + Sit is incorrect because it is the present simple.
infinitive with to to talk about something unnecessary. 27 C
Haven’t is incorrect because we don’t use haven’t + Interesting is correct. The adjective here needs to
infinitive with to in this way. describe the thing, not the person, so we need the -ing
Mustn’t is incorrect because we use mustn’t to talk form.
about something necessary. This is unnecessary. Interested is incorrect because the -ed form describes
Shouldn’t is incorrect because we use shouldn’t + the person.
infinitive to talk about something that is a bad idea. Interest is incorrect because it is a noun or verb. We
need an adjective here.

© Oxford University Press Pre-A1 • Answer key 2

 Interests is incorrect because it is a noun or verb. We What is incorrect because we use what + noun. Sweet is
need an adjective here. an adjective.
28 C Too is incorrect because you can’t start a sentence with
See is correct. This is a first conditional sentence. We too.
need if / when + present simple. That is incorrect because we use that + is + adjective.
Saw is incorrect because we use present simple for first 2 C
conditionals. As hard is correct because the phrase as hard needs to
Will see is incorrect because it is the will + infinitive be followed by as.
form. Harder than is incorrect because it needs to be followed
Have seen is incorrect because we use present simple by a noun. As is not a noun.
for first conditionals.. The hardest is incorrect because it is used for the
29 D superlative, not a comparison between two things.
Haven’t heard is correct because we use the present Harder is incorrect because it needs to be followed by
perfect with for + a period of time. than + noun.
Don’t hear is incorrect because it is the present simple. 3 D
Didn’t hear is incorrect because it is the past simple. Hadn’t left is correct because the past perfect is used in
Hadn't heard is incorrect because it is the past perfect. conditionals for past possibilities.
30 D Didn’t leave is incorrect because the past simple is used
Warm enough is correct because we say adjective + in conditionals for present or future possibilities. This
enough to mean warm and it’s OK. possibility is in the past.
Too warm is incorrect because it means warm and Wouldn’t leave is incorrect because it cannot appear in
unpleasant. the if part of the sentence.
Enough warm is incorrect because we say adjective + Haven't left is incorrect because we use the present
enough, not enough + adjective. perfect in the first conditional to emphasise that one
Warmer is incorrect because it is the comparative form. action depends on the completion of another.
4 A
Part 2 Very little is correct because we use it with uncountable
nouns to say that there is not enough of something.
1 C A little is incorrect because we use it with uncountable
2 C nouns to say that there is enough of something. This
3 D person is in a hurry because they don’t have enough
4 A time.
Few is incorrect because we use it with countable
5 C
nouns. Time is uncountable.
6 D A few is incorrect because we use it with countable
7 B nouns. Time is uncountable.
8 D 5 C
9 C Phoned you is correct because when who is the subject,
10 D we say who + positive verb + object.
11 D Did you phone is incorrect because we say who + did +
subject + verb when who is the object. In this question,
12 C
who is the subject.
13 A You phoned is incorrect because we use it in positive
14 C sentences. This is a question.
15 C Is phoning you is incorrect because the present
16 B continuous is used for an activity that is happening, but
the phone call has finished.
17 A
18 C 6 D
Hasn’t it is correct because the question tag needs to
19 D
use the same verb as the main part. The verb here is
20 C has (in it has been).
21 A Doesn’t it is incorrect because the question tag needs to
22 D use the same verb as the main part. The verb here is
23 D not does.
Isn’t it is incorrect because the question tag needs to
24 C
use the same verb as the main part. The verb here is
25 A not is.
26 C Wasn’t it is incorrect because the question tag needs to
27 D use the same verb as the main part. The verb here is
28 C not was.
29 C 7 B
30 C Had left is correct because we use the past perfect
when one action finished at an earlier time. Emma was
1 C not at the party at the time of speaking.
How is correct because we use how + adjective for Left is incorrect because we use the past simple when
emphasis. one thing happened after another. Emma was not at
the party.

© Oxford University Press Pre-A1 • Answer key 3

 Leaving is incorrect because it is not a tense without an To be visiting is incorrect because this is used to talk
auxiliary. about something happening now and this sentence is
Has left is incorrect because we use the present perfect not talking about something happening now.
to connect the action to the present. To have been visiting is incorrect because this is used to
8 D talk about something that was happening in the past
Were seeing is correct because we use was / were + - and was interrupted.
ing form for plans in the past that were changed. 14 C
Are seeing is incorrect because we use are + -ing form Could have is correct because it means it was possible
for plans in the future, but this plan was changed. in the past.
Would see is incorrect because we use would + Must have is incorrect because it means that it was
infinitive for imagined futures with if clauses. There is definitely true. The speaker says we’ll never know.
no if clause in this sentence. Will have is incorrect because it means that the action
Were about to see is incorrect because we use will be completed by a certain time. The speaker says
was/were + about to + infinitive for things that were we’ll never know.
going to happen immediately. Should have is incorrect because it is used to say
9 C something would have been a good idea in the past.
You’d better not is correct because we use you had The speaker says we’ll never know.
better for advice. 15 C
You’d rather not is incorrect because we use it to say The is correct because the + adjective means all the
you prefer something. This is advice. people with this characteristic.
You would not is incorrect because we use it in a Some is incorrect because it needs a noun after it. We
conditional. This is advice. only have the adjective young.
You hadn't better is incorrect. The negative of You had Any is incorrect because it needs a noun after it. We
better is You had better not. only have the adjective young.
10 D Every is incorrect because it needs a singular noun after
Good is correct because we say extremely + a gradable it. We only have the adjective young.
adjective (one where we can say more + beautiful / 16 B
expensive, etc.). Good is gradable (better, the best). If I could have is correct. For questions that can be
Amazing is incorrect because we say extremely + a answered yes or no, after phrases such as I was
gradable adjective (one where we can say more + wondering you use if then reported speech word order.
beautiful / expensive, etc.). Amazing is not gradable. Could I have is incorrect. For questions that can be
Fantastic is incorrect because we say extremely + a answered yes or no, after phrases such as I was
gradable adjective (one where we can say more + wondering you use if then reported speech word order.
beautiful / expensive, etc.). Fantastic is not gradable. I could have is incorrect. For questions that can be
Unique is incorrect because we say extremely + a answered yes or no, after phrases such as I was
gradable adjective (one where we can say more + wondering you use if then reported speech word order.
beautiful / expensive, etc.). Unique is not gradable. If could I have is incorrect. For questions that can be
11 D answered yes or no, after phrases such as I was
The better is correct because we say the + -er, the + -er wondering you use if then reported speech word order.
to show a cause and effect. 17 A
Even better is incorrect because we say the + -er, the + - Used to living is correct because we say get used to + -
er to show that there is a cause and effect. Even better ing form to mean become familiar with.
does not have this meaning. Used to live is incorrect because used to + infinitive is
The best is incorrect because we say the + -er, the + -er used to talk about past habits.
to show that there is a cause and effect. The best is a Use to live is incorrect because we use it in negatives
superlative and does not have this meaning. and questions about past habits. (Didn’t you use to live
Much better is incorrect because we say the + -er, the + in Korea?)
-er to show that there is a cause and effect. Use to living is incorrect because we say get + used + to.
12 C 18 C
A great deal is correct because it can be used to make Minority is correct because it is a noun meaning a small
comparative adjectives stronger. number.
So many is incorrect because it needs to be followed by Measure is incorrect because it is a noun meaning the
a noun. Better is not a noun. amount of something that you want. Bad football fans
Far more is incorrect because it needs to be followed by are not something we want.
an adjective of more than one syllable. Better is already Majority is incorrect because it is a noun meaning a
a comparative. large number. We want a noun that means a small
A large amount is incorrect because we say a large number.
amount + of. Mass is incorrect because it is a noun meaning a large
13 A amount. We want a noun that means a small number.
To have visited is correct because verbs of the senses 19 D
are followed by the perfect infinitive to show how we Had taken is correct because I wish + past perfect is
experienced a whole action or completed event. used to talk about a past regret.
To visit is incorrect because feel lucky to visit is used to Would take is incorrect because I wish X would do
talk about something in the present and this sentence is something is used to discuss another person’s annoying
not talking about the present. habits.

© Oxford University Press Pre-A1 • Answer key 4

 Took is incorrect because I wish I + past simple is used Mustn’t is incorrect because I’d rather + you needs to
to discuss something in the present time. The action be followed by the past simple. Mustn't is not the past
here is in the past. simple.
Have taken is incorrect because after wish a past tense 26 C
is used. Ought to is correct because ought to + perfect infinitive
20 C is used to offer belated advice.
Constantly is the correct collocation to use with Must is incorrect because must + perfect infinitive is
complaining. used to express certainty about a past event. We know
Commonly is not the correct collocation to use with that this didn’t happen.
complaining. Had to is incorrect because had to + perfect infinitive is
Entirely is not the correct collocation to use with used to express certainty about a past event. We know
complaining. that this didn’t happen.
Ultimately is not the correct collocation to use with Need to is incorrect because it is used to offer advice in
complaining. the present, not to offer belated advice.
21 A 27 D
Whatever is correct because it means no matter what Considered is correct because the participle clause all
and is the subject of happens. things is followed by the past participle.
Whenever is incorrect because it means no matter Considering is incorrect because the participle clause all
when and needs a subject after it. Happens is a verb. things is followed by the past participle. This is the -ing
Whichever is incorrect because it is used to refer to a form.
limited number of given options. Having considered is incorrect because the participle
Whatsoever is incorrect because it is used after a clause all things is followed by the past participle. This
negative phrase to add emphasis. is the perfect continuous infinitive.
22 D To consider is incorrect because the participle clause all
You started is correct because it’s time + past simple is things is followed by the past participle. This is the
used to refer to an action that should happen in the infinitive with to form.
very near future. 28 C
You start is incorrect because after it’s time we use the Should is correct because should can replace if for
past simple, similar to if clauses. present situations.
You’ll start is incorrect because after it’s time we use Would is incorrect because we need a word that can
the past simple, similar to if clauses. replace if. Would cannot replace if.
You have started is incorrect because after it’s time we Could is incorrect because we need a word that can
use the past simple, similar to if clauses. replace if. Could cannot replace if.
23 D Need is incorrect because we need a word that can
Will be lying is correct because the future continuous replace if. Need cannot replace if.
will be + -ing form is for guessing about actions that are 29 C
happening about now. Only is your work is correct because the subject and the
Will have lain is incorrect because the future perfect is verb are inverted after not only (not only + verb +
for actions that are finished. The speaker is guessing subject).
about what Laura is doing about now. Your work is only is incorrect because the subject and
Would lie is incorrect because it is for conditionals or the verb are inverted after not only (not only + verb +
past habits. The speaker is guessing about what Laura is subject).
doing about now. Is only your work is incorrect because the subject and
Would have been lying is incorrect because it is used for the verb are inverted after not only (not only + verb +
speculating about the past. subject).
24 C Only your work is is incorrect because the subject and
Were I to agree is correct because were I to do is used the verb are inverted after not only (not only + verb +
in place of if I did to speculate about possible future subject).
actions. 30 C
Had I agreed is incorrect because had I is used in place It’s what is correct because we say It is what + clause +
of if I had to speculate about past actions. This is a that + clause.
future action. What it’s is incorrect because we say What it’s + about
If only I had agreed is incorrect because if only is used in + is.
place of if to speculate about an impossible situation. That’s what is incorrect because That’s what can only
This is a future possibility. be followed by one clause. We have two (she is going to
Supposing I'd agreed is incorrect because supposing + do next; that really worries me).
had is used to speculate about the past. What’s that is incorrect because we use it at the start of
25 A a question and this isn’t a question.
Didn’t is correct because I’d rather + you needs to be
followed by the past simple.
Don’t is incorrect because I’d rather + you needs to be
followed by the past simple. Don’t is the present
simple.
Won’t is incorrect because I’d rather + you needs to be
followed by the past simple. Won’t is will not.

© Oxford University Press Pre-A1 • Answer key 5