The Cambridge Key English Test (KET) is the first level of Cambridge exams in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). It is an elementary level exam, set at Level A2 of the Council of Europe's Common European Framework for modern languages. KET recognises the ability to cope with everyday written and spoken communications at a basic level.
KET enables candidates to demonstrate a level of English that is useful when travelling in English speaking countries. Successful candidates receive a certificate awarded by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations. All candidates also receive a statement of results, showing how they have performed in each of the three papers.
KET is provided by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations - a department of the University of Cambridge in England. KET is part of the Main Suite of Cambridge English examinations, which is closely linked to the Council of Europe's Common European Framework for modern languages (CEF).
 |
 |
|
Who is KET for?
KET is designed for learners who have basic English skills of the kind needed when travelling in a foreign country. Candidates should be able to understand the main points of simple texts, to communicate in the most familiar situations and to understand short, standard notices and simple spoken directions. KET is taken by more than 40,000 people each year, in more than 60 countries. |
|
|
|
Why choose KET?
KET is based on language used in real life situations and covers all four-language skills - reading, writing, listening and speaking. It provides an assessment of practical skills, encourages the development of abilities that can be used while travelling, as well as in study and working situations. Although the KET examinations are at a relatively basic level, they provide a detailed assessment of the candidate's strengths and weaknesses. This allows further study to be planned and provides a valuable introduction to language examinations. KET is an ideal first step for those wishing to progress towards the Preliminary English Test and the other Cambridge ESOL exams. |
|
|
|
What does the exam involve?
KET has three papers Reading and Writing/ Listening/Speaking. Each paper is returned to Cambridge for marking and assessment, except the Speaking Test, which is conducted by two locally based examiners who examine candidates face to face. All examiners are accredited by Cambridge ESOL.
- Reading and Writing (Paper 1) 1 hour 10 minutes
The Reading and Writing paper assesses the ability to read and understand factual texts taken from signs, brochures, newspapers and magazines. Candidates need to be able to understand the main message and deal with unfamiliar words and structures. Candidates are assessed on their ability to complete gaps in simple texts, transfer information to forms and sand complete an everyday writing task, such as writing a short note or message of around 20-25 words, to demonstrate control of structure, vocabulary, spelling and punctuation.
- Listening (Paper 2) 25 minutes
The Listening paper assesses the ability to understand recorded material such as announcements and monologues, delivered at a moderate pace and to understand factual information in the recordings.
- Speaking (Paper 3) 8-10 minutes
The Speaking Test assesses the ability to interact in conversational English with an examiner and with another candidate. Candidates need to be able to answer and ask questions about themselves and to talk freely about their likes and dislikes. Candidates normally take the Speaking Test in pairs. |
Back to top
PET is the second level of the Cambridge exams in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). It is an intermediate level exam, set at Level B1 of the Council of Europe's Common European Framework for modern languages. PET recognises the ability to cope with everyday written and spoken communications.
Successful candidates receive a certificate awarded by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations. The certificate is recognised by employers and universities in many countries. Also, some counties recognise PET as an initial qualification in English. All candidates receive a statement of results, showing how they have performed in each of the three papers.
PET is provided by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations - a department of the University of Cambridge in England. PET is part of the Main Suite of Cambridge English examinations, which is closely linked to the Council of Europe's Common European Framework for modern languages (CEF).
|
|
|
Who is PET for?
PET is designed for people whose English is adequate for many practical purposes including work, study and social situations. It indicates an ability to cope with situations that require a predictable use of language, read simple textbooks and articles and write simple personal letters or make notes during a meeting.
Candidates should have a wide grasp of vocabulary and be able to use appropriate communication styles for a variety of situations. They should be starting to do more than simply pick out facts and should be able to detect opinions, attitudes and moods in spoken and written English.
PET is taken by more than 80,000 people each year in more than 80 countries and is a valuable qualification for anyone who wants to work or study abroad or to develop a career in international business. It is also useful preparation for higher level examinations. |
|
|
|
Why choose PET?
PET covers the four main language skills - reading, writing, listening and speaking, as well as assessing grammar and vocabulary, testing with material from real life situations. It therefore provides evidence of practical skills and indicates sufficient ability to be of practical use in clerical, secretarial and managerial jobs and in many industries, such as tourism, where contact with English speakers is required.Studying for PET is a popular way to improve your language skills and use them in a wide range of contexts. PET is recognised by many employers and educational institutions as proof of intermediate level English skills. |
|
|
|
What does the exam involve?
PET has three papers Reading and Writing /Listening/SpeakingEach paper is returned to Cambridge for marking and assessment, except the Speaking Test, which is conducted by two locally based examiners who examine candidates face to face. All examiners are accredited by Cambridge ESOL.
- Reading and Writing (Paper 1) 1 hour 30 minutes
The Reading and Writing paper assesses the ability to read and understand factual texts taken from signs, brochures, newspapers and magazines. Candidates need to be able to understand the main messages and the effect they may have on a reader and to deal with unfamiliar words and structures.The paper includes a variety of tasks including filling in gaps in simple texts, completing forms and writing a short report or letter of around 100 words to demonstrate control of structure, vocabulary, spelling and punctuation.
- Listening (Paper 2) 30 minutes
The Listening paper assesses the ability to understand recorded material such as public announcements and dialogues, which will be delivered at a moderate pace. Candidates need to be able to understand the factual information in the recordings and to assess the attitudes and intentions of the speakers.
- Speaking (Paper 3) 10-12 minutes
The Speaking Test assesses the ability to interact in conversational English with an examiner and with another candidate. Candidates need to be able to answer and ask questions about themselves and to talk freely about their likes and dislikes. |
Back to top
FCE is the third level of the Cambridge exams in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). It is an upper intermediate level exam, set at Level B2 of the Council of Europe's Common European Framework for modern languages and recognises the ability to deal confidently with a range of written and spoken communications.
Successful candidates receive a certificate awarded by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations and recognised by universities and employers in many countries. All candidates receive a statement of results, showing how they performed in each of the five papers.
FCE is provided by Cambridge ESOL - a department of the University of Cambridge in England. FCE is part of the Main Suite of Cambridge English examinations, which is closely linked to the Council of Europe's Common European Framework for modern languages (CEF).
|
|
|
Who is FCE for?
FCE is designed for learners whose command of English is adequate for many practical everyday purposes, including business and study. Successful candidates will have a wide grasp of vocabulary and should be able to construct an argument and use appropriate communication styles for a variety of situations.FCE is taken by more than 270,000 people each year in more than 100 countries. It is a valuable qualification for anyone who wants to work or study abroad or to develop a career, which requires language skills, including business, medicine, engineering and many other professions. It is also useful preparation for higher level examinations, such as the Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English and the Certificate of Proficiency in English. |
|
|
|
Why choose FCE?
FCE is recognised by many universities and other educational institutions as proof of intermediate level English skills and these institutions accept it as meeting part of their entrance requirements.Because the examinations are based on realistic tasks, an FCE certificate is an important asset for anyone who wants to work or study abroad, or in international business. Employers throughout the world recognise FCE. It indicates sufficient proficiency in English to be of practical use in clerical, secretarial and managerial jobs in many industries, in particular tourism, where contact with English speakers is required. Successful candidates have the ability to deal with routine letters and telephone enquiries and to cope with some non-academic training courses and simple textbooks and articles.Studying for FCE will also help learners to improve their language skills and to use them in a wide range of contexts. |
|
|
|
What does the exam involve?
FCE has five papers Reading/Writing/Use of English/Listening/Speaking.Each of the written papers is returned to Cambridge for marking and assessment. The Speaking Test is conducted by two locally based examiners who examine candidates face to face. All examiners are accredited by Cambridge ESOL.
- Reading (Paper 1) 1 hour 15 minutes
The Reading paper assesses candidates' ability to read and understand texts taken from fiction and non-fiction books, journals, newspapers and magazines. Candidates are expected to be able to show understanding of gist, detail and text structure and deduce meaning.
- Writing (Paper 2) 1 hour 30 minutes
The Writing paper assesses candidates' ability to write non-specialised text types such as letters, articles, reports, compositions and reviews of 120-180 words covering a range of topics and target readers and also set texts.
- Use of English (Paper 3) 1 hour 15 minutes
In the Use of English paper, candidates are expected to demonstrate their knowledge and control of the language system by completing various tasks at text and sentence level. These include filling gaps, transforming words and phrases and identifying errors in texts.
- Listening (Paper 4) 40 minutes (approx.)
The Listening paper assesses candidates' ability to understand the meaning of spoken Englishand to extract gist and meaning from spoken text. The texts are taken from a variety of text types including interviews, discussions, lectures and conversations.
- Speaking (Paper 5) 14 minutes (approx.)
The Speaking Test assesses the ability to interact in conversational English in a range of contexts. It contains four parts including an interview section, individual long turns of about one minute, a collaborative task and a discussion. Candidates are provided with stimulus material such as photographs and drawings. Candidates normally take the Speaking Test in pairs. |
back to top
CAE is the fourth level of the Cambridge exams in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). It is an advanced exam, set at Level C1 of the Council of Europe's Common European Framework. Although the level of language skills required is not as high as for the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English, CAE recognises the ability to communicate with confidence in English and deal with most aspects of everyday life.
Successful candidates receive a certificate awarded by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations, which is recognised by universities and employers throughout the world. All candidates receive a statement of results, showing how they performed in each of the five papers.
CAE is provided by Cambridge ESOL - a department of the University of Cambridge in England. CAE is part of the Main Suite of Cambridge English examinations, which is linked to the Council of Europe's Common European Framework (CEF).
|
|
|
Who is CAE for?
CAE is for learners who are reaching a standard of English that is adequate for most purposes, including business and study. Success at this level indicates the ability to use English effectively and perform confidently in social and professional situations and in higher education.
CAE is taken by more than 60,000 people each year in more than 60 countries. It is a valuable qualification for anyone who wants to work or study abroad or to develop a career that requires language skills, including business, medicine, engineering and many other professions. It is also useful preparation for anyone who is working towards the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English. |
|
|
|
Why choose CAE?
CAE is seen by institutions of higher education in many countries as proof of adequate language skills for courses taught and assessed in English. Almost all universities in the United Kingdom and a growing number in the USA recognise CAE, as do many employers throughout the world.Studying for CAE helps learners to improve their language skills and use them in a wide range of contexts.The examinations are based on realistic tasks and indicate the ability to use the language in practical situations. Successful candidates are able to participate in meetings and discussions, expressing opinions clearly and are able to understand and produce texts of various types, including business letters and reports. They will also be aware of the different styles of English appropriate to different situations. |
|
|
|
What does the exam involve?
CAE has five papers Reading/Writing/Use of English/ Listening/Speaking.Each of the written papers is returned to Cambridge for marking and assessment. Two locally based examiners who examine candidates face to face conduct the Speaking Test. All examiners are accredited by Cambridge ESOL.
- Reading (Paper 1) 1 hour 15 minutes
The Reading paper assesses candidates' ability to read and understand a number of texts taken from books, newspapers and magazines. Candidates are expected to be able to show understanding of gist, main points, detail, text structure or specific information, deduce meaning or recognise opinion and attitude.
- Writing (Paper 2) 2 hours
The Writing paper assesses candidates' ability to write non-specialised text types such as letters, articles, reports and reviews for a given purpose and target reader, covering a range of topics. Responses are of about 250 words in length.
- Use of English (Paper 3) 1 hour 30 minutesIn the English in
Use paper, candidates are expected to demonstrate knowledge and control of the language system by completing various tasks at text and sentence level, based on authentic texts. This will include gap-filling, error correction, word formation, Register transfer and text completion exercises.
- Listening (Paper 4) 45 minutes (approx.)
The Listening paper assesses candidates' ability to understand the meaning of spoken English and to extract detailed and specific information from the spoken text and to understand speakers' attitudes and opinions. The texts are taken from a variety of text types including interviews, discussions, lectures and conversations.
- Speaking (Paper 5) 15 minutes (approx.)
The Speaking Test assesses candidates' ability to interact in conversational English in a range of contexts. It contains four parts, including an interview section, individual long turns, a collaborative task and a discussion. Candidates are provided with stimulus materials such as photographs and drawings.Candidates normally take the Speaking Test in pairs. |
Back to top
CPE is the highest level of the Cambridge exams in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). It is a very advanced level exam, set at Level C2 of the Council of Europe's Common European Framework for modern languages.
Successful candidates receive a certificate awarded by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations. The certificate is recognised by universities and employers throughout the world. All candidates receive a statement of results, showing how they performed in each of the five papers.
CPE is provided by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations - a department of the University of Cambridge in England. CPE is part of the Main Suite of Cambridge English examinations, which is linked to the Council of Europe's Common European Framework for modern languages (CEF).
|
|
|
Who is CPE for?
CPE is for learners who have achieved a high level of language skills and are able to function effectively in almost any English-speaking context. Successful candidates at this level are approaching a standard of English similar to that of an educated native speaker. The exam also requires an appropriate level of educational and personal maturity. Every year over 45,000 people take the CPE exam in more than 80 countries and success at this level represents a significant personal achievement. |
|
|
|
Why choose CPE?
CPE is an invaluable qualification for anyone who wants to work or study abroad, or to develop a career, which requires language skills, including business, medicine, engineering and many other professions. CPE certificates are recognised by institutions of higher education in many countries - including almost all universities in the United Kingdom and a rapidly growing number in the USA. Employers throughout the world also recognise CPE.Studying for CPE helps learners to improve their language skills and to learn to use them in a wide range of contexts. Because many aspects of the exams are based on realistic tasks, gaining the CPE certificate demonstrates that learners have progressed beyond a good knowledge of vocabulary and grammar to actually using the language. |
|
|
|
What does the exam involve?
CPE has five papers Reading/ Writing/ Use of English/ Listening/ Speaking. Each of the written papers is returned to Cambridge for assessment. The Speaking Test is conducted by two locally based examiners who examine candidates face-to-face. All examiners are accredited by Cambridge ESOL.
- Reading (Paper 1) 1 hour 30 minutes. The Reading paper assesses candidates' ability to read and understand texts taken from a wide range of sources, including fiction and non-fiction books, journals, newspapers and magazines. Candidates are expected to understand the meaning of written English at word, phrase, sentence, paragraph and whole text level. It includes understanding of text content, organisation and structure and the development of ideas, opinions and attitudes.
- Writing (Paper 2) 2 hours. The Writing paper assesses candidates' ability to write non-specialised texts types such as letters, articles, reports and reviews for a given purpose and target reader, covering a wide range of topics. The paper also includes questions on set texts. Responses are of 300-350 words in length.
Use of English (Paper 3) 1 hour 30 minutes. In the Use of English paper, candidates are expected to demonstrate their knowledge and control of the language system by completing various tasks at word, sentence and text level. These include gap-filling and word formation exercises, comprehension questions and a summary writing task.
- Listening (Paper 4) 40 minutes (approx.). The Listening paper assesses the ability to listen to and understand texts taken from a variety of text types including interviews, discussions, lectures and conversations. It tests the ability to understand the meaning of spoken English, to extract information from a spoken text and to understand speakers' attitudes and opinions.
- Speaking (Paper 5) 19 minutes (approx). The Speaking Test assesses candidates' ability to interact in conversational English in a range of contexts. The paper contains three parts, which take the form of an interview section, a collaborative task and individual long-turns with follow-up discussion. Candidates are provided with picture and written stimulus. Candidates normally take the Speaking Test in pairs. |
Back to top
|
