Eligibility

The Cambridge Key English Test (KET) examination is an elementary-level exam that tests your ability to deal with basic written and spoken communications.

KET is the right exam for you if the following describes your linguistic skills now or the level of skills you are working towards:

• Your first language is not English.
• You have basic English skills.
• You can understand simple written English.
• You can communicate in familiar situations.
• You can understand short notices and simple spoken directions.

KET has three papers – Reading and Writing, Listening, and Speaking. The Reading and Writing paper contributes 50% of the total marks, and the Listening and Speaking papers each contribute 25%.  

Reading and Writing (Paper 1): 1 hour 10 minutes

The tasks focus on a number of short texts, including signs, brochures, newspapers and magazines. Candidates are assessed on their ability to use a variety of reading strategies to understand the general meaning and to identify appropriate vocabulary, response and words. In addition, candidates have to fill gaps in simple texts, complete a form and write a short note of about 25 words to communicate a given message. 

Listening (Paper 2): approximately 30 minutes

Candidates will need to demonstrate their ability to understand and identify information from a number of recorded texts spoken at a reasonably slow pace, including public announcements, short dialogues, longer conversations and one factual monologue.  

Speaking (Paper 3): up to 10 minutes

Candidates are normally tested in pairs by two locally-based examiners on their ability to interact face-to-face with one of the examiners. They are also assessed on their ability to converse with each other in English, using prompts to ask and answer simple questions of a personal and non-personal nature. 

Exam Schedule and Fees

Cambridge ESOL Exam Schedule for 2011
Session:    Mid-year 2011
Exam Date:    04 June 2011
Speaking Test Window:    27 May to 06 June 2011
Session:    Year-end 2011
Exam Date:    19 Nov 2011
Speaking Test Window:    11 Nov to 21 Nov 2011
Exam Date: 02 Dec 2011
Speaking Test Window:    25 Nov to 05 Dec 2011

The Speaking paper is held within the specified periods, and the special arrangements are made at the discretion of CEFL Headquarters, taking into account the needs and conditions of CEFL Member Institutions.  

Click here to contact the Cambridge ESOL Centre Exams Manager for the actual exam dates, especially for Paper 3, and the latest fees if you are a walk-in/external candidate or feeder school representative.

Registration

Candidates can register with CEFL Headquarters via CEFL Member Institutions because the KET exam can only be taken at an Authorised Centre for the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations, and entries, which must be accompanied by fees, cannot be sent directly to Cambridge ESOL.

There must be a minimum of 10 candidates for the KET exam at each sitting. Candidates are not allowed to enter for the same exam more than once in the same session or window period.  

The closing date for registration is at least 10 weeks before the actual exam date to ensure that exam entry arrangements and Special Arrangements for candidates with a disability or specific learning difficulty can be made in strict accordance with the requirements of the Cambridge ESOL examination board. It should be noted that your nearest authorised Cambridge ESOL exam centre may set registration deadlines that are earlier than those published. 

Click here to contact the Cambridge ESOL Centre Exams Manager for the actual closing dates for entries, exam registration and other arrangements if you are a walk-in/external candidate or feeder school representative.

Results

With the exception of Paper 3, all exam scripts are returned to Cambridge ESOL for marking and grading. 

Five or six weeks after the exam, all candidates receive a Statement of Results, showing the relative strengths and weaknesses of the candidates’ performance in each of the papers by means of a graphical profile. 

There are two Pass grades: Pass and Pass with Merit. Successful candidates are awarded the Cambridge ESOL KET certificate, which is valid for life, approximately 10 weeks after the exam. Candidates judged not to have reached the required standard for KET receive the Narrow Fail or Fail grades. The overall grade is based on the candidate's total score in all the papers. 

If you have any questions about your results, you should contact the CEFL Member Institution where you registered for the exam.  
 
Click here for general information on Cambridge ESOL Examinations.

Click here for further information on the CEFL KET course.

Click here to find your nearest CEFL Centre if you want to take a preparatory course for the KET exam.