Get ready for your Cambridge English Qualification: A2 KEY for Schools

Dear students,

I have prepared this entry to help you with the Speaking Part of the forthcoming Cambridge Examination: the A2 Key for Schools (KET for Schools)

1. Click on the link below to see how Tommaso and Greta perform the Speaking test:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNiCwVR6dNU 

2. The exam has been recently updated:

https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/images/update-2020-a2-key.pdf

This means that, in order to be successful, you need to be able to:

• say your name and surname, and spell them!

Answer to questions like:

• where do you come from?
• how old are you? ....And remember to answer I AM!!! Not I*have!!  
• do you study English at school?what other subjects do you study? 
• what subject do you like best?
• why?
• what time do you finish/start school?
• what do you usually do/eat in the evenings/after school?
• what time do you usually have breakfast? 
• what time do you usually go to bed?
• what do you like to do in your free time?
• how often? 
• who cooks your meals?

Expect to talk about: home, food, clothes & accessories, subjects at school,  habits, sports & hobbies, friends, going out, family.

Tell something about...

• your weekend
• your family
• you pet
• your best friend
• your hobbies & sports
• things you did (Use the past simple!)  

TIP:
be wise and prepare a paragraph for each of the "tell me something about..." subjects above.
It will make you feel more comfortable.

You need to be able to interact with your partner and express your opinion about 5 pictures (all of them related). 

So:

1. Listen to the examiner
2. Answer the question
3. Ask your partner:

"What do you prefer? How about you? What do you think? Do you like...? What about you? And you?"

• The examiner will ask you: what do you think ...?

Remember!!! Saying just "Yes/No" is not enough. Give an example, say at least 2 full sentences, be ready to questions such as why or why not.

Practice with the pictures below. 

Tip: We are talking about hobbies, right? Now, try to make a distinction between: 

• hobbies you can practise alone/in pairs/in team
• hobbies you can practise outdoor/indoor
• expensive hobbies/cheap hobbies (why are they expensive?why are they cheap?)

Now, when you hear the sentence "this is the end of the test", don't forget to say: 

  

materials for you:

• A2 Ket, Vocabulary list. From page 5 onward:   https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/images/update-2020-a2-key.pdf

• Useful expressions to memorize: https://en.islcollective.com/english-esl-powerpoints/material-type/grammar-guides/everyday-useful-expressions-ket/57799 

• Video tips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9kYppYWfwk