In order to respond the increasing demands of taking international qualifications for English learners all over the world, Cambridge English Examination Council constantly innovates exams, ensures access, adherence and compliance with the most recent studies in English teaching and learning. Recently, Cambridge has announced the latest changes in the A2 Key English Test (for Schools) & B1 Preliminary English Test (for Schools) which will officially apply to exams from January 2020.
Accordingly, Cambridge Assessment English has made certain changes in all three tests for 4 skills of Reading & Writing, Listening, Speaking. Specifically for the A2 KET(fS) test is as follows:
- A2 Key English Test (KET) – A2 Key English Test for Schools (KETfS)
- Reading & Writing test:
* In the old format, the Reading & Writing test takes 70 minutes, including:
Reading: 8 parts (55 questions)
Writing: 1 part (1 question)
* In the new format from 2020, the Reading & Writing test will shorten the time to 60 minutes, including:
Reading: 5 parts (30 questions)
Writing: 2 parts (2 questions)
The specific changes in each section are as follows:
1.Reading:
- Part 1: This is a new section added from title B1 PET (fS). This section consists of 6 questions to choose A, B or C: the candidates will choose the best answer with a short text form available.
- Part 2: Read three short texts for specific and comprehensive information. Same as one of the options for the old Part 4 but always now three texts and A, B, C multiple-choice options ( not Right, Wrong or Doesn’t say)
- Part 3: Same as one of the options for old part 4.
- Part 4: Same as old part 5 but shortened from 8 to only 6 sentences.
- Part 5: Same as old part 7 but shortened from 10 to only 6 sentences.
2.Writing:
- Part 1: Same as the old part 9 but students now write 25 words or more, rather than writing 25-35 words.
- Part 2: Write a short story based on three pictures (35 words or more).
3. Listening:
- Part 1: Same as old part 1.
- Part 2: Same as old part 5.
- Part 3: Same as old part 3.
- Part 4: Listen to five short texts for the main idea or message. This is a new task.
- Part 5: Same as old part 2.
4. Speaking:
- Part 1: Same as old part 1.
- Part 2: Instead of one pair of candidates asking one question at a time, one person answers (based on the given information card) and then changes roles with another pair of information cards. In the new format from 2020, the pair will discuss about a topic (with suggested pictures). The examiner then expanded by asking a few more questions related to the topic
Link to the A2 KET(fS) Speaking test in the new format
- B1 Preliminary English Test (PET) – B1 Preliminary English Test for Schools (PETfS)
- Reading and Writing:
*In the old format, the Reading & Writing test would include:
Reading: 5 parts (35 questions)
Writing: 3 parts (8 questions)
*In the new format from 2020, the Reading & Writing test has the following changes:
Reading: 6 parts (32 questions)
Writing: 2 parts (3 questions)
The specific changes in each section are as follows:
1.Reading:
- Part 1: Same as old part 1.
- Part 2: Same as old part 2.
- Part 3: Same as old part 4.
- Part 4: Read to understand gist and text structure: choose the correct sentence to put in the gaps. This is a new task.
- Part 5: Same as old part 5 but shortened from 10 to 6 sentences.
- Part 6: Read a text and write words in the gaps. This is a new task.
2.Writing:
- Part 1: Write an email in response to information given. This is a longer task (100 words) than the message task in the old paper (35-45 words).
- Part 2: Write either an article or a story on the topic given (100 words). The article option is instead of the letter option in the old paper.
- Listening:
- Part 1: Same as old part 1
- Part 2: Listen to six short texts for attitudes and opinions, and choose the right option (A, B, C). This is a new task.
- Part 3: Same as old part 3.
- Part 4: Same as old part 2.
III. Speaking:
- Part 1: Same as old part 1.
- Part 2: Same as old part 3 but photos are not necessarily on the same topic.
- Part 3: Same as old part 2.
- Part 4: Similar to old part 4 but is now linked to the collaborative task. In the old paper it was linked to the long turn picture description.
Link to the B1 PET Speaking video (fS) in the new format: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv_nEUnhFFE
Link for changes: https://keyandpreliminary.cambridgeenglish.org
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