This document provides an overview of the format and content of the Key English Test reading and writing exam. It consists of 9 parts that assess a variety of English skills including matching signs, multiple choice questions on vocabulary, grammar and passages, cloze tests, word completion, information transfer and guided writing. The summary provides details on the number and types of questions in each part and includes examples of test questions and guidance on how to approach each task.

1. Key English Test
Reading and Writing Parts

3. Parts Task Types and Format Task focus Number of
Questions
1 Matching. Notices and signs 5
2 Three-option multiple choice
sentences
Vocabulary 5
3 Three-option multiple choice Functional language 10
4 Right/ Wrong/ Doesn’t Say or
Three-option multiple choice
Passage reading 7
5 Multiple choice cloze Structural words 8
6 Word completion Vocabulary and Spelling 5
7 Open cloze Structure and
Vocabulary
10
8 Information transfer Reading and Writing 5
9 Guided writing Writing 1

4. PAPER 1: Reading and Writing
Part 1 - Overview
signs and
notices
(found in
schools,
railway
stations,
airports,
shops and
on roads)

5. PAPER 1: Reading and Writing
Part 1 - Overview
These
sentences
explain
the signs
and
notices.

6. PAPER 1: Reading and Writing
Part 1 - Overview

7. PAPER 1: Reading and Writing
Part 1 - Guidance
1. Read the instructions and example
carefully first.
2. Read the sentences and short texts
carefully. Think about where you might find
such signs and notices.
3. You may see the same word appear in a
sign/notice and in a sentence. But you need to be
careful.

8. PAPER 1: Reading and Writing
Part 1. Examples:
B
F
D
A
G

9. PAPER 1: Reading and Writing
Part 2 – Overview

10. PAPER 1: Reading and Writing
Part 2 - Guidance
1. Read the instructions and example before you begin.
That way you will know the topic of the sentences.
2. Read the whole sentence before deciding which word
best fits the gap. When you have chosen, read the sentence
again to make sure it makes sense.

11. PAPER 1: Reading and Writing
Part 2 – Examples:

12. Guidance
• Read each
question/statement
carefully
• Think about who
might be asking
the question or
saying the
statement
• How you might
respond to it
PAPER 1: Reading and Writing
Part 3 a Overview: Complete five
two-line conversations
(Q.11-Q.15) by choosing the
best opion

13. country/city city
place
place
PAPER 1: Reading and Writing

14. Which wh-question word do we
need for answer A and B?

15. Guidance
• Read the
gapped
conversation
on the left-
hand side first
• Read what the
1st speaker says
before and
after each gap
• Read all the
dialogue to
check whether
it makes sense
or not
Part 3 b Overview: Complete a longer
conversation taking place in
study and social situations by
choosing from a list of 8 opions, 3
extra options you do not use

16. E
G
C
H
D

17. Overview:
 a 230 words - text from authentic newspaper
or magazine articles.
 7 multiple choice questions in this part. The
answers are either Right/Wrong/Doesn’t say
or three-option multilpe choice.
Task focus:
 skim to get main ideas and general information
 or scan to get detailed information
PAPER 1: Reading and Writing
Part 4

18. 1. Read the instructions carefully to know what is the text
about and what answers are expected for these
questions.
2. Skim the text to get general meaning and format order
of the text.
3. Read 7 questions and underline key words.
4. Scan the text carefully to find out detailed information
or answers
Part 4: Guidance

19. 1. What kind of text is it?
2.What did the man in the text do?
1
Part 4: Examples

20. 2

21. Notes:
The questions follow the order of the text
“Wrong”: if the information in the question is different from the text
“Doesn’t say” if the question asks for information that isn’t in the text.

22. 3

23. 4

24. Type and format:
• a quite long text from authentic newspaper or
magazine articles or an encyclopaedia entry.
• The text contains 8 gaps about grammar points.
Task focus:
• to have an insight about grammar points such as
verb forms, determiners, prepostions, adverbs,
adjectives and so on.
PAPER 1: Reading and Writing
Part 5: Overview

25. 1.Read the instructions carefully to know what is the
text about and what answers are expected for these
questions.
2.Skim the text to get general meaning and format
order of the text.
3.Read the text again carefully, read the whole
sentence containing the gap and try to guess what the
missing word might be ( part of speech and possible
answers)
4.Read the three options and choose the best word.
5.Read the sentence with the words in the gaps to
make sure they make sense to the whole text.
Part 5: Guidance

26. 1
Part 5: Examples

27. prepostion
Adverb of time
determiner
2 3

28. 4

29. do
before
more
on
5

30. PAPER 1: Reading and Writing
•You read 5 definitions and
complete 5 words, which you
have to write their spellings
correctly.
•All the words are related to
the topic.
Part 6: Overview

31. Topic: food, family and friends,
education………..
You can find in the kitchen
•Read each
definition
carefully.
•Try to work out
if the word is a
noun, verb or
adjective.
•Remember, the
topic is given to
you.
GUIDANCE

32. •There is one space
for each letter of the
word.
•The first letter of
the word is given to
give you.
•You need to spell
the words correctly

33. r i d g e
n i f e
o i l
u g a r
o t a t o

34. PAPER 1: Reading and Writing
•You read a short text, usually a note
,letter or email, with 10 gaps. You have
to think of 1 word to fit each gap.
•Your use of grammar and vocabulary,
as well as your spelling( you must spell
the missing word correctly)
Part 7: Overview

35. •Read the whole
text first to get
the general
meaning.
•Then read the
whole sentence
containing the
gap before
deciding the
right word.
one
GUIDANCE

36. Think about the type
of the word
Verb-Form Article Conjunction
Preposition Pronoun Adverb
Ect…..

37. this/that/
everyvery/so
to
we There
our/my/that them
a not/never
for(preposition
)
(Verb-form)had
(preposition)
(pronoun)
(article)
(subject)
(determiner)
adverb
adverb
(possessive)
Adverb of
frequence

38. Postcard
Questions
Part 8: Overview
PAPER 1: Reading and Writing

39. Notice Email
Note
Instruction
Part 8: Overview
Read a notice and an email.
Complete a note.
Answer 5 questions.
PAPER 1: Reading and Writing

40. 1. Read the notice, the letter and the
questions carefully.
2. Figure out what kinds of information
needed in each questions. They can be
names, dates, prices …
3. Double check your spelling.
Part 8: Guidance
PAPER 1: Reading and Writing

41. Moon Race
Saturday
8.45
5.50
café

42. Overview
Read an input text (email, note ,
postcard )or some instructions.
Write a reply email, note or post
card of about 25 - 35 words.
Instruction
List of
information
required
Instruction
PAPER 1: Reading and Writing
Part 9: Overview

43. 1. Read the input text or the instructions
carefully.
2. Figure out what types of message you
need to write, who is it for and what
information you need to include.
3. Answer all the questions (usually 3)
4. Double check your spelling.
Part 9: Guidance
PAPER 1: Reading and Writing

45. Example answer
Dear Sam,
Tomorrow you should arrive at 6.oo p.m.
you should bring some money for the ticket of
the cinema. When you arrive at the station,
phone me and I’ll come to pick you up.
Love
Lea
What time to come
What to bring
How to get there