Reading
25%of exam
Short messagesMultiple matchingLonger textVocabulary clozeOpen cloze
Writing
25%of exam
Guided messagePicture storyContentOrganisationLanguage
Listening
25%of exam
Visual detailNote completionConversationGistMatching
Speaking
25%of exam
Personal interviewCollaborative discussionPronunciationInteractionGlobal achievement
Quick Facts
- Target level
- CEFR A2
- Papers
- 3
- Skills
- 4 equally weighted
- Reading and Writing
- 60 minutes
- Listening
- About 30 minutes
- Speaking
- 8-10 minutes per pair
- A2 pass
- 120-139 scale score
- Top result
- 140-150 earns B1
- Adult format
- Digital continues
- Final paper session
- December 3, 2026
- Exam fee
- Set by local centres
FIRST Reading Check
Focus, Instructions, Read, Select, Test
Focus targetRead instructionsFind evidenceSelect answerTest meaning
Reading Part 1 vs Part 3
Part 1
- Six independent texts
- Main-message focus
- Short real-world texts
Part 3
- One longer text
- Detail and gist
- Five questions
Match strategy to text length
Reading Task Picker
- Six short messages→Find main message(Reading Part 1)
- Profiles and three texts→Match full requirements(Reading Part 2)
- One longer text→Locate paraphrased evidence(Reading Part 3)
- Factual text with options→Test vocabulary fit(Reading Part 4)
- Email with blank gaps→Supply one word(Reading Part 5)
- Guided message prompt→Cover every point(Writing Part 6)
- Three picture sequence→Tell connected story(Writing Part 7)
Exam Structure Snapshot
- Reading and Writing
- Seven parts; sixty minutes
- Reading questions
- Thirty objective items
- Writing tasks
- Two performance tasks
- Listening
- Five parts; twenty-five questions
- Recordings
- Heard twice
- Speaking
- Two parts; paired format
- Pair speaking
- Eight to ten minutes
- Three candidates
- Thirteen to fifteen minutes
- Skills weighting
- Twenty-five percent each
- Negative marking
- None for wrong answers
AT-ON-IN Time
At times, On days, In months
At sevenOn MondayIn August
Reading Part 4 vs Part 5
Part 4
- Three options per gap
- Vocabulary focus
- Six gaps
Part 5
- No answer options
- Grammar-word focus
- One word only
Vocabulary versus grammar cohesion
Reading Answer Loop
- Starting a task→Read instructions first(Know required action)
- Options are present→Identify key differences(Ignore shared filler)
- Evidence appears→Match meaning exactly(Expect paraphrase)
- One option partly fits→Test every requirement(Partial truth fails)
- Two options remain→Find contradicting detail(Eliminate precisely)
- Still uncertain→Choose and continue(No negative marking)
Cambridge Scale Results
- Grade A
- 140-150; certificate shows B1
- Grade B
- 133-139; certificate shows A2
- Grade C
- 120-132; certificate shows A2
- Level A1
- 100-119; certificate shows A1
- Scores 82-99
- No grade or certificate
- Below 82
- Score not reported
- Overall score
- Average of four skills
- Separate scores
- One per language skill
- Separate paper pass
- Not required
Grade A vs A2 Pass
Grade A
- Scale 140-150
- Certificate states B1
- Above target level
Grades B and C
- Scale 120-139
- Certificate states A2
- Meets target level
Certificate level follows score band
Reading Parts Map
- Part 1
- Six short-text questions
- Part 1 focus
- Main message
- Part 2
- Seven multiple-matching questions
- Part 2 texts
- Three related texts
- Part 3
- Five long-text questions
- Part 3 focus
- Detail and main ideas
- Part 4
- Six multiple-choice gaps
- Part 4 focus
- Vocabulary in context
- Part 5
- Six one-word gaps
- Part 5 focus
- Grammar and cohesion
Reading Tactics
- Main-message text
- Identify purpose first
- Matching profiles
- Match every requirement
- Long text
- Skim before targeted rereading
- Cloze passage
- Read entire text first
- Shared vocabulary
- May signal distractor
- Contrast words
- Track but, although, however
- Numbers and dates
- Compare every digit
- Unknown word
- Use surrounding meaning
- Uncertain answer
- Eliminate, choose, continue
- Reading budget
- Protect writing time
Open Cloze Toolkit
- Articles
- A, an, the
- First mention
- Usually a or an
- Specific noun
- Often needs the
- Time point
- Use since
- Time period
- Use for
- Comparative
- Usually followed by than
- Positive uncountable
- Often some
- Negative uncountable
- Often much or any
- Plural question
- Often many or any
- Auxiliary
- Match subject and tense
- Pronoun
- Match reference and number
- Answer length
- Exactly one word
A2 Collocations and Phrasals
- Make
- A mistake; a plan
- Do
- Homework; housework; exercise
- Have
- Breakfast; fun; a shower
- Take
- A photo; a bus
- Go
- Shopping; swimming; home
- Play
- Football; tennis; music
- Look after
- Care for
- Find out
- Discover information
- Turn off
- Stop a device
- Put on
- Dress in clothing
- Get off
- Leave public transport
- Interested
- Followed by in
WASP Writing Check
Words, All points, Sequence, Proofread
Meet minimumCover promptsConnect ideasCheck language
Writing Part 6 vs Part 7
Part 6
- Email or note
- Twenty-five words minimum
- Cover content points
Part 7
- Picture story
- Thirty-five words minimum
- Use three pictures
Both offer fifteen marks
Writing Response Builder
- Part 6 begins→Underline every content point(Usually several prompts)
- Reader is identified→Choose suitable register(Friend usually informal)
- Part 7 begins→Map three events(Keep picture order)
- Story events are planned→Choose past tense(Add sequence words)
- Draft is complete→Check minimum length(Count approximately)
- Time remains→Check content before grammar(Then proofread language)
Writing Task Map
- Part 6
- Guided email or note
- Part 6 minimum
- Twenty-five words
- Part 6 input
- Cover every content point
- Part 6 register
- Match the reader
- Part 7
- Three-picture story
- Part 7 minimum
- Thirty-five words
- Part 7 sequence
- Use every picture
- Each task
- Fifteen marks maximum
- Safe length
- Clear, complete, controlled
- Final minute
- Check verbs and spelling
BME Story Shape
Beginning, Middle, End
Set sceneShow problemFinish event
Mustn't vs Don't Have To
Mustn't
- Action is prohibited
- Rule says no
- Doing it breaks rules
Don't have to
- Action is optional
- No obligation
- Doing it remains allowed
Forbidden is not optional
Writing Assessment Criteria
- Content
- Reader receives required information
- Organisation
- Text connects coherently
- Language
- Vocabulary and grammar control
- Criterion scale
- Zero through five
- Content loss
- Missing prompt or picture
- Organisation gain
- Use basic linking words
- Language gain
- Control simple forms
- Minor errors
- Meaning should remain clear
- Copied prompt
- Adds little task evidence
- Unreadable response
- Cannot earn useful credit
Present Simple vs Continuous
Present simple
- Habit or fact
- Uses frequency words
- States usually remain simple
Present continuous
- Happening now
- Temporary situation
- Uses be plus ing
Habit versus current action
Picture Story Language
- Scene setter
- Yesterday; last weekend
- Main tense
- Past simple
- Background tense
- Past continuous
- First event
- First; one day
- Next event
- Then; next; after that
- Surprise
- Suddenly
- Ending
- Finally; in the end
- Feelings
- Happy, worried, surprised
- Reason
- Use because
- Dialogue
- Keep short and accurate
Past Simple vs Continuous
Past simple
- Completed event
- Moves story forward
- Often follows then
Past continuous
- Background action
- Action already happening
- Often follows while
Event interrupts background
Core Tense Map
- Present simple
- Habits, facts, states
- Present continuous
- Current or temporary action
- Past simple
- Finished past action
- Past continuous
- Background past action
- Present perfect
- Past linked to now
- Going to
- Plans or visible evidence
- Will
- Offers, decisions, predictions
- Every day
- Present simple signal
- Right now
- Present continuous signal
- Yesterday
- Past simple signal
- While
- Often background action
- Since
- Starting point until now
Modals and Quantity
- Can
- Ability or permission
- Could
- Past ability; polite request
- Should
- Advice
- Must
- Strong obligation
- Mustn't
- Prohibition
- Don't have to
- No obligation
- Some
- Often positive statements
- Any
- Often questions and negatives
- Many
- Countable plural nouns
- Much
- Uncountable nouns
- A few
- Some countable items
- A little
- Some uncountable amount
TWICE Listening Routine
Target, Write, Identify changes, Confirm, Enter
Preview targetMark first answerTrack correctionsConfirm second playCheck entry
Listening Detail vs Gist
Detail
- Exact time or item
- Target specific evidence
- Ignore side alternatives
Gist
- Overall purpose or topic
- Combine whole message
- Ignore isolated examples
Question stem identifies the target
Two-Play Listening Plan
- Before recording→Preview question differences(Predict detail type)
- First play starts→Follow overall meaning(Mark likely answer)
- Speaker changes a plan→Track final choice(First idea distracts)
- Second play starts→Target uncertain evidence(Confirm digits and names)
- Audio finishes→Check answer placement(Avoid blanks)
- Paper test ends→Transfer answers carefully(Check line numbers)
Listening Parts Map
- Part 1
- Five visual detail questions
- Part 2
- Five note-completion gaps
- Part 3
- Five conversation questions
- Part 4
- Five gist questions
- Part 5
- Five matching questions
- Question value
- One mark each
- First hearing
- Choose likely answer
- Second hearing
- Confirm or correct
- Before audio
- Read task and options
- Paper format
- Includes transfer time
Paper vs Digital
Paper
- Write physical answers
- Listening transfer time
- Adult format ending
Digital
- Enter answers onscreen
- Use interface controls
- Adult format continues
Skills and scoring stay identical
Listening Detail Toolkit
- Changed plan
- Choose final decision
- Corrected number
- Use latest number
- Thirteen or thirty
- Hear final stress
- Quarter past
- Fifteen minutes after
- Quarter to
- Fifteen minutes before
- Half past
- Thirty minutes after
- Price
- Track discount and final cost
- Spelling
- Record every letter
- Named people
- Track each separately
- Unused option
- Expected in matching
- Side detail
- May distract from gist
Digital and Paper Delivery
- Adult digital
- Continues after 2026
- Adult paper
- Ends after final session
- Final paper session
- December 3, 2026
- For Schools
- Both formats continue
- Task content
- Same across formats
- Scoring
- Same across formats
- Digital answers
- Entered on screen
- Paper listening
- Transfer answers afterward
- Digital practice
- Use official tutorial
- Exam dates
- Confirm with local centre
PAIR Speaking Routine
Prompt, Answer, Interact, Reason
Use promptAnswer clearlyInvolve partnerGive reason
Speaking Part 1 vs Part 2
Part 1
- Examiner asks questions
- Personal information
- Three to four minutes
Part 2
- Partner discussion
- Likes and reasons
- Five to six minutes
Interview then collaboration
Speaking Response Ladder
- Personal question asked→Answer directly(Add one detail)
- Preference requested→Choose and explain(Use because)
- Partner gives opinion→Respond before adding(Show active listening)
- Conversation slows→Ask follow-up question(Invite partner back)
- You disagree→Disagree softly(Give simple reason)
- Question is unclear→Request repetition(Do not guess randomly)
Speaking Test Map
- Candidates
- Usually paired
- Examiners
- Two
- Interlocutor
- Asks and manages
- Assessor
- Listens and scores
- Part 1
- Personal factual interview
- Part 1 time
- Three to four minutes
- Part 2
- Collaborative preference discussion
- Part 2 time
- Five to six minutes
- Partner effect
- Scores remain individual
- Standard delivery
- Face-to-face interaction
Speaking Assessment Criteria
- Grammar and vocabulary
- Simple range and control
- Pronunciation
- Generally intelligible speech
- Interactive communication
- Initiate, respond, maintain exchange
- Global achievement
- Overall A2 task success
- One-word replies
- Provide little evidence
- Extended answer
- Add detail or reason
- Misunderstanding
- Ask politely for repetition
- Partner turn
- Listen before responding
- Native accent
- Not required
Functional Language Bank
- Opinion
- I think ... because ...
- Preference
- I prefer ... to ...
- Agreement
- I agree with you
- Soft disagreement
- I'm not sure
- Suggestion
- Why don't we ...?
- Alternative
- How about ...?
- Invite partner
- What do you think?
- Follow-up
- Why do you like it?
- Clarification
- Could you repeat that?
- Request
- Could you please ...?
- Invitation
- Would you like to ...?
- Polite refusal
- Sorry, I can't because ...
Common Traps
Same Word, Different Meaning
Distractors reuse text vocabulary ≠ Match the complete idea
Partial Match Still Fails
Check every profile requirement ≠ One keyword proves nothing
Part 5 Means One Word
Never enter two words ≠ Spelling must be correct
Writing Parts Score Equally
Each offers fifteen marks ≠ Do not skip either
Minimum Is Not A Target
Leave room for complete content ≠ Keep language controlled
First Number May Distract
Speakers often correct details ≠ Use the final answer
Gist Is Not One Detail
Hear the whole message ≠ Ignore side examples
Speaking Scores Stay Individual
Partners do not share grades ≠ Help interaction continue
Simple English Can Score
Clear A2 communication matters ≠ Native fluency is unnecessary
A2 Pass Starts At 120
100-119 reports A1 ≠ 140-150 reports B1
Adult Paper Format Is Ending
Final session December 2026 ≠ Digital A2 Key continues
Last Minute
- 1.Know all seven written parts
- 2.Memorize five listening tasks
- 3.Protect twenty writing minutes
- 4.Answer every objective item
- 5.Use one word in Part 5
- 6.Cover every Part 6 point
- 7.Use every Part 7 picture
- 8.Check writing minimum lengths
- 9.Track final listening decisions
- 10.Use both listening plays
- 11.Extend personal speaking answers
- 12.Ask your partner questions
- 13.Give reasons for preferences
- 14.Remember the 120 threshold
- 15.Confirm centre date and format
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