KET and PET overview FAQs
FAQs about KET and PET
- What level are KET and PET?
- What are the approximate percentage grade ranges for KET and PET?
- What are the marks needed to pass each section, and to pass the exam overall?
- Are KET and PET suitable for candidates of any age and from any culture?
- When can candidates use pens or pencils?
- If candidates write entirely in capital letters, does this affect their score?
What level are KET and PET?
All Cambridge ESOL exams are aligned to the Council of Europe Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) levels. KET is at Level A2 and PET is at Level B1.
Cambridge ESOL has worked with ALTE (Association of Language Testers in Europe) to develop Can Do statements, which describe typical candidate abilities at each level.
More information on 'Can Do' statements.
Whilst individual candidates with the same level of certificate will always vary slightly in abilities — some may be better at speaking, others at writing etc. — these statements help teachers and employers to better understand learner capabilities at different levels.
What are the approximate percentage grade ranges for KET and PET?
The percentage of marks needed to achieve each grade may vary from session to session depending on the precise difficulty of the individual papers which make up the particular examination. The approximate range of percentages for each grade at KET and PET level are:
- Pass with Merit 85% i.e. 85 out of 100 marks
- Pass 70% — 84%
- Narrow Fail 65% — 69%
- Fail 64% and below.
This information appears on the Statement of Results.
What are the marks needed to pass each section, and to pass the exam overall?
The final mark a candidate receives in KET and PET is an aggregate of the marks obtained in each of the three papers (Reading/Writing, Listening and Speaking). There is no minimum Pass mark for individual papers. Each of the four skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking) carries 25% of the total marks.
Are KET and PET suitable for candidates of any age and from any culture?
Yes. All tasks are written and edited to strict guidelines and every effort is made to avoid age and cultural bias. To ensure that materials are suitable for a range of age groups and cultural backgrounds, all test items are pretested before use in the exams and any that prove too difficult or discriminate unfairly are rejected.
When can candidates use pens or pencils?
In KET and PET, candidates must use pencil in all papers.
If candidates write entirely in capital letters, does this affect their score?
No. Candidates are not penalised for writing in capital letters in KET and PET.
