Teaching Resources > KET > Reading and Writing > Skills and Strategies

Skills and Strategies Activity

Reading and Writing Skills and Strategies in KET

Reading

Text Types

At KET level, candidates' knowledge of vocabulary and structure is limited. Therefore the authentic texts they read are simplified so that the grammar and lexis are within their reach. The texts are clear, simple, concrete and relevant to their everyday lives. The kind of texts they meet include the following:

• signs
• notices
• instructions
• factual newspaper and magazine articles
• encyclopaedia entries
• dictionary definitions

Reading Skills

At this level, they are expected to be able to understand and follow short narratives, as long as the topic is familiar and the language is simple. They should be able to skim material such as adverts and locate information that is important to them such as size, price or location. They should also be able to find information about leisure time activities in leaflets or brochures.

Reading Strategies

In dealing with these texts they will need to make use of the following reading strategies:

• reading to understand the main message (Parts 1, 4, 5, 7, 8)
• reading for specific information (Parts 4, 8)

In addition to this they will need strategies to help them deal with unfamiliar words and structures.

Writing

Text Types

The kind of texts students at this level should be able to produce are as follows:

• information to fill in forms, notes, diaries etc. (Part 8)
• simple messages, such as congratulations or invitations (Part 9)
• simple private letters to friends or acquaintances (Part 7, 9)

They should be able to cope with input from texts such as:

• brochures
• guides
• emails
• adverts

Writing Skills

At this level, candidates are expected to be able to complete a short everyday writing task. There will undoubtedly be mistakes, but reasonable control of structure, vocabulary, spelling and punctuation is expected.