Analía Ferraro
Posadas
September 14th, 2019
Changes 2020
A2 Key / A2 Key for Schools
B1 Preliminary / B1 Preliminary for Schools

Aims
 What are the “Can Do” statements?
 What are the 2020 changes?
 How is results reporting changing?
 Exam support and preparation
 Question time

What are “Can Do” statements?
“Can Do” statements show how learners use
the target language to demonstrate
their communicative competence
within the four language skills.

Decide whether these are A2 or B1 Can Do statements
1 Can understand short texts and messages, and write
short, simple texts about daily life, hobbies, holidays, etc.
?
2 Can write about everyday subjects ?
3 Can make plans and express likes, dislikes and opinions
using simple language.
?
4 Can understand instructions and main points on familiar
topics
?
5 Can understand factual texts ?
6 Can talk about reactions to films, music, etc. and give
practical instructions
?
7 Can understand simple questions and instructions ?

Decide whether these are A2 or B1 Can Do statements
1 Can understand short texts and messages, and write
short, simple texts about daily life, hobbies, holidays, etc.
A2
2 Can write about everyday subjects B1
3 Can make plans and express likes, dislikes and opinions
using simple language.
A2
4 Can understand instructions and main points on familiar
topics
B1
5 Can understand factual texts B1
6 Can talk about reactions to films, music, etc. and give
practical instructions
B1
7 Can understand simple questions and instructions A2

SKILLS CEFR Level A2 CEFR Level B1
Reading
Can understand short texts and
messages
Writing
Can write short, simple texts
about daily life, hobbies,
holidays, etc.
Listening Can understand simple
questions and instructions
Speaking
Can make simple plans and
express likes, dislikes and
opinions using simple language

SKILLS CEFR Level A2 CEFR Level B1
Reading
Can understand short texts and
messages
Can understand factual texts
Writing
Can write short, simple texts
about daily life, hobbies,
holidays, etc.
Listening Can understand simple
questions and instructions
Speaking
Can make simple plans and
express likes, dislikes and
opinions using simple language

SKILLS CEFR Level A2 CEFR Level B1
Reading
Can understand short texts and
messages
Can understand factual texts
Writing
Can write short, simple texts
about daily life, hobbies,
holidays, etc.
Can write about everyday subjects
Listening Can understand simple
questions and instructions
Speaking
Can make simple plans and
express likes, dislikes and
opinions using simple language

SKILLS CEFR Level A2 CEFR Level B1
Reading
Can understand short texts and
messages
Can understand factual texts
Writing
Can write short, simple texts
about daily life, hobbies,
holidays, etc.
Can write about everyday subjects
Listening Can understand simple
questions and instructions
Can understand instructions and
understand main points from a talk
or TV programme on familiar topics
Speaking
Can make simple plans and
express likes, dislikes and
opinions using simple language

SKILLS CEFR Level A2 CEFR Level B1
Reading
Can understand short texts and
messages
Can understand factual texts
Writing
Can write short, simple texts
about daily life, hobbies,
holidays, etc.
Can write about everyday subjects
Listening Can understand simple
questions and instructions
Can understand instructions and
understand main points from a talk
or TV programme on familiar topics
Speaking
Can make simple plans and
express likes, dislikes and
opinions using simple language
Can talk about reactions to films,
music, etc. and give practical
instructions

Why change the exams?
 To keep them relevant to the needs
of learners and school
 To incorporate evolving
approaches to assessment and
learning
 To address feedback from
stakeholders (Heads of English,
teachers, learners, exam centres,
etc.)
 To align Key/Key for Schools more
closely with Preliminary/Preliminary
for Schools and higher levels
exams.

Changes in KET

Reading and Writing paper
How much do you remember about the current format of the paper?
1. How many parts does the paper contain?
2. How many questions are there in total?
3. How long does the paper last?
4. How many parts focus on writing skills?
5. Is there a Right/Wrong/Doesn’t say task?
6. How much do candidates write in the longer task?

Reading and Writing paper
How much do you remember about the current format of the paper?
1. The paper contains 9 parts.
2. There are 56 questions.
3. The paper lasts 1 hour and 10 minutes.
4. There are four parts that focus on writing skills.
5. Yes, there is. Part 4: multiple choice. A long text and
three short texts adapted from authentic newspaper
and magazine articles.
6. In the longest task, candidates have to write 25–35
words.

vKET - Reading & Writing
What’s changed
Currently
9
56
1.10 min
NB
In the New Version, some parts are in a different order and some are shorter.
Reduction of repetition and redundancy. Greater authenticity in the reading tasks.
 Parts
 Questions
 Duration
New Version
7
32
1 hr

1. Revised multiple-choice task: understanding 6 short messages
(more like part 1 in PET)
2. Similar to Old Part 4. Matching: Candidates read 3 short texts for
specific information and detailed comprehension
3. Similar to Old Part 4 . Multiple-choice: Candidates read one longer
text for detailed understanding and main ideas
4. A combination of old parts 2 and 5. Revised multiple-choice gap fill
text with lexico-grammatical focus
5. Old Part 7 but now 6 gaps. Gap fill: Read a text and write words in
the gaps
6. Old Part 9 but word count now 25 words or more. Guided writing:
write a short message based on instructions
7. New story task: write a short story based on 3 pictures
Key / Key for Schools - Reading & Writing
Part What’s changed

Key / Key for Schools - Reading & Writing - Revised Part 1
 More like Part 1 in Preliminary
 Still based on understanding the main
message in a short text or notice
 But now each text or notice has
3 multiple-choice options
Revised Part 1
Old Part 1

Key / Key for Schools - Reading & Writing - Revised Part 4
 Combines old Parts 2 and 5.
(Part 2: Three-option multiple
choice with five sentences with
connecting link of topic or
storyline & Part 5: Multiple- choice
cloze, eight three-option multiple-
choice items based on text
adapted from an original source)
 Lexico-grammatical focus

Key / Key for Schools - Reading & Writing - New Part 7
Can use the most frequently occurring connectors to link simple sentences
in order to tell a story or describe something.
NB: This is similar to the story-writing task in Flyers so students who have already done Flyers
will be able to build on the skills they have developed. They are for 35 words or more for
stronger candidates to be able to demonstrate a wider range of writing skills.

Preparing for Key/Key for Schools Reading and Writing
www.penfriends.cambridgeenglish.org

Pen Friends @ AACI

1 This paper contains 5 parts.
2 Candidates hear both monologues and dialogues.
3 Candidates only answer multiple-choice questions
in this paper.
4 The paper lasts 30 minutes and contains 25
questions.
5 Candidates only have to listen to find key
information.
Listening paper
Decide whether these sentences about the current paper are T or F

1 This paper contains 5 parts. T
2 Candidates hear both monologues and dialogues. T
3 Candidates only answer multiple-choice questions
in this paper. Not true. There are multiple-choice
questions, matching tasks and also gap filling ones.
F
4 The paper lasts 30 minutes and contains 25
questions.
T
5 Candidates only have to listen to find key
information.
T
Listening paper
Decide whether these sentences about the current paper are T or F

vKET - Listening
What’s changed
Currently
5
25
30 min
NB
In the New Version, no change in format but some parts are in a different order
so that the tasks gradually get more complex.
 Parts
 Questions
 Duration
New Version
5
25
30 min

1 Same as before. Multiple-choice task: Listen to 5 short texts for
specific information and choose the right picture (A, B, C)
2 Old part 5: Gap fill. Candidates listen to a longer text (a monologue)
and write down missing information in gaps
3 Multiple-choice based on a longer listening(a dialogue), listen for
specific information, feelings and opinions. Before this was focused
on information-giving with answers coming from the person
responding to the questions. Now answers come from both
speakers.
4 New multiple-choice task: Listen to 5 short texts for gist
understanding. It tests feeling, opinion and gist Aligned with PET and
FCE.
5 Old part 2: Matching task. Candidates to a longer text for specific
information
Key / Key for schools - Listening
Part What’s changed

Key / Key for Schools - Listening - New Part 4
 Listen to 5 short texts.
 It tests feeling, opinion and gist
 Aligned with PET and FCE.

Preparing for Key/Key for Schools Listening
https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/learning-english/activities-for-learners/a1l002-going-to-the-movies

v
Speaking Paper
Do you remember what the current speaking
parts consist of?
PART DURATION TASK NAME FORMAT
1
5–6 minutes
2
3–4 minutes

v
Speaking Paper
Do you remember what the current speaking
parts consist of?
PART DURATION TASK NAME FORMAT
1
5–6 minutes Interview
Conversation with the examiner.
The examiner asks you some
questions about yourself and
you answer.
2
3–4 minutes

v
Speaking Paper
Do you remember what the current speaking
parts consist of?
PART DURATION TASK NAME FORMAT
1
5–6 minutes Interview
Conversation with the examiner.
The examiner asks you some
questions about yourself and
you answer.
2
3–4 minutes Collaborative
task
The examiner gives you some
information or a card with some
ideas for questions. You have to
talk with the other candidate
and ask or answer questions.

No change in format but
there has been a small
change in part one and
there is a completely
new part 2.
vKET - Speaking
What’s changed
Currently
 2 Parts
New Version
1. Short exchanges
with the interlocutor
2. An interactive task
involving both
candidates
 Duration 8-10 min

v
Speaking Paper
https://youtu.be/HMXAiwOKeOw
Watch the following
sample of the new
speaking test and
think about the
differences that can
be spotted in
comparison to the
current version of
the Speaking paper
Current Exam
https://youtu.be/ycc2G4Ryn3Y

1. Similar to old Part 1. Introductory phase: focus on interactional and social
language This part has the same type of questions and same testing focus as
before, but the questions are now around a common theme, candidates
are asked questions about two topics, and are asked in turn about each
topic.
2. New collaborative task: students talk together about a topic with some
pictures to help them. The pictures are intended as prompts for candidates to
compare, describe and express opinions. Though they are only expected
to talk about themselves, they are not asked to think about a situation or
about the needs or opinions of someone else as they do at Preliminary. In
phase 2, the interlocutor extends the discussion.
Key / Key for Schools - Speaking
Part What’s changed

Key / Key for Speaking - Part 1

Key / Key for Speaking - New Part 2
Do you like these different holidays?

Key / Key for Speaking
Phase 1 Phase 2

Key / Key for schools Speaking - New Part 2
Examiner Feedback
 Better fit with classroom practice
 Candidates produce a wider range of language than the old Part 2
task with increased focus on fluency
 Meaningful interaction - better test of interactive communication

Changes in PET

1 The paper lasts 1 hour and 30 minutes.
2 It contains 6 parts and 32 questions.
3 There are five parts focusing on reading skills.
4 There are two parts focusing on writing skills.
5 Candidates can choose between writing a letter or an article.
6 Candidates have to write up to 100 words in all writing tasks.
Reading and Writing paper
Decide whether these statements about the current paper are T or F

1 The paper lasts 1 hour and 30 minutes. T
2 It contains 6 parts and 32 questions.
False: There are 8 parts and 35 questions.
F
3 There are five parts focusing on reading skills. T
4 There are two parts focusing on writing skills.
False: there are 3 parts focusing on writing.
F
5 Candidates can choose between writing a letter or an article.
False: They have to write a short message in the form of a
postcard, note, e-mail, etc. (35- 45 words). And also an
informal letter OR story ( about 100 words)
F
6 Candidates have to write up to 100 words in all writing tasks. F
Reading and Writing paper
Decide whether these statements about the current paper are T or F

New Version
2 Papers
vPET - Reading & Writing
What’s changed
 Parts
 Questions
 Duration
6
2
32
3
45 min + 45 min
Reading
Writing
Reading
Writing
5
3
35
7
1.30 min
Currently
1 Paper

1. Multiple-choice task: understanding 5 short messages (signs,labels, e-mails)
2. Matching: Match descriptions of people with texts - reading for specific
information
3. Old part 4: Multiple-choice: Read a longer text for detailed understanding with
five 4-option multiple-choice questions. In the old version, the first question
asks about the writer´s purpose. This has been removed as it ovelapped with
the final question on global understanding.
4. New multiple-choice gapped text: choose correct sentence to put in gaps –
assesses reading for gist and understanding and text structure.
5. Multiple-choice gap fill: Read a text and choose the right word for each gap –
understanding vocabulary. Now, there are 6 questions compared to 10 in the
previous test.
6. New gap fill: Read a text and write words in the gaps – detailed
understanding
Preliminary / Preliminary for Schools - Reading
Part What’s changed

Preliminary / Preliminary for Schools Reading - New Part 4
Sentences have been removed from a
text and candidates have to decide which
sentence goes in which gap.
 Similar to B2 FCE exam.
 5 gaps & 3 distractors.
 Understand the gist and structure

Preliminary / Preliminary for Schools Reading - New Part 6
 New gap fill task.
 Candidates read for detailed
understanding at word and sentence level,
filling in 6 gaps in a text.
 Aligned with KET and FCE.

1. New task: write an email in response to information given
2. Write an article or story on a given topic. Students can now choose to write
a story or an article, rather than a letter.
Preliminary / Preliminary for Schools - Writing
Part What’s changed
NB
Writing now a separate paper from Reading. Now, 2 parts in 45 minutes. And
learners are expected to write between 150 to 200 words.

Preliminary / Preliminary for Schools Writing - New Part 1
In the old task, candidates were to write 35-45 words. Now, about 100 words.
PET PETS

Preliminary / Preliminary for Schools Writing – New Part 2
In the old task, candidates were to write 35-45 words. Now, about 100 words.
Article Storyor
NB
Candidates have now a choice between an article (rather than a letter) or a story.
In the article, candidates can write about feelings and opinions and can then
produce a personal concrete response based on their personal experiences.

Listening paper
How much do you remember about the current format of the paper?
1. How many parts does the paper contain?
2. How many questions are there in total?
3. How long does the paper last?
4. How many parts focus on listening for attitudes and
opinions (’gist’)?
5. Is there a TRUE/FALSE task?

1. Four parts
2. There are 25 questions in total.
3. The paper lasts 30 minutes, plus 6 minutes to
transfer answers.
4. There is one part focusing on listening for attitudes
and opinions. Part 4.
5. Yes, there is. Part 4.
Listening paper
How much do you remember about the current format of the paper?

vPET - Listening
What’s changed
Currently
4
25
30 min
NB
No change in format. There is only one new task but some parts are in a different
order so that the tasks gradually get more complex.
 Parts
 Questions
 Duration
New Version
4
25
30 min

1. Multiple-choice task: Listen to 7 short recordings and choose the right
picture - listening for key information
2. New multiple-choice task: Listen to 6 short texts for gist
understanding (focus on attitudes and opinions)
3. Note or sentence completion: Listen to a longer text and write missing
information in the gaps
4. Multiple-choice task: Listen to a longer text and choose the right
answer (old Part 2). The old part 4 “yes/no task” has been removed.
Preliminary / Preliminary for Schools - Listening
Part What’s changed

Preliminary / Preliminary for Schools Listening - New Part 2
 Similar to First part 1 and Ket new part 4
 Listen to 6 short recordings
 Answer 3-option multiple choice about each
 Focus on understanding gist and identifying
opinions and attitudes

v
Listening
https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/learning-
english/free-resources/virtually-anywhere/
 Audio series for B1 & B2
 7 Episodes
 Students can work on their own
 Lesson plans provided

v
Listening
https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/learning-
english/free-resources/virtually-anywhere/
 Audio series for B1 & B2
 7 Episodes
 Students can work on their own
 Lesson plans provided

v
Speaking Paper
Do you remember what the current speaking
parts consist of?
PART DURATION TASK NAME FORMAT
1 2-3 minutes
2 3-4 minutes
3
1 minute
each
4
3 minutes
total

v
Speaking Paper
Do you remember what the current speaking
parts consist of?
PART DURATION TASK NAME FORMAT
1 2-3 minutes Interview
Conversation with the examiner.
Students give information about
themselves.
2 3-4 minutes
3
1 minute
each
4
3 minutes
total

v
Speaking Paper
Do you remember what the current speaking
parts consist of?
PART DURATION TASK NAME FORMAT
1 2-3 minutes Interview
Conversation with the examiner.
Students give information about
themselves.
2 3-4 minutes
Collaborative
task
Making and responding to
suggestions, making
recommendations, negotiating
agreement.
3
1 minute
each
4
3 minutes
total

v
Speaking Paper
Do you remember what the current speaking
parts consist of?
PART DURATION TASK NAME FORMAT
1 2-3 minutes Interview
Conversation with the examiner.
Students give information about
themselves.
2 3-4 minutes
Collaborative
task
Making and responding to
suggestions, making
recommendations, negotiating
agreement.
3
1 minute
each
Extended Turn Describing photographs
4
3 minutes
total

v
Speaking Paper
Do you remember what the current speaking
parts consist of?
PART DURATION TASK NAME FORMAT
1 2-3 minutes Interview
Conversation with the examiner.
Students give information about
themselves.
2 3-4 minutes
Collaborative
task
Making and responding to
suggestions, making
recommendations, negotiating
agreement.
3
1 minute
each
Extended Turn Describing photographs
4
3 minutes
total
Discussion
Talking about opinions,
likes/dislikes, habits,,
experiences, etc.

There are some minor
changes that make the
test more similar to FCE.
Still 4 parts and 10-12
minutes per pair of
candidates as before
though some parts in a
different order.
vPET - Speaking
What’s changed
Currently
 4 Parts
New Version
1. Candidates interact in turn
with interlocutor
2. Discussion task. Candidates
interact with each other
3. Extended turn. Each
candidate in turn describes
a photograph
4. General conversation.
Candidates interact with
each other.
 Duration 10-12 min

v
Speaking Paper
https://youtu.be/JIzR5LN-H4Y
Watch the following
sample of the new
speaking test and, in
small groups, think
about the
differences that can
be spotted in
comparison to the
current version of
the Speaking paper.
Current Exam
https://youtu.be/QwlBZc9MrJA

1. Introductory phase: short conversation between the interlocutor and
each candidate with focus on interactional and social language
2. Similar to old part 3: Individual long turn. Each candidate talks about
a different photo not thematically linked as before.
3. Same as old part 2: Collaborative task. The interlocutor gives the
candidates some pictures and describes a situation. Candidates
discuss alternatives and make suggestions and negotiate an
agreement as to the best course of action.
4. Similar to old part 4: Discussion: thematically linked to the
collaborative task in part 3 (and not to photos as it was before).
Candidates talk about their preferences, likes/dislikes, habits and
opinions related to the topic.
Preliminary / Preliminary for Schools - Speaking
Part What’s changed

Word List Changes

Summary of Changes
 More opportunities to demonstrate a range of Speaking and Writing
skills and therefore show an ability to perform at the next CEFR level
 Reading and Writing in Preliminary/Preliminary for Schools now
separate papers to allow for more Writing
 Better balance between Reading and Writing in Key/Key for Schools,
with removal of repetition and redundancy, and increased authenticity in
Reading
 More focus on fluency and interactive skills in Key/Key for Schools
Speaking
 More use of the same task types across exams and grading changed to
A, B, C to improve alignment across Cambridge English Qualifications
 Very minor changes to word lists

Understanding Results
The main change to the way results are reported
for Key and Preliminary is that from January
2020 candidates get an A, B or C grade rather
than Pass with Distinction, Pass with Merit and
Pass. This aligns KET and PET with FCE.

Results Reporting
They now get separate scores for Reading
and Writing (and not combined as before)
and receive a Statement of Results and a
Certificate

Celebrating Success
When you students get
their certificate, they can
celebrate their success
with a “certificate
ceremony”.
You can find a toolkit on
cambridgeenglish.org.
This toolkit includes
guidelines on how to
promote the event, an
invitation to parents, a
congratulations video and
a thank you letter for
teachers.
https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/information-for-preparation-centres/celebrating-success/

Exam Support and Preparation
https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/

Resources for Teachers
https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/teaching-english/resources-for-teachers/

Resources for Teachers
 Handbook for teachers
 Paper-based and computer-based sample tests
 Speaking test videos with Examiner comments
 Assessment scales for Speaking
 Assessment scales for Writing
 Word lists
 Lesson plans
 Teaching tips on Cambridge English TV
 Regular global webinars
 Information for candidates
 Online activities and games
 Facebook (for learners aged 13+)
https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/teaching-english/resources-for-teachers/

Key & Preliminary Updates 2020
https://keyandpreliminary.cambridgeenglish.org/

C
Any questions ?
cambridgepedagogic@aaci.org.ar

C
Thank you !