Cambridge A2 KEY for Schools – Speaking Exam

The Cambridge A2 Key for Schools Speaking Exam is designed to assess students’ ability to communicate in English in everyday situations. It is part of the Cambridge A2 Key for Schools examination, which corresponds to Level A2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

The Speaking test gives students the opportunity to demonstrate that they can understand and answer questions, exchange information and communicate with another person using simple English.

The test is usually taken in pairs, with two candidates and two examiners. One examiner conducts the test, while the other listens and assesses the candidates’ performance.

The Speaking test lasts approximately 8–10 minutes for a pair of candidates.

How is the Speaking Exam organised?

The Speaking test consists of two parts.

Part 1 – Interview

In Part 1, the examiner asks each candidate questions about themselves and familiar everyday topics.

Students may be asked about:

Example questions:

Students should try to give complete answers rather than simply saying “yes” or “no”.

For example:

Examiner: What’s your favourite subject at school?

Candidate: My favourite subject is English because I enjoy learning new languages. I also like doing activities and speaking with my classmates.

Part 2 – Discussion

In Part 2, candidates take part in a conversation with their partner. The examiner gives them a topic and some visual prompts to help them discuss different options.

Students need to:

Example topic: Choosing a present for a friend

Students may have pictures of different presents, such as:

They must discuss the different possibilities and decide which present would be best for their friend.

Useful expressions for Part 2:

Giving opinions:

Making suggestions:

Agreeing:

Disagreeing politely:

Asking your partner:

How are students assessed?

The examiners assess students according to four main criteria:

1. Grammar and Vocabulary

Students should demonstrate that they can use basic grammatical structures correctly and have enough vocabulary to talk about familiar topics.

2. Pronunciation

Students should speak clearly enough to be understood. Perfect pronunciation is not necessary, but words should be pronounced accurately.

3. Interactive Communication

Students should show that they can communicate with their partner by asking questions, responding to ideas and keeping the conversation going.

4. Global Achievement

This criterion evaluates the student’s overall ability to communicate in English at A2 level.

Tips to get a good result in the Speaking Exam

Here are some important recommendations to help students feel confident and perform well:

  1. Speak as much as possible. Try to give complete answers and add extra information whenever you can.
  2. Don’t memorise answers. Learn useful expressions, but try to speak naturally.
  3. Practise with a partner. Part 2 requires you to interact with another person, so regular pair work is very important.
  4. Ask questions. Remember that communication is a two-way process.
  5. Use different vocabulary. Avoid repeating the same words and expressions.
  6. Don’t worry about making mistakes. If you make a mistake, try to correct yourself and continue speaking.
  7. Listen carefully. Make sure you understand the examiner’s questions and your partner’s suggestions.
  8. Be friendly and confident. Smile, show interest and try to enjoy the conversation.

How can you practise at home?

There are many ways to improve your speaking skills outside the classroom: