A brief introduction to Key for Schools and Preliminary for Schools

1. A brief introduction to Key for Schools and Preliminary for Schools

2. To explain why taking English language exams is important; why there are special versions of KEY for Schools and PRELIMINARY for schools; how KEY for Schools and PRELIMINARY for Schools are: constructed assessed administered; what support is available. Aims of the seminar

3. English is spoken internationally by 1.5 billion people Certified proof of ability in English gives individuals: confidence to live and travel in other countries ability to follow a course of study in English at tertiary level a competitive advantage and workplace opportunities for appointment and promotion Cambridge exams are recognised worldwide The importance of English language exams

4. Why? An increasingly younger candidature Increased interest from school sector Who for? Primarily targeted at children in compulsory education How do the exams differ from KEY and PRELIMINARY? Treatment of topics In what ways are they the same? Exam format and concepts on which they are based, grading and assessment and administration remain the same KEY for Schools and PRELIMINARY for Schools

5. Founded 1949. Promotes languages for mutual understanding personal mobility access to information in a multi-lingual and multi-cultural Europe. Developed the Common European Framework. The Council of Europe

6. The Common European Framework • Provides a basis for language syllabi • Describes language and skills for communication in a range of contexts • Defines levels of proficiency

8. The test development process

9. A syllabus based on current language use. The 4 skills: speaking, listening, reading, writing. The strategies and skills needed to cope with a foreign language in everyday real-life communication. Testing the right things

10. Texts and topic areas researched from up-to-date sources such as the Internet, magazines and real-life situations, and adapted to the level Relevant to experience and interests of school aged children: daily life, holiday destinations, entertainment, media, natural world, hobbies, school and study, celebrations, clothes, environment, sport, food, inventions, shopping, the home, lifestyles Topics

11. Treatment of topics buying a bike or buying a car sharing a flat or sharing a room going to the opera or to a concert choosing food or paying in a restaurant going to the gym or to the swimming pool making an appointment or going to the doctor organising or going on a journey work schedules or different jobs

12. KEY for Schools Basic level (A2) 2 tasks 8 - 10 mins 25% of total mark Familiar situations – meeting people, giving factual, personal and non-personal information PRELIMINARY for Schools Intermediate level (B1) 4 tasks 10 - 12 mins 25% of total mark Everyday events in an English-speaking country Discussion and description Speaking

14. Cambridge English: Preliminary for Schools Speaking Part 2

15. At both levels: candidates are assessed independently according to specific criteria 2 examiners: Assessor focuses on detailed criteria Interlocutor focuses on overall effectiveness in dealing with the tasks Speaking assessment

16. Assessment criteria • Cambridge English: Preliminary for Schools • Grammar and Vocabulary • Pronunciation • Interactive Communication • Discourse Management • Cambridge English: Key for Schools • Grammar and Vocabulary • Pronunciation • Interactive Communication

17. KEY for Schools 25 - 30 mins 25% of total mark Understand announcements and other everyday spoken material PRELIMINARY for Schools 30 - 35 mins 25% of total mark Understand a range of recordings including announcements and texts from everyday life Understand attitude and intention Take notes Listening

18. Reading and Writing are combined 1 hr 10 mins, 50% of total mark Reading: based on signs, short messages, brochures, newspapers and magazines understand the main message choose the best word to fill a gap match functional statements or questions with responses Writing: write a short message or note based on 3 required pieces of information KEY for Schools Reading and Writing

19. Reading and Writing are combined 1 hr 30 mins Reading – 25% of total mark based on signs, labels, journals, newspaper and magazine articles understand the main points, attitude and intended effect select words to fill in gaps in a text through understanding of lexico-structural patterns Writing – 25% of total mark write a short message write a story or letter of 100 words on a familiar subject manipulate sentence structure using given lexical and grammatical patterns PRELIMINARY for Schools Reading and Writing

20. Teaching ideas: Reading and Writing Cambridge English: Key for Schools Part 6 If you enjoy taking photographs, you will need this. C _ _ _ _ _ Students practise writing definitions for words studied in class. Teacher rapidly provides definitions for, say, 10 words: who can write down the most words? Competitions: students define words for their teams.

21. Teaching ideas: Reading and Writing Cambridge English: Preliminary for Schools Part 2 Matching people to holidays, films, magazines, etc. Students look just at the people and discuss what kind of holiday/film/magazine would suit each one. Students look just at the holidays/films/magazines, etc., and discuss which would appeal most to themselves and other people they know, and why.

22. Teaching ideas: Reading and Writing Both Cambridge English: Key for Schools and Cambridge English: Preliminary for Schools Prepare a model answer for a task in the sample paper and then gap some of the words – students discuss in pairs how to complete the answer. Look at sample answers to tasks on the Cambridge English website – discuss what is good about them and also if, and how, they could be improved.

23. Teaching ideas: Listening Give students tapescripts of a listening task (or play them the CD) and ask them to predict what the questions will be. Have half the class read the questions before listening to the recording and the other half listen for the first time before looking at the questions – students then compare to see which way worked best.

24. Teaching ideas: Speaking Cambridge English: Preliminaryfor Schools Ask students, in pairs, to prepare tests for each other: to revise some introductory personal questions; to think up a task for Part 2; to find two themed photographs/pictures; to suggest some discussion questions relating to the theme of their pictures.

25. Round-up What features/aspects of the Cambridge English: Key for Schools or Cambridge English: Preliminary for Schools exams do you think your students would enjoy? Which part(s) of the exams do you think your students would find the most challenging? What would you do and where would you look to find out more about these two exams, or any other Cambridge English exam?

26. launch: March 2009 6 times per year exam dates on www.cambridgenglish.org examination centre information on www.cambridgenglish.org CB versions available from March 2010 more exam dates registration when the candidate feels ‘exam ready’ faster turn-round times for results headphones with adjustable volume for listening exams Administration

27. PRELIMINARY for Schools Each skill – 25% No minimum pass mark on individual papers Results reported as Pass with Merit, Pass, CEFR Level A2 and Fail Pass = approx. 70% of total marks Candidates given Statement of Results with a graphical profile for each skill Pass candidates receive a lifelong certificate Grading and results

28. Website: www.Cambridgeenglish.org Teaching resources www.Cambridgeenglish.org/teach Teaching tips, ideas and activities. Teachers’ seminars. Handbooks. Sample / past papers / exam reports. Further information

29. University of Cambridge English Examinations 1 Hills Road, Cambridge, CB1 2EU, UK Tel: (+44) 1223 553355 Fax: (+44) 1223 460278 Email: cambridgeenglishhelpdesk@ucles.org.uk Pre-testing unit: (+44) 1223 553772 pretesting@ucles.org.uk Keep up to date with what’s new via the Cambridge English website: www.Cambridgeenglish.org Contact us