Your school announced KET or PET: What should parents do first?
A school email headed “KET/PET exam” often combines several decisions in one short message: whether to register, which level to choose, and how to prepare. Start by separating those decisions. KET is the older short name for A2 Key; PET refers to B1 Preliminary. The “for Schools” versions use contexts relevant to school-age learners. An exam notice is useful information, but the next step depends on the exact exam, your school’s arrangements, and what your child can currently do without help.
Extract four facts from the notice
Write down the full exam name, registration deadline, proposed exam date, and the preparation or placement support the school offers. “Cambridge exam” alone is not an exact qualification. A school may be announcing a placement discussion, optional entry, a practice test, or a certificate event. If the message does not explain the fee, venue, exam mode or registration route, ask the school contact rather than inferring those details from another school’s website. Local arrangements can differ.
A useful email to the English coordinator is brief: “Which exam and level is this notice about? Is participation optional? Which recent class tasks support the level recommendation? When will families receive task-level feedback?” Save the reply beside the notice. This creates one shared record for the school, parent and student, rather than several competing interpretations at home.
Understand the A2 and B1 task difference
According to the official A2 Key for Schools format, Reading and Writing form one 60-minute component with seven parts. Listening has five parts and Speaking has two. Writing includes an email or note of at least 25 words and a story from three pictures of at least 35 words. In the B1 Preliminary for Schools format, Reading and Writing are separate 45-minute components. Writing asks for an email of about 100 words and a choice of an article or story of about 100 words. Speaking has four parts, including a photograph, discussing options and a wider conversation.
The difference is more than word count. An A2 learner should be able to pass on simple information: when and where friends will meet, for example. A B1 learner may need to explain why one plan is better, acknowledge another idea and reach a decision with a partner. A child who speaks fluently about a favourite game may still leave out key points in a written email; a child who writes carefully may struggle to respond to another speaker. Ask for evidence from all four skills.
Do not use age as a shortcut
Cambridge English says in its for Schools FAQ that there is no specific age limit for these exams. Their topics are designed around the interests and experiences of school-age candidates; the level and exam format match the standard versions. Therefore “the rest of the year group is taking PET” does not establish your own child’s B1 readiness. Neither does a birthday decide that A2 is the right target. Use the school’s assessment and actual work samples together.
Ask five questions that change the preparation plan
- Is the proposed exam A2 Key for Schools or B1 Preliminary for Schools?
- Is registration optional, and what evidence supports the level recommendation?
- What does the school teach before the exam, and which skills need support outside class?
- Will practice results identify task types, or only give an overall number?
- Who confirms the official registration process, fee, location and exam mode?
These questions are practical because the same overall practice score can hide different needs. One student may understand a listening recording yet miss the time of an event; another may hear the time but fail to follow the instruction on the answer sheet. “More practice tests” does not distinguish them. A task-level answer from the teacher can.
Collect two short work samples at home
For an original A2-style exercise, say: “Your friend wants to join your club meeting. Write the day, time, place and one thing to bring.” Let your child draft the message without completing sentences for them. On the first read, mark whether the four pieces of information are clear. Ask “Could your friend find the meeting?” before correcting spelling. The official A2 writing task has a minimum of 25 words; this home prompt is a diagnostic exercise, not an official sample paper.
If the short message is comfortable, try an original B1-style decision: “Should the club run a book sale or a film evening?” Ask your child to recommend one option, give two reasons, recognise a benefit of the other option and finish with a decision. A response such as “A film is fun” states a preference. “A film might bring more families, but a book sale costs less and students can contribute books” provides grounds for discussion. Keep the first draft; the teacher can see whether the child organised these ideas independently.
Work backwards from the date
In week one, confirm the school’s recommendation and collect samples. In week two, choose one recurring gap, such as missing information in email replies or unsupported opinions. In week three, give a different prompt that tests the same skill; reusing the exact first prompt may measure memory. In the final week, review the official format and the practical exam instructions with the school. If the date is very close, focus on a small check the child can actually carry into the next task: “Have I answered every question in the email?”
If you want teacher-led support, Flalingo’s English-for-kids guide provides a route to discuss your child’s writing and speaking samples. Flalingo’s own A2 and B1 learning materials include short messages, directions, reasoned opinions and progress checks; the materials overview shows examples of the learning path. Bring the school notice, exam date and first drafts to the conversation so that the next exercise addresses a visible need.
Common parent questions
Are KET and PET two names for one test?
No. They refer to different levels: A2 Key and B1 Preliminary. Check the full name on your school’s notice.
Does “for Schools” impose an age requirement?
No specific age limit applies. The topics are tailored to school-age learners.
Does a notice mean my child is registered?
Ask the school. A notice, recommendation and completed registration are separate steps.
Sources checked 27 September 2026: Cambridge A2 format, Cambridge B1 format, and Cambridge for Schools FAQ.
Discuss your child’s work with a teacher
Keep the first writing sample and any exam notice you have received from the school. When exploring Flalingo’s teacher-led programmes, share the particular skill your child needs to practise: Programme for ages 9–12 · Programme for ages 13+.
Age is a starting point; exam level and lesson suitability also depend on the skills your child can use independently.
Related Cambridge preparation articles
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