Koydo
CDLNCLEXIELTSOpen Koydo

KET · Grammar Basics · Maharashtra, India

Grammar Basics for the KET Exam — Maharashtra candidates

10% of the KET test plan. A2-level grammar: present simple/continuous, past simple, basic modals, articles, and prepositions. Calibrated for Maharashtrian candidates.

For candidates aiming to clear this exam on the first attempt, the difference between Band 6 and Band 7+ — or "passing" and "comfortable margin" — usually comes down to fluency on a small number of high-leverage topics. Grammar Basics sits at roughly 10% of the Cambridge Key English Test (A2) content distribution — Grammar underlies all four A2 Key skills. Common A2 grammar points include: verb tenses (present simple, past simple, present continuous), modals (can, could, should, would), prepositions of place and time, articles (a/an/the), and question formation. Errors in these basic structures drop scores significantly. Pass rates for the KET are published annually by the awarding body and vary by cohort and locale. For Maharashtra candidates preparing for KET, the calibration of study to local context matters: Maharashtra hosts the largest single-state JEE Main, NEET, and CET cohorts in India. MHT-CET is the state-level entrance test; many candidates sit JEE Main, MHT-CET, and NEET in the same year.

Pass rates for KET (Maharashtra, India) are published periodically by the awarding body.

Common failure modes

These are the patterns that cause most candidates to lose marks on this topic. Recognising them in advance is half the work.

  • !Confusing present simple and present continuous for habitual vs current actions
  • !Missing the third-person singular -s (he go → he goes)
  • !Article errors: using "a" before vowel sounds, missing "the" for specific nouns

Study tips

  • 1Drill the present simple/continuous contrast daily: "I walk to school" (habit) vs "I am walking" (now).
  • 2Memorize the irregular past tenses: go → went, have → had, buy → bought, see → saw.
  • 3Practice the difference between a/an (first mention, general) and the (known, specific, second mention).
  • 4JEE Main and NEET are offered in Marathi (मराठी) at all Maharashtra centres — choose the medium that matches your school instruction medium for best comprehension speed.
  • 5For NEET: Maharashtra State CET Cell runs separate state-quota counselling alongside MCC all-India counselling — register for both to maximise admission chances.
  • 6Mumbai and Pune are the highest-density centres; book test slots within 30 minutes of your home pin code to avoid Mumbai monsoon-season transit delays on test day.

Sample KET Grammar Basics questions

These sample items mirror the format and difficulty of real KET questions. Practice with thousands more on the free Koydo question bank.

  1. 1

    She _____ TV when her phone rang.

    • Awatches
    • Bwatched
    • Cwas watchingCorrect
    • Dis watching
    Why this answer?

    "Was watching" (past continuous) is correct for an action in progress when another action interrupted it. The interrupting action (phone rang) is in the past simple.

  2. 2

    Can you pass me _____ salt, please?

    • Aa
    • Ban
    • CtheCorrect
    • Dsome
    Why this answer?

    "The salt" is correct — the speaker is referring to a specific salt that both speakers know about (it is on the table). "A" would imply it is not a specific known salt.

Frequently asked questions

How is grammar tested in A2 Key?
Grammar is not tested in isolation in A2 Key — it is assessed through all four skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking). The writing tasks (email/note writing) and reading gap-fill questions most directly test grammar accuracy.
What is the KET pass rate for Maharashtrian candidates?
Pass rates for KET candidates in Maharashtra, India are published periodically by the awarding body. Practice questions, full-length simulations, and weak-area drills are the highest-impact way to improve your odds.
How long should Maharashtrian candidates study Grammar Basics for the KET?
For most candidates, focused mastery of Grammar Basics requires 20–40 hours of deliberate practice — drilling sample questions, reviewing failure modes, and timing yourself against exam conditions. Maharashtra hosts the largest single-state JEE Main, NEET, and CET cohorts in India. MHT-CET is the state-level entrance test; many candidates sit JEE Main, MHT-CET, and NEET in the same year. Combine Grammar Basics study with full-length mock exams in the final two weeks before your test date.

Practice Cambridge KET (A2) free with Koydo.

Reading & Writing, Listening, and Speaking practice tasks.

Start free KET practice →Practice this topic with AI

Related study guides