KET · Topic Vocabulary · France
Topic Vocabulary for the KET Exam — French candidates
8% of the KET test plan. Thematic vocabulary sets for A2 Key: free time, travel, weather, sports, and jobs. Calibrated for French candidates.
Examiners do not award marks for content alone — they award them for the ability to demonstrate competency in the precise format the test demands. Topic Vocabulary sits at roughly 8% of the Cambridge Key English Test (A2) content distribution — A2 Key uses topic-based vocabulary across all skills. Key topics include: free time and entertainment, travel and holidays, weather, sports, jobs, and education. Candidates who learn vocabulary in context (whole phrases, not isolated words) respond more naturally in speaking and writing. Pass rates for the KET are published annually by the awarding body and vary by cohort and locale. For French candidates preparing for KET, the calibration of study to local context matters: France's domestic credentials are the Baccalauréat (school leaving) and DELF/DALF (French proficiency). IELTS and Cambridge are common for English certification.
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.
- !Knowing single words but not collocations (play football, do exercise, go swimming)
- !Confusing "job" topics: architect/doctor/teacher vs work activities
- !Using the wrong weather vocabulary — warm/hot/cool/cold precision matters
Study tips
- 1Learn A2 vocabulary in collocations: do homework, make a phone call, go for a walk, take a photo.
- 2Study job vocabulary: job titles, workplace vocabulary, and verbs for job duties.
- 3For travel, learn the airport and hotel vocabulary set: check in, boarding pass, suitcase, reservation.
- 4Les candidats français préparant le KET doivent privilégier les ressources alignées sur le CECRL — les niveaux B2 et C1 sont systématiquement attendus pour les programmes de mobilité internationale.
Sample KET Topic Vocabulary questions
These sample items mirror the format and difficulty of real KET questions. Practice with thousands more on the free Koydo question bank.
- 1
Choose the correct collocation: "I always _____ my homework before dinner."
- Amake
- Btake
- CdoCorrect
- Dhave
Why this answer?
"Do homework" is the correct collocation in English. "Make" is used for make a mistake/make a decision; "take" for take a photo/take a break; "have" for have a meal/have a shower. Collocations must be learned as fixed phrases.
Frequently asked questions
Which topics come up most in A2 Key exams?
What is the KET pass rate for French candidates?
How long should French candidates study Topic Vocabulary for the KET?
Practice Cambridge KET (A2) free with Koydo.
Reading & Writing, Listening, and Speaking practice tasks.
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