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KET · Topic Vocabulary · United Kingdom

Topic Vocabulary for the KET Exam — UK candidates

8% of the KET test plan. Thematic vocabulary sets for A2 Key: free time, travel, weather, sports, and jobs. Calibrated for British candidates.

Behind every published pass rate is a distribution of which topics caused most of the failures. This is one of those topics. 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 UK candidates preparing for KET, the calibration of study to local context matters: UK candidates often take exams for both domestic licensure (NMC, GMC) and migration purposes. IELTS UKVI is a separate, higher-stakes track.

Pass rates for KET (United Kingdom) 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.

  • !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.
  • 4In the UK, KET schedules and reschedules align with state holiday calendars and post-Brexit fee adjustments — confirm pricing on the awarding body's site before booking.

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. 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?
Based on past Cambridge A2 Key papers, the most frequent topics are: food and drink, free time activities, sports, travel, shopping, family and friends, and school/work. Candidates who know the key vocabulary for these 7 topics have strong coverage.
What is the KET pass rate for British candidates?
Pass rates for KET candidates in United Kingdom 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 British candidates study Topic Vocabulary for the KET?
For most candidates, focused mastery of Topic Vocabulary requires 20–40 hours of deliberate practice — drilling sample questions, reviewing failure modes, and timing yourself against exam conditions. UK candidates often take exams for both domestic licensure (NMC, GMC) and migration purposes. IELTS UKVI is a separate, higher-stakes track. Combine Topic Vocabulary study with full-length mock exams in the final two weeks before your test date.

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