Writing — Notes & Short Messages for the KET Exam

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.

• !Covering only two of the three required content points
• !Writing fewer than 25 words and not completing all points
• !Using complex structures that result in grammar errors — keep it simple

Study tips

• 1Practice planning before writing: identify the three content points and assign one sentence to each.
• 2Count your words after writing — aim for 28–33 words (slightly over minimum, well under the task limit).
• 3Use simple present and past tense — accuracy matters more than vocabulary range at A2.

Sample KET Writing — Notes & Short Messages 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

   Your English friend has asked you to recommend a café. Write a message: (1) recommend a café, (2) explain why you like it, (3) suggest a time to meet. Which is the best response?

   • A"I like coffee. Café is good."
   • B"Try the Blue Cup café on High Street! The food is great. Can you meet on Saturday at 2pm?"Correct
   • C"The café which is located near the central shopping area has been my favourite for many years because of its excellent range of beverages."
   • D"Go there. Good food. Saturday."
   Why this answer?

   Option B covers all three points (recommendation, reason, meeting time) in clear, accurate A2 language. Option A is too short and incomplete. Option C uses overly complex language with potential errors and does not give a meeting time. Option D is too brief and informal without full sentences.