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KET · Writing — Notes & Short Messages · France

Writing — Notes & Short Messages for the KET Exam — French candidates

12% of the KET test plan. Writing short notes, emails, and messages of 25–35 words at A2 level. Calibrated for French candidates.

High-stakes exams reward two skills equally: knowledge and test-craft. This page focuses on both for one of the most failure-prone areas. Writing — Notes & Short Messages sits at roughly 12% of the Cambridge Key English Test (A2) content distribution — A2 Key Writing Part 7 requires candidates to write a short message (25–35 words) that communicates three content points. The task is assessed on: communication (did you cover all three points?), organisation, and language accuracy. Missing even one content point loses significant marks. 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.

Pass rates for KET (France) 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.

  • !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.
  • 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 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.

Frequently asked questions

What is the word limit for A2 Key Writing?
The short message task requires 25 words minimum. There is no strict maximum, but writing much more than 35 words risks introducing errors. The examiners award marks for communicating the three points correctly, not for length.
What is the KET pass rate for French candidates?
Pass rates for KET candidates in France 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 French candidates study Writing — Notes & Short Messages for the KET?
For most candidates, focused mastery of Writing — Notes & Short Messages requires 20–40 hours of deliberate practice — drilling sample questions, reviewing failure modes, and timing yourself against exam conditions. France's domestic credentials are the Baccalauréat (school leaving) and DELF/DALF (French proficiency). IELTS and Cambridge are common for English certification. Combine Writing — Notes & Short Messages study with full-length mock exams in the final two weeks before your test date.

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