Will Test Prep Help My Student Pass the KET Exam? (A2 Key Preparation Guide for Parents)
This article explains how KET exam preparation can be used to help your child pass the KET exam for kids.
Will Test Prep Really Help My Child Pass the KET Exam?
Yes.
No.
Maybe.
Honestly, it depends, because your kiddo isn’t like every other student. We’re going to take a look at your child's needs so you can optimize their KET exam preparation.
What Really Matters
Chart: KET Exam Prep Pyramid. English Skills are the Foundation (click image to enlarge)
The KET Exam Prep: English Is the Foundation
Foundational Skills: How well does your student know English? The key to passing the KET is to be able to communicate at the A2 level.For students who are A2, test prep is a good addition to their already strong skills.
The test prep that these kids need may focus more on tools that decrease test anxiety and increase test familiarity (format of the test, time constraints, and scoring).
Focusing only on sample test questions and practicing sample tests can give the student a small bump in their test-taking ability, potentially moving a score from a B+ to an A
Secondary skills: For students who may be borderline A1/A2, greater emphasis should be spent on English learning first. Test-taking skills that include reducing anxiety and learning the test format - although important - should have a lower priority than improving their actual English skills.
The key takeaway: Looking at the pyramid in the image, you can see that if your child already has the foundational English skill, then they may show some improvement from taking a course that focuses on skills that relieve anxiety/build confidence and test format.
Students who are borderline A1/A2 should enlist in prep courses that hone in primarily on English communication proficiency with anti-anxiety and test format knowledge as adjacent instruction.
Good Test Prep Looks Like This…
It focuses on English subject matter first. Understanding the test format benefits test-takers, but should be lower priority.
Novelty in the course helps motivation. Keeping students engaged in learning through projects, games and authentic learning can improve motivation, learning and, by extension, scores.
Test prep should teach skills that help students manage test anxiety. Learning skills to manage those emotions can positively impact a student's final score.
Sample questions and sample tests (i.e. learning the test format) are secondary to knowing the subject matter.
Test Prep "No-no's"
Heavy prep workloads can be counter-productive
No teacher wants students to lose interest in a class before they even begin. Increasing student workload with homework and sample tests can kill motivation and make an unproductive waste of time and money.
Excessive drills and practice outside of class can take away time from other important life skills of students at this age: Learning social skills while playing with friends, getting fresh air and exercise, or completing regular homework.
Too Much Emphasis on the Scores
It’s true that students may become more confident because of familiarity with the exam, but both anxiety and workload can increase when passing a test affects their personal identity or becomes an external mandate instead of an opportunity.
It matters how mom and dad perceive the KET exam. Parents who encourage their child to take the test for experience rather than simply to satisfy teacher/school requirements, perceive less pressure from the exam. Less pressure on Mom and Dad usually means less pressure on their kids.
Choosing the Right Teacher
Teacher Expertise
Well designed test prep is vital to a successful course. Also vital, the resources used and the teachers who lead the course.
Studies have shown that teacher understanding and expertise can affect test prep instruction. And instruction (for good or for bad) impacts learning.
The Impact of Materials and Resources
Additionally, the type of materials teachers choose can impact learning. One study pointed out that using commercial workbooks may improve student performance more than classes that primarily teach using practice tests or sample questions.
Focusing mainly on techniques like rote learning and drills don't provide the same overall benefits.
What does YOUR Child Need?
Chart: Three situations and recommendations for KET exam preparation(click image to enlarge)
Find the Right KET Exam Pre Approach For Your Child
Because children are in different places on their language-learning journeys, here are three options to consider:
Your child has strong English skills and strong emotion-regulating skills.
A few hours to learn the format of the Cambridge A2 Key exam during the weeks leading up to the date of the exam may be all that they need to feel fully confident.Your child is a solid level A2, but nervous about taking the test.
He or she may need to learn breathing techniques to help keep them calm before and during the exam.Maybe you are unsure how your child will do on the exam.
If you sense that your kiddo is right on the A1/A2 border, you may consider a more extended test prep.Ideally you'll want a course that comprises all three aspects: It focuses on English skills, teaches emotional regulation (anti-anxiety, confidence), and uses the Cambridge A2 Key exam format for in-class evaluation.
Can Mom and Dad teach KET exam prep?
Absolutely!
There are a multitude of Cambridge-related materials available online for free for parents who want to prepare their student for the exam. The downside? It can get overwhelming.
Parents are superheroes. But even superheroes can get overwhelmed. If you want to prepare your child, I have valuable topics and links to activities organized in a free KET exam preparation resource just for parents.
Of all the resources out there, you and your child are the most valuable. You know that when preparing for a test, encouraging your child, and reminding them that they are important no matter the final score, that is the most important thing.
The rest, as Americans say, is just icing on the cake.
The Bottom Line
Prioritize
Signing your child up for an exam prep course can be a big decision. Make sure the course meets his or her needs. Remember:
English level matters most
Reducing test can affect performance
Test prep does help students at A2 level
The best prep combines English skill, confidence, and test familiarity
KET Test Prep Options
Here are three of the options that I offer that you can consider for your child’s test prep (click for more information):
Self-paced - Focuses on each portion of the exam. Includes description of the format and scoring for each paper.
Best for students who are at the A2 level and want to work at their own pace.
Five-day Bootcamp - Live, online, small-group classes. Focuses on each portion of the exam.
Best for students who are at the A2 level and need more encouragement or individual attention.
10-week Intensive- Live, online, small-group classes. Focuses primarily on fluency, as well as confidence and test format).
Best for students who are at the A2 level and need more encouragement or individual attention.
References
If you are interested in a shortened version of the information, click the chart image to go to the tables containing the highlights.
Tables highlighting test prep research are available (click image to access)
All references for the studies are listed below:
Cambridge Assessment English
A2 Key (KET) Handbook for Teachers
https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/images/251638-a2-key-handbook.pdf
Council of Europe
Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)
https://www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages
Briggs, D. C. (2009)
Preparation for college admission tests
https://doi.org/10.3102/0162373709332513
Bangert-Drowns, R., Kulik, C., & Kulik, J. (1991)
Effects of coaching programs on achievement test performance
https://doi.org/10.3102/00346543061002101
Putwain, D., & Best, N. (2011)
The effects of fear appeals on test anxiety and performance
https://doi.org/10.1348/000709910X522634
Au, W. (2007)
High-stakes testing and curricular control
https://doi.org/10.3102/003465430298939
