1. PET Contents and
Exam Overview
for Schools
Page Paper Task Type Task Description
3–28 Paper 1: Reading Reading Reading
and Writing Part 1: 3-option Part 1: Understand the main message from
• 1 hour 30 minutes multiple-choice cloze (5 short texts such as signs, emails, etc.
• Reading: 5 parts; Qs) Part 2: Read for specific information in order to
35 questions Part 2: Matching (5 Qs) match people to short texts
• Writing: 3 parts; 7 Part 3: True/False (10 Part 3: Scan a long factual text
questions Qs) Part 4: Read a long text for detail, attitude,
• All questions Part 4: 4-option multiple opinion, writer purpose, gist, inference and
carry one mark, choice (5 Qs) global meaning
except Writing Part 5: 4-option Part 5: Complete a factual or narrative text,
Part 2 (5 marks) multiple-choice cloze (10 requiring understanding of the vocabulary and
and Writing Part 3 Qs) grammar patterns
(15 marks) Writing Writing
• The Reading and Part 1: Sentence Part 1: Rephrase and reformulate information,
Writing sections transformations (5 Qs) using appropriate grammatical structures
each account for Part 2: Short Part 2: Write a short message (35–45 words)
25% of the total communicative and communicate 3 content points
marks for PET message Part 3: Choose either an informal letter or a
Part 3: Longer piece of story and write about 100 words. Candidates
continuous writing are assessed on control of language,
organisation, spelling and punctuation
29–42 Paper 2: Listening Part 1: Multiple-choice Part 1: Identify key information in short
• 30 minutes (discrete) (7 Qs) monologues or dialogues. Select appropriate
(approx) Part 2: Multiple choice image.
• 4 parts (6 Qs) Part 2: Listen for specific information in a
• 25 questions Part 3: Gap-fill (6 Qs) longer monologue
• All questions Part 4: True/False (6 Qs) Part 3: Identify, understand and interpret
carry one mark information in a longer monologue
• 25% of the total Part 4: Listen for details, attitudes and
marks opinions in a dialogue
43–48 Paper 3: Speaking Part 1: Interlocutor Part 1: Factual, personal questions about the
• 10–12 minutes asks the candidates past, present and future
per pair of questions in turn (2–3 Part 2: Using a visual stimulus, candidates
candidates minutes) discuss alternatives, make recommendations
• 4 parts Part 2: Candidates and negotiate agreement
• 25% of the total interact in a simulated Part 3: Candidates describe a colour
marks situation (2–3 minutes) photograph, using appropriate vocabulary, for
Part 3: Extended about 1 minute
individual turn (3 Part 4: Candidates talk about opinions, likes/
minutes) dislikes, preferences, experiences, habits, etc.
Part 4: General
conversation between
candidates (3 minutes)
Sample exam material has been reproduced from the PET for Schools Handbook for Teachers, with the kind permission of
Cambridge ESOL
www.CambridgeESOL.org/Resources/Teacher
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