Summary of PET There are three Papers in the Cambridge ESOL PET examination: Paper 1: Reading and Writing, Paper 2: Listening and Paper 3: Speaking. Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking are each worth 25% of the total marks. These are added together to determine the final grade: Pass with Merit, Pass, Narrow Fail and Fail.
PAPER 1
READING
Part
&
WRITING
Task
90 minutes
Number of questions
1
Answering multiple-choice questions about notices, postcards, labels, messages, e-mails, etc.
5
2
Matching descriptions of people to short texts describing accommodation, books, holidays, etc.
5
3
Answering true/false statements about an authentic adapted long text.
10
4
Answering multiple-choice questions about opinion, attitude, purpose and general meaning of an authentic adapted long text.
5
5
Choosing multiple-choice words to fill spaces in a short text.
10
Part
Task
Number of questions
1
Transforming sentences by adding one to three words to gap without altering the meaning of the sentence above.
5
2
Writing a short communicative message (35-45 words) including three specified pieces of information.
1
3
Writing either a letter or a story (approx. 100 words) on a given theme.
1
PAPER 2
Part 1 2 3 4
LISTENING
30 minutes*
Task
Number of questions
Answering multiple-choice picture questions about seven short recordings. Answering multiple-choice questions about a monologue or interview with one main speaker. Listening to one speaker giving an informational monologue and completing gaps in a sheet of notes or a form. Answering true/false statements about an informal dialogue between two speakers.
7 6 6 6
* + 6 minutes to transfer answers to answer sheetÂ
PAPER 3
Part
SPEAKING
10-12 minutes per pair
Task
Time
1
Responding to Examiner’s questions on personal information.
2-3 minutes
2
Discuss a situation in pairs on the basis of a picture provided by the Examiner.
2-3 minutes
3
Describing a colour photograph.
3 minutes
4
Discussing a topic related to Part 3 with your partner.
