Cambridge A2 Key Foundations Course

A2 Key tests the everyday words people use at home, school, work, in shops and while travelling. Learn words in topic groups and build word families so you can understand and use more English with the same base word.

• Group words by topics such as food, clothes, travel and free time.
• Learn word families like help, helpful and helpless.
• Study common verbs with their partners: have lunch, take a photo, go shopping.
• Write each new word in a short sentence about your own life.

Topic grid: make five columns for food, clothes, travel, free time, and school. Add three new words to each column every day and use each word in a sentence about your own life. This makes vocabulary easier to recall in the exam.

For word families, keep the base word visible: help, helpful, helpless, helper. Change the suffix and say the sentence aloud to fix the spelling and pronunciation together.

A2 Key grammar is practical. Practise the present simple for habits, the present continuous for actions now, and the past simple for completed events. Also learn can, must and should to talk about ability, rules and advice.

• Use present simple for routines: I usually have cereal for breakfast.
• Use present continuous for now: She is waiting at the bus stop.
• Use past simple for finished actions: We visited the museum yesterday.
• Compare things with -er, more and the most: cheaper, more expensive, the cheapest.

Tense contrast drill: write two sentences about the same situation, one routine and one current action: "I usually walk to work, but today I am taking the bus." Then change the time word and rewrite in the past: "Yesterday I took the bus."

For modals, learn the purpose first: can for ability, must for rules, should for advice. Test yourself with a matching exercise, then use each modal in a sentence.

Key Reading includes signs, notices, messages and short texts. Read every word of a sign before choosing an answer, because words like no or only change the meaning completely.

• Look for negative words such as no, not, never and without.
• Underline key information in short texts before answering.
• Match options to the text by comparing exact words.
• Skim first for the main idea, then read the question again.

Sign reading rule: read the whole sign, not just the first word. "No bicycles after 5 pm" is not the same as "bicycles after 5 pm"; the word no changes the whole meaning. Underline negatives and time limits before comparing options.

For short texts, read the question first, then find the exact part of the text that answers it. Do not choose an option just because it contains a word from the text; the meaning must also match.

In the Writing paper you write a short message and a short story. For the message, include a greeting, the main reason for writing, the important details and a closing sentence.

• Answer every point in the instructions.
• Keep sentences short and simple.
• Use and, but, because and then to connect ideas.
• Check spelling and basic grammar before finishing.

Message checklist: greeting, reason, details, question or request, closing. Write short sentences and answer every point in the task. For the story, choose a simple beginning, middle and end, and use time words: first, then, after that, finally.

Before finishing, read the message as if you were the reader. Would you know what to do? If not, add the missing detail. Check spelling of common words like friend, money, and tomorrow.

Good exam strategy helps you use your time well. Read the instructions, answer easy questions first, and always leave time to check. When you are not sure, eliminate options you know are wrong.

• Spend about one minute per reading question and save time for checking.
• Do not leave blank answers; make your best choice.
• Check transferred answers against the question paper.
• Practise under time limits so the exam feels familiar.

Pacing rule: answer easy questions first and mark hard ones. For reading, one minute per question is a safe speed; after each part, glance at the clock. Never leave a blank answer: eliminate wrong options and make your best choice.

Build exam stamina with short timed sets: 15 questions in 15 minutes, then check the answers and write the reason for each mistake. Repeat until the routine feels natural.