The A2 Key for Schools and A2 Key exams are made up of three components developed to test learners’ English skills. You can see exactly what is in each component below.
The formats below are the same for both the digital and paper-based exams.
The A2 Key paper-based exam will be withdrawn after the last session in June 2026. It will still be available as a digital exam. A2 Key for Schools will still be available in both paper-based and digital formats.
| Component |
Content |
Marks
(% of total) |
Purpose |
Reading and Writing
(1 hour)
See sample paper |
7 parts /
32 questions |
50% |
Shows you can understand simple written information such as signs, brochures, newspapers and magazines. |
Listening
(30 minutes, including 6 minutes’ transfer time)
See sample paper |
5 parts /
25 questions |
25% |
Requires you to be able to understand announcements and other spoken material when people speak reasonably slowly. |
Speaking
(8–10 minutes per pair of candidates; 13–15 minutes per group of three)
See sample paper |
2 parts |
25% |
Shows you can take part in a conversation by answering and asking simple questions. Your Speaking test will be conducted face to face with one or two other candidates and two examiners. One of the examiners (who could be online, examining remotely) talks to you and the other examiner listens. This makes your test more realistic and more reliable. Examiners may use their mobile phones for entering marks using an app. |