Exam Preparation
KET · PET · FCE: Cambridge Qualifications A2 to B2
From the end of primary school to high school, KET, PET and FCE are Cambridge’s main-suite exams, at CEFR A2, B1 and B2, with strong international recognition. This is PLI’s specialty: in these three exams, every PLI student has passed to date, a 100% pass rate.
Which Exam Fits Your Child?
| Exam | CEFR | Typical stage | What it proves |
|---|---|---|---|
| KET (A2 Key) | A2 | Upper elementary–junior high | First formal certificate after Flyers; basic communication |
| PET (B1 Preliminary) | B1 | Junior–senior high | Handles daily and school situations |
| FCE (B2 First) | B2 | Senior high | Internationally recognized independent-user level for study abroad and CVs |
How We Prepare Students
Past-Paper Strategy
Task-by-task breakdowns: reading techniques, writing templates with correction, listening keyword strategy. Not just English ability, but exam craft.
Speaking Is Our Strength
Speaking is where Taiwanese candidates lose the most marks. Weekly live practice with a native speaker makes exam day feel like a normal chat.
Individual Writing Feedback
Every essay gets detailed personal correction.
Aiming for study abroad? See our TOEFL · SAT courses next. Ready to register? Check exam dates and deadlines. Or compare Cambridge against GEPT.
How KET, PET and FCE are scored
All three are Cambridge main-suite exams, and results are reported as Cambridge English Scale scores. Grades A, B and C are all passes; a Grade A earns a certificate at the level above; and a candidate who falls short of the exam’s level but lands inside the level below still receives a certificate at that lower level.
| Exam | Papers and time | Grade B or C: own level | Grade A: level above | Level below |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KET (A2 Key) | 3 papers, about 2 hrs | 120–139 → A2 | 140–150 → B1 | 100–119 → A1 |
| PET (B1 Preliminary) | 4 papers, about 2 hrs 20 min | 140–159 → B1 | 160–170 → B2 | 120–139 → A2 |
| FCE (B2 First) | 4 papers, about 3.5 hrs | 160–179 → B2 | 180–190 → C1 | 140–159 → B1 |
Scores follow Cambridge’s own published results information. The for Schools versions of KET, PET and FCE have the same level, format and certificate as the standard versions; only the content is designed around the interests and experience of school-age learners. In Taiwan, LTTC’s for Schools exams are open only to students in senior high school and below. For all eight levels side by side, see Cambridge exam levels, Starters to C2.
From Flyers to KET
Flyers and KET are both CEFR A2, so the level is the same; the difference is how the exam works. Flyers results come as shields with no pass mark, while KET brings scores and grades. Cambridge says four or five shields in every Young Learners paper means a child can start preparing for the next Cambridge English Qualification, and after Flyers that is KET. For how to read the shields your child already has, see what the YLE shields mean.
How lessons work, and the free trial
KET, PET and FCE preparation runs as group classes (four students at most, grouped by age and level) or 1-on-1. Lessons are 45 minutes, fully online and taught personally by Teacher Matt, Monday to Saturday between 2:00 and 9:00 PM. In KET, PET and FCE, the Cambridge exams that do have a pass mark, every PLI student has passed to date.
The free 45-minute trial lesson is itself a full level assessment. Afterwards, Teacher Matt tells you which level fits your child now, which exam to register for, how far they are from the target and what to work on first. One LINE message books it, he usually replies the same day, and there is no lock-in contract.
Questions parents ask
What is the difference between KET, PET and FCE, and which should my child take?
KET is A2, PET is B1 and FCE is B2, each a level above the last. The broad map is KET and PET in junior high and FCE in senior high, but what really decides it is level, not grade. The free trial lesson doubles as a level assessment, and afterwards Teacher Matt will tell you straight which level your child should sit.
What score counts as a pass at KET?
120 or above is a pass. 120 to 139 is Grade C or B and earns an A2 certificate; 140 to 150 is Grade A, with a certificate stating B1 ability. 100 to 119 is not a pass but still earns an A1 certificate. KET and KET for Schools are scored the same way.
How long does it take to prepare for KET, PET or FCE?
It depends on your child’s starting point; allow 3 to 6 months as a general guide. With only eight weeks left, focus on exam format, listening and speaking rather than cramming vocabulary. Tell us about your child on LINE and we will give you an honest estimate.
Where do we register for KET, PET or FCE, and when are the exams?
Taiwan has more than one Cambridge exam centre: alongside yle.tw, the LTTC and the Taipei YMCA each run their own sessions and publish their own schedules. Dates and registration deadlines for each centre are collected on Cambridge exam dates.
Should my child take the Cambridge exams or GEPT?
If the school specifically asks for GEPT, take GEPT. If not, KET, PET and FCE carry broader international recognition. For how the two line up level by level, see Cambridge vs GEPT.
Book a Free 45-Minute Trial Lesson
One message on LINE is all it takes. Tell us your child's age and goals, and Teacher Matt will reply personally, usually the same day. The free trial doubles as a full level assessment. No lock-in contracts, and places are limited.