PET PAPER 3: SPEAKING

The paper contains four parts. The standard format is two candidates and two examiners. One examiner acts as interlocutor and manages the interaction by asking questions and setting up the tasks. The other acts as assessor and does not join in the conversation.

Marks

Candidates are assessed on their performance thoughout the test. There are a total of 25 marks for Paper 3, making 25% of the total score for the whole examination. 

These are the four parts in detail: 

PAPER 3 : SPEAKING
PART	TASK TYPE AND FORMAT	FOCUS	TIMING
1	Each candidate interacts with the interlocutor. The interlocutor asks the candidates questions in turn, using standardised questions.	Giving information of a factual, personal kind. The candidates respond to questions about present circumstances, past experiences and future plans.	2-3 minutes
2	Simulated situation. Candidates interact with each other. Visual stimulus is given to the candidates to aid the discussion task. The interlocutor sets up the activity using a standardised rubric.	Using functional language to make and respond to suggestions, discuss alternatives, make recommendations and negotiate agreement.	2-3 minutes
3	Extended turn. A colour photograph is given to each candidate in turn and they are asked to talk about it for approximately a minute. Both photographs relate to the same topic.	Describing photographs and managing discourse, using appropriate vocabulary, in a longer turn.	3 minutes
4	General conversation. Candidates interact with each other. The topic of the conversation develops the theme established in Part 3. The interlocutor sets up the activity using a standardised rubric.	The candidates talk together about their opinions, likes/dislikes, preferences, experiences, habits, etc.	3 minutes

Examples of the four parts

PART 1

PART 2





PART 3





PART 4

Another complete example: 

PET PAPER 2: LISTENING

The paper contains 4 parts. Candidates will have about 30 minutes to complete them, plus 6 minutes to transfer answers. Each text is heard twice. Recordings will contain a variety of accents corresponding to standard variants of native-speaker accents.

Each item carries one mark. This gives a total of 25 marks, which represents 25% of total marks for the whole examination.

These are the four parts in detail:

PAPER 2 : LISTENING
PART	TASK TYPE AND FORMAT	TASK FOCUS	NUMBER OF QUESTIONS
1	Multiple choice (discrete). Short neutral or informal monologues or dialogues. Seven discrete 3-option multiple-choice items with visuals.	Listening to identify key information from short exchanges.	7
2	Multiple choice. Longer monologue or interview (with one main speaker). Six 3-option multiple-choice items.	Listening to identify specific information and detailed meaning.	6
3	Gap-fill. Longer monologue. Six gaps to fill in. Candidates need to write one or more words in each space.	Listening to identify, understand and interpret information.	6
4	True/False. Longer informal dialogue. Candidates need to decide whether six statements are correct or incorrect.	Listening for detailed meaning, and to identify the attitudes and opinions of the speakers.	6

Here you have an example of the Listening Paper of PET:

https://www.teachers.cambridgeesol.org/ts/digitalAssets/115930_PET_schl_L_Sample_Paper-2.pdf

Recording 1

Recording 2

Recording 3

Recording 4

PET PAPER 1: READING AND WRITING

The Reading component contains 5 parts and the Writing component contains 3 parts. Candidates will have 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete the two parts.

Marks

• Reading: Each of the 35 questions carries one mark. This is weighted so that this comprises 25% of total marks for the whole examination. 
• Writing: Questions 1-5 carry one mark each. Question 6 is marked out of 5; and question 7/8 is marked out of 20, weighted to 15. This gives a total of 25 which represents 25% of total marks for the whole examination. 

Let's see the two parts in detail: 

PAPER 1 : READING AND WRITING
READING
PART	TASK TYPE AND FORMAT	TASK FOCUS	NUMBER OF QUESTIONS
1	Three-option multiple choice. Five very short discrete texts: signs and messages, postcards, notes, emails, labels, etc.	Reading real-world notices and other short texts for the main message.	5
2	Matching. Five items in the form of descriptions of people to match to eight short adapted-authentic texts.	Reading multiple texts for specific information and detailed comprehension.	5
3	True/False. Ten items with and adapted-authentic long text.	Processing a factual text. Scanning for specific information while disregarding redundant material.	10
4	Four-option multiple choice. Five items with an adapted-authentic long text.	Reading for detailed comprehension; understanding attitude, opinion and writer purpose. Reading for gist, inference and global meaning.	5
5	Four-option multiple-choice cloze. Ten items, with an adapted-authentic text drawn from a variety of sources. The text is of a factual or narrative nature.	Understanding of vocabulary and grammar in a short text, and understanding the lexico-structural patterns in the text.	10
WRITING
PART	TASK TYPE AND FORMAT	TASK FOCUS	NUMBER OF QUESTIONS
1	Sentence transformations. Five items that are theme-related. Candidates are given sentences and then asked to complete similar sentences using a different structural pattern so that the sentence still has the same meaning. Candidates should use no more than three words.	Control and understanding of B1 level Cambridge English: Preliminary for Schools grammatical structures. Rephrasing and reformulating information.	5
2	Short communicative message. Candidates are prompted to write a short message in the form of a postcard, note, email, etc. The prompt takes the form of a rubric or short input text to respond to.	A short piece of writing  of 35-45 words focusing on communication of three specific content points.	1
3	A longer piece of continuous writing. Candidates are presented with a choice of two questions, an informal letter or a story. Candidates are assessed using assessment scales consisting of four subscales: Content, Communicative Achievement, Organisation and Language.	Writing about 100 words focusing on control and range of language.	1

Here you have an example of the Reading and Writing paper of PET: 

https://www.teachers.cambridgeesol.org/ts/digitalAssets/115928_PET_schl_RW_Sample_Paper_REVISED.pdf