Foundation English Test: Teacher Handbook
Summary
Introducing Foundation English Test (FET)
FET evaluates lower-level English skills (A1 to B1 of the CEFR) of students and job
seekers at a work related context. Designed and developed by the British Council, it is
delivered on a computer, has four components -Listening, Reading, Writing and
Speaking-, takes 80-90 minutes to be completed and its results are available in 40 hours.
How to use this guide:
This guide provides information on the test format, task types, CEFR levels and
underlying construct (what is being tested) in order to best prepare candidates. When
preparing candidates is important to:
- Utilise an action oriented approach.
- Fully understand the test format.
- Understand the CEFR scales.
- Teach to the construct.
- Assess lerners’ current level and confirm their target scores
I. Speaking Test
Part 1: Giving general information.
Candidates will hear five questions about themselves. 10 seconds to reply each one.
Sample questions:
Where do you live? When do you usually what TV? Who do you usually speak on the
phone? What do you like to read? How often do you listen to music?
Part 2: Giving personal information.
Candidates will hear three short questions about themselves. 30 seconds to reply each
one.
Sample questions:
Tell me about one of your parents; tell me about the streets near your home; tell me
about your favourite food.
Part 3: Giving work-related information.
Candidates will hear three short questions about work. 30 seconds to reply each one.
Sample questions:
Tell me about the kind of work people do in an office; tell me about a place where
people go after work; tell me about some of the things a schoolteacher does.
Part 4: Describing, comparing and giving reasions and explanations.
Candidates will see two set of photos. They will have to compare them and answer two
questions, 45 seconds for each one.
Sample questions:
What do you see in these two pictures? What would it be like to work in these two
places? Which of these two places would you prefer to work in? Why?
II. Listening test
Three parts, candidates can listen to the recordings twice.
Part 1: Recognising information
Candidates will listen to a short telephone message, monologue or dialogue. They will
have to chose the correct answer from three options. Recordings are 30 to 40 seconds
long.
Questions focus on concrete information. Candidates will have to listen for specific
details, most of them words or numbers.
Part 2: Matching people and ideas
Candidates will listen to four people talking about a topic, each one speaking for 30
seconds. They will have to match the speaker to their response from the options given.
Questions focus on concrete information. Candides will have to listen for specific
details, most of them words or numbers.
III. Reading test
Three parts, each question harder than the previous one.
Part 1: Understanding sentences
Candidates will read a short text with a gap in each sentence. They will have to choose
one word from the options given to fill each gap.
The text simulates a real-world text and targets a A1 learner, therefore is short, simple
and covers a familiar topic. Candidate should focus on choosing the most appropiate
word.
Part 2: Re-ordering sentences
The text is 40–50 words long. Candidates will see a text with six sentences. The first
sentence is in the correct place. The remaining are out of order. They will have to put
them in the correct order to makea short clear text.
Candidates need to understand this text as a whole; topic is familiar and concrete, and
vocabulary is commonly used.
Part 3: Matching people and ideas
The text is 90–100 words long. Candidates will read four short paragraphs on a topic.
Each paragraph gives one person’s ideas and opinions on the topic. They will then see
seven opinions. Candidates must match the opinion to the person. Each paragraph is 70–
80 words long.
Task requires candidate to read and understand a short paragraph. They need to
understand the main idea and arrive at an opinion.
IV. Writing test
It has four parts, includes social media-type texts and emails.
Part 1: Writing words and phrases
Candidates will read six short messages asking to give simple information about
themselves. The first sentence is an example. They will need to write short answers to
the next five messages (1–5 words).
One word or short answers are enough. Spelling mistakes are not penalised.
Part 2: Writing and linking sentences
Candidates will read a question about themselves. They will then write a short answer
(20–30 words).
This task tests:
Topic relevance; sentence formation; use of connectors; punctuation and spelling;
simple gramatical structures.
Genre: form filling / providing personal details.
The targeted functions are: describing people, places, jobs, likes/dislikes, interests,
habits, routines and past experiences.
Part 3: Writing and linking sentences
Candidates will read a question about work and write a short answer (20–30 words).
This task tests:
Topic relevance; sentence formation; use of connectors; punctuation and spelling;
simple gramatical structures.
Genre: Form filling / providing personal details in contexto f work.
The targeted functions are: describing people, places, jobs, likes/dislikes, interests,
habits, routines and past experiences.
Part 4: Writing paragraphs
Candidates will see three social media-type questions about work. They will then write
answers to all three questions (30–40 words for each answer).
The task tests:
Answering the question relevantly and completely; control of simole grammatical
structures; attempting complex structures; sufficient vocabulary for the question;
creating a linear sequence of events using cohesive devices.
Genre: online chat / discusión fórum
Targeted fuctions:
Describing people, places, jobs, likes / dislikes, interests, habits, routines, past
experiences, feelings, emotions, attitudes, hopes, plans, expressions of opinions,
agreement or disagreement.
Results
Results are presented in two ways:
- A score from 0 to 20 for each of the four skills tested.
- A CEFR level for each skill.
