TKT Module 1 - A quick overview
Timing and number of questions:
This module takes 1 hour 20 minutes and consists of 80 objective questions.
Question groupings:
Questions are grouped into tasks within the module
Marks and bands:
One mark is given for each correct answer. *A band is awarded according to the number of correct answers out of 80 questions.
Band 1: 0 – 15
Band 2: 16 – 44
Band 3: 45-69
Band 4: 70-80
*General figures only. Subject to change.
Question types:
Multiple-choice and matching questions
Paper-based or computer-based:
Paper-based (a supervised test at a Camabridge authorized exam centre)
Sections of TKT Module 1
Module 1 is divided up into three parts:
1. Describing language and language skills
2. Background to language learning and
3. Background to language teaching
TKT Module 1 (Part 1) - Describing language and language skills
The content covered
Concepts and terminology for describing language:
grammar, lexis, phonology and functions.
Concepts and terminology for describing language skills and sub-skills:
ex: reading for gist, listening for specific information
Number of tasks and questions
There are six tasks consisting of 40 questions.
Lesson components you need to know
(1) reading, writing, speaking and listening and their subskills
(2) features of spoken and written texts
(3) parts of speech
(4) the forms and use of grammatical structures
(5) types of meaning
(6) word formation
(7) word groupings
(8) register
(9) International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) symbols
(10) phonemes, word/sentence stress, intonation and connected speech
(11) context
(12) levels of formality and appropriacy
TKT Module 1 (Part 2) - Background to language learning
The content covered
Factors in the language-learning process, including:
The range of different factors that can affect how learners learn. You also need to be able to identify examples of these factors and to relate them to their implications for teachers and teaching.
Number of tasks and questions
There are three tasks consisting of 15 questions.
Lesson components you need to know
(1) motivation
(2) exposure to language and focus on form
(3) the role of error
(4) the differences between L1 and L2 learning
(5) learner characteristics
(6) learner needs
TKT Module 1 (Part 3) - Background to language teaching
The content covered
The range of methods, tasks, activities and terminology available to the language teacher, including:
presentation techniques and introductory activities
practice activities and tasks for language and skills development
assessment types and tasks
Number of tasks and questions
There are four tasks consisting of 25 questions.
Lesson components you need to know
(1) introductory activities (e.g. warmers, lead-ins)
(2) common ways of presenting language
(3) the design and purpose of a range of common comprehension and production tasks and activities
(4) teaching terms
(5) frameworks for activities and tasks (Present-Practice-Produce, Task-Based Learning, Total Physical Response, the Lexical Approach, Grammar-Translation, Test-Teach-Test, guided discovery etc.)
(6) purposes for assessment (e.g. diagnostic, placement, achievement, formative, progress, proficiency)
(7) methods of assessment (e.g. self, peer, portfolio, formal, informal)
(8) the design and purpose of a range of tasks and activities
Six steps to TKT exam success
Get your learning materials ready
Cambridge TKT Handbook
TKT Glossary
TKT Cambridge website (for lessons)
google.com (for reference)
TKT Cambridge Facebook Group and Page.
Past question papers and sample papers.
Make mind-maps on lessons
Go through the syllabuses mentioned in the TKT Handbook.
Create a mind-map based on the organization of topics and subtopics in each lesson.
Use different colours, artwork and add some creativity into them!
Create flashcards on glossary terms
Read and understand the definitions of terms under a particular category in the glossary.
Google any difficult term for better understanding.
Create flashcards on each of the terms.
Study the lessons
Follow the FREE courses on TKT Cambridge website.
Write down key facts in brief under the relevant category of the relevant mind-map.
Google any information that you don’t understand.
Revise the lessons
Time to time go through your mind-maps to improve your retention.
Check how good you are with recalling and explaining definitions in the flashcards.
Post your questions to TKT Cambridge Facebook Group.
Follow the posts on TKTCambridge Facebook Page.
Do practice tests
Always do the practice tests under same exam conditions — set the time!
Try your best to answer the first half (the first 40 questions) within 20 minutes.
There are few past papers available online and there are some sample papers in the TKT Handbook.
Click here for our most popular and challenging online practice test on TKT Module 1.