Who is TKT for?

TKT gives teachers a strong foundation in the core areas of teaching knowledge needed in the English language teaching classroom. It is ideal for all teachers, whatever your background and teaching experience, and is also suitable for people who would like to teach English but do not yet have a teaching position.

There are no formal entry requirements. However, anyone wishing to take TKT is strongly advised to have at least an intermediate level of English - level B1 of the Council of Europe's Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) - eg PET, IELTS band score of 4.

What does TKT involve?

Most teachers are likely to follow a preparation course before taking the test but you can also prepare yourself through your own reading and study, if you prefer.

TKT has three core modules. These can be taken together in one exam session or separately, in any order, over three sessions. Each module consists of a test of 80 objective questions, lasting 80 minutes, which require you to select the correct answer and mark this on a computerised answer sheet.

Module 1 - Language and background to language learning and teaching

• Describing language and language skills.
• Background to language learning.
• Background to language teaching.

Module 2 - Planning lessons and use of resources for language teaching

• Planning and preparing a lesson or sequence of lessons.
• Selection and use of resources and materials.

Module 3 - Managing the teaching and learning process

• Teachers' and learners' language in the classroom.
• Classroom management.

What is CLIL?

TKT: Content and Language Integrated Learning tests a candidate's knowledge of Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) and the practice of planning, teaching and assessing curriculum subjects taught in English.

CLIL describes an evolving approach to teaching and learning where subjects are taught and studied through the medium of a non-native language. In CLIL, learning a curricular subject in a second, third or sometimes fourth language involves best practice from a range of different educational contexts.

There are many advantages to the CLIL approach: it develops learners' skills and understanding, enhances their cognitive processes and communication skills and encourages intercultural understanding.

The global need for language learning, particularly for English, means the potential for CLIL is enormous. For teachers of other curriculum subjects, being able to add language teaching to their existing skills could be the key to greater career opportunities. For language teachers, an understanding of how to teach a broader range of curricular subjects is a challenge for the 21st century.

TKT: Content and Language Integrated Learning is suitable for pre or in-service teachers and for international candidates teaching across all sectors of education: primary, secondary and tertiary. It will be of particular interest to:

• content teachers who need to teach their subjects in English, or who want to add language teaching to their portfolio of skills
• English language teachers who are required to teach curricular subjects in a second, third or further additional languages
• classroom assistants working in CLIL contexts
• English as an Additional Language (EAL) teachers who have non-native speaker students in their classes.

There are no formal entry requirements. However, anyone wishing to take TKT: Content and Language Integrated Learning is strongly advised to have at least an intermediate level of English - Level B1of the Council of Europe's Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) - e.g. PET, IELTS band score of 4. Candidates should also familiarise themselves with the language of teaching as represented in the TKT and CLIL glossaries.

Successful candidates are likely to have at least some experience of teaching school subjects through English.

What does TKT: Content and Language Integrated Learning test?

TKT: Content and Language Integrated Learning tests knowledge about content teaching in a target language and the learning, thinking and language skills which are developed across different curriculum subjects. It tests knowledge of how to plan lessons as well as knowledge of activities and resources used to support a CLIL approach. It also tests knowledge of lesson delivery and how assessment is carried out in CLIL contexts.

TKT: Content and Language Integrated Learning does not test subject specific knowledge but tests awareness of the skills that are taught across all subjects.

The exam format

TKT: Content and Language Integrated Learning is an optional module of TKT and follows that exam's format. It consists of a single paper lasting 1 hour and 20 minutes and containing 80 questions. There are two parts to the test:

Areas of knowledge

• Knowledge of CLIL and Principles of CLIL (25 questions)
• Planning, Teaching and Assessing

For detailed information on this exam please visit the Cambridge English website: http://www.cambridgeesol.org/exams/teaching-awards/clil.html

English teachers need to be both linguistically aware and able to understand the difficulties students may encounter in the language learning process. To help meet this need, TKT: Knowledge About Language tests a candidate's knowledge of the language systems needed by teachers for planning and teaching their lessons.

TKT: Knowledge About Language is suitable for pre or in service teachers and for international candidates teaching across all sectors of education: primary, secondary and tertiary.

There are no formal entry requirements. However, anyone wishing to take TKT: Knowledge About Language is strongly advised to have at least an upper intermediate level of English - Level B2 of the Council of Europe's Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) - e.g. FCE.

What does TKT: Knowledge About Language test?

TKT: Knowledge About Language tests a candidate's knowledge of the language systems needed by teachers for planning and teaching their lessons. It tests knowledge of how the different features of English work from a teaching perspective. TKT: Knowledge About Language also focuses on the teacher's awareness of the language needs of learners, and the difficulties involved in learning a second language.

The exam format

TKT: Knowledge About Language is an optional module of TKT and follows that exam's format. It consists of a single paper lasting 1 hour and 20 minutes and containing 80 questions.

The exam is divided into four parts, testing the candidate's knowledge of the lexical, phonological, grammatical, and discoursal features of English from a teaching perspective:

• Lexis
• Phonology
• Grammar
• Discourse

The four sections of the exam also test the candidate's awareness of the needs of language learners (e.g. understanding of concepts, meaning and forms; working with interlanguage; errors and other linguistic difficulties).

For more information please visit the Cambridge ESOL website: http://www.cambridgeesol.org/exams/teaching-awards/kal.html

Que és YL Test?

TKT: YL (Young Learners) is a specialist module of the Cambridge ESOL Teaching Knowledge Test (TKT) that focuses on teaching young learners aged 6 -12. This award will increase your confidence as a teacher and help you progress in your teaching career.

What does TKT: YL test?

It tests candidates on their knowledge of:

• concepts relating to young learner learning and developments and the principles of teaching English to young learners (key characteristics of children as language learners, developing learning/cognitive/communication strategies through language learning),
• how to plan young learner lessons (components of lesson plans, providing support and challenge, materials and resources),
• the practice of teaching young learners (classroom language, scaffolding techniques and strategies, practice activities, classroom management),
• the practice of assessing young learner learning in the classroom (purposes and focus of different types of classroom-based assessment, acting on assessment evidence).

Text format

TKT: YL consists of four parts, comprising 80 questions. Candidates are allowed 1 hour 20 minutes, and for all parts candidates indicate their answers by shading the correct lozenges on an answer sheet. Pencils must be used and answers shaded firmly. Erasers can be used to rub out and change answers. All questions are objectively marked right or wrong, and the task types used are 3-option multiple choice;1-1 matching; 3/4/5-option matching; odd one out. Each question carries one mark.

Who's it for?

TKT: YL (Young Learners) is suitable for:

• teachers who teach young learners aged 6 - 12
• teachers who will teach this age group in the future
• classroom assistants who work with young learners aged 6 - 12, or who will work with this age group in the future

TKT: YL is suitable for those who have English as a second or other language as well as first language speakers of English. There are no entry requirements for TKT: YL.