TKT Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield TKT facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. 11. She doesn't like playing volleyball. → Gerund
2. 21. Please refer to the box _______ details of our shoes for further information. → describing
3. What does 'bottom-up processing' in reading involve? → Decoding text by recognizing letters, words, and sentences
4. Which of the following is the most important reason for a teacher to adapt a coursebook activity? → To ensure the activity is more relevant to the learners' specific needs and interests.
5. What is the role of the 'P-P-P' framework in language teaching? → Present, Practise, Produce — a three-stage lesson structure for teaching new language
6. What is 'intonation' in spoken language? → The rise and fall of pitch in spoken language, used to convey meaning and attitude
7. Which type of reading is used when a student looks for a specific phone number in a directory? → Scanning
8. Which learning strategy involves a learner deliberately paying attention to how a word is spelled or pronounced in order to remember it? → Memory strategy
9. Which of the following best describes the language function of 'Could you possibly open the window?' → Making a polite request
10. The main aim of a lesson is 'to practice writing a formal email of complaint.' Which of the following would be the most appropriate subsidiary aim? → To review appropriate formal vocabulary and fixed expressions.
11. What is the function of a discourse marker such as 'however' in a text? → To signal a contrast or contradiction between ideas
12. 17. They have recently been _______ more art materials. → ordering
13. According to Stephen Krashen's Monitor Model, the 'monitor' is the part of the learner's mind that: → uses consciously learned rules to edit and correct language output.
14. What does the term 'connotation' refer to in vocabulary study? → The emotional or cultural associations a word carries
15. What is the purpose of post-reading activities in a lesson? → To extend understanding and allow learners to respond to the text
16. What is the term for the grammatical relationship between a verb and the subject or object it is associated with? → Concord
17. A key feature of CLIL is that language is acquired naturally through use. This means that in a CLIL classroom, there is typically a greater emphasis on: → Fluency and communication over accuracy.
18. What is 'washback' in the context of language testing? → The effect a test has on how teachers teach and learners learn in preparation for the test
19. In the context of language learning, what is 'comprehensible input'? → Language that is slightly above the learner's current level but still understandable
20. Which of the following teaching approaches prioritises developing learners' ability to communicate in real-life situations over grammatical accuracy? → Communicative Language Teaching (CLT)
21. In the context of describing language, what does 'syntax' refer to? → The rules for combining words to form sentences.
22. A teacher wants students to practice the reading subskill of 'skimming'. Which instruction would be most appropriate? → "Read the article quickly to understand the main topic and the writer's general opinion."
23. 14. Please read the ingredients ______ in the box. → contained
24. What does the term 'phoneme' refer to? → The smallest unit of sound that can distinguish meaning in a language
25. In which approach does the teacher use a text or situation to help learners discover grammar rules for themselves? → Inductive approach
26. What is the main advantage of pre-teaching key vocabulary before a reading task? → It reduces comprehension barriers so learners can focus on meaning
27. What is the main characteristic of 'communicative competence' as defined by Canale and Swain? → The ability to use language appropriately and effectively in social contexts
28. Which feature of spoken English is illustrated when a speaker says 'gonna' instead of 'going to'? → Weak form and reduction
29. What grammatical term describes the underlined word in this sentence: 'She enjoys SWIMMING in the lake'? → Gerund
30. 22. Down payments on new cars should _______ within 15 days of the date of contract. → be received