I'm an EFL teacher with 3 years of experience and I've decided to pursue the full TKT suite — Modules 1, 2, and 3. My question is about sequencing. Most guidance says do Module 1 first since it covers the foundational language framework the other modules build on, but I've also seen teachers say Module 3 is easier to start with because it's closest to what you actually do in the classroom every day.
I've been using a tkt mock test to gauge where I'm starting from, and my Module 1 diagnostic is weaker than my Module 3 score. I know how to manage a classroom and handle lesson delivery, but terminology like “lexical chunk,” “affix,” and “phoneme” in a formal test context is shakier than I'd like. I'm aiming for Band 4 across all three modules.
My timeline is about 16 weeks total — I was thinking 6 weeks per module with 2 weeks buffer, studying 1 hour on weekdays. Does that feel realistic? And is there meaningful overlap between modules that makes studying them in sequence more efficient, or are they basically independent?
Band 4 is absolutely achievable in 16 weeks. I passed all three in about 14 weeks studying 45 minutes a day. Module 1 took me the longest because the terminology was new, but by Module 3 I was moving faster because I'd built a framework. Your 6-6-2 plan with buffer sounds solid.
The Cambridge TKT Handbook is free and outlines exactly what each module tests — download it and use it as your study roadmap. The glossary in the back is the single most valuable study aid for Module 1. I highlighted every term I couldn't define confidently and worked through them systematically.
3 years of classroom experience makes Module 3 feel natural but don't underestimate it — the exam asks you to identify teaching strategies and lesson phase purposes in precise Cambridge terms, not just describe what you'd do. I nearly failed Module 3 because I described things in my own words instead of the expected terminology.
Do Module 1 first. The linguistic terminology it introduces — syntax, morphology, phonology basics — does appear in Module 2 questions about how language is taught. If you learn Module 1 vocabulary first, some Module 2 prep happens passively. Going Module 3 first means you'll hit unfamiliar terms later when you're already tired of studying.