TKT Practice Test

TKT Exam at a Glance

What changed for TKT in 2026

• Oct 25, 2026: Registration opens changed to Through an authorised TKT centre (previously registration: directly with an authorised TKT centre).^[2]
• Oct 25, 2026: Delivery changed to Digital or paper-based, at an authorised centre (previously Digital and paper-based; digital available 365 days a year).^[1]
• Oct 16, 2026: Time limit changed to 80 minutes per module (previously minutes per module: 80).^[1]

Compared to other TEFL certifications like CELTA (which can cost $1,500+), the TKT qualification is an affordable way to validate your teaching skills and boost your employability. English language teachers may also find our IELTS practice test useful for professional development. Practice with the free TKT - Teaching Knowledge practice test on PracticeTestGeeks (250+ questions with answer explanations).

If you are searching for a TKT module 1 practice test, start with the free questions on this page: every answer comes with an explanation, and the study notes below cover the TKT exam topics in order.

Free TKT - Teaching Knowledge Test Study Tools

Interactive TKT - Teaching Knowledge Test resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:

• TKT Practice Test (Module 1 Unit 1 Grammatical Terms) — 25 questions with instant scoring and answer explanations
• TKT - Teaching Knowledge Test flashcards — review key terms and concepts card by card
• TKT - Teaching Knowledge Test study guide — topic-by-topic overview of what the exam covers
• TKT - Teaching Knowledge Test cheat sheet — one-page printable summary for last-minute review

TKT Module 1 Practice Test PDF and Online Practice

Many teachers search for a TKT Module 1 practice test PDF to print and annotate. The most reliable printable material is the official Module 1 handbook and sample tasks published by Cambridge English, which show the real task types. To practise beyond those samples, use the free online TKT Module 1 questions on this page, where every answer includes an explanation you can copy into your own notes.

Module 1, Background to language learning and teaching, tests knowledge of teaching terminology and concepts rather than your classroom performance. Questions use objective formats such as matching and multiple choice, so there is no essay writing. When you review a printed or online practice set, group the questions by the three areas the module covers.

• Describing language and language skills: grammar, lexis, phonology, functions and the four skills.
• Background to language learning: learner motivation, first-language influence, errors and learning styles.
• Background to language teaching: teaching approaches, activity types and assessment terms.

Keep a running glossary of terms such as phoneme, scaffolding and L1, and revisit the ones you miss. For more drills, try the TKT flashcards and the TKT cheat sheet.

According to Cambridge University Press & Assessment, “Each module is assessed with an 80-question test made up of multiple-choice and matching questions.”^[1]

TKT content outline and where to practise each area

The content areas below are copied from the official TKT content outline published by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.

Worked examples: how to reason through TKT questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: Which of the following is an example of collocation?

1. Fast car and quick car (synonyms)
2. Make a decision (verb + noun combination)
3. Running, jogging, sprinting (lexical set)
4. 'Could' expressing possibility (modal meaning)

Answer: B. Make a decision (verb + noun combination)

Explanation:

B is correct. 'Make a decision' is a collocation: a verb and noun that native speakers habitually use together. We say 'make a decision', not 'do a decision'.

A describes synonyms, which are words with similar meanings. It is a useful trap, because 'fast car' is a natural pairing while 'quick car' sounds odd, so synonyms do not always combine in the same way. C is a lexical set, a group of words linked by topic or meaning, here ways of moving fast on foot. D is about the meaning of a modal verb, which is grammar and function, not a pairing of words.

Rule to remember: a collocation is about which words naturally sit together. If swapping in a synonym makes the phrase sound wrong, you are probably looking at a collocation.

Example 2

Question: Which of the following describes a 'slip' rather than an 'error'?

1. A student consistently says 'he go' because they haven't learned the third-person 's'.
2. A student says 'I have 20 years' due to influence from their first language.
3. An advanced student, speaking quickly, says 'They is coming' but immediately says 'Sorry, they are coming'.
4. A beginner uses 'goed' instead of 'went' because they are overgeneralising the '-ed' past simple rule.

Answer: C. An advanced student, speaking quickly, says 'They is coming' but immediately says 'Sorry, they are coming'.

Explanation:

C is correct. The learner is advanced, is speaking quickly, and corrects 'They is coming' straight away. That shows they know the form and the mistake was a performance lapse, which is a slip.

A is an error, because the student consistently says 'he go' and has not yet learned the third-person 's'. B is also an error, caused by transfer from the first language, and it is likely to repeat. D is a developmental error: the beginner is applying the '-ed' rule too widely, which shows a gap in knowledge, not carelessness.

Rule to remember: a slip is unsystematic and the learner can usually self-correct. An error is systematic and reflects what the learner has not yet learned. Look for self-correction and consistency in the question.

Example 3

Question: 4. Wait a minute, I'm thinking.

1. Gerund
2. Present Participle
3. Reported Statement
4. Passive Voice

Answer: B. Present Participle

Explanation:

B is correct. In 'Wait a minute, I'm thinking', the word 'thinking' follows 'am' and together they form the present continuous. The -ing form that works as part of a verb phrase in this way is the present participle.

A, gerund, is wrong because a gerund works as a noun, as in 'Thinking is hard work'. Here it is not the name of an activity but part of the verb. C, reported statement, is wrong because nothing is being reported; the speaker is talking directly, and there is no reporting verb or backshift. D, passive voice, is wrong because the passive needs a form of 'be' plus a past participle, and there is no past participle here.

Rule to remember: the same -ing form is a gerund when it acts as a noun and a present participle when it helps form a verb tense.

If you want more targeted practice, the tkt meaning page covers the same material with additional questions and explanations.

If you want more targeted practice, the tkt past papers page covers the same material with additional questions and explanations.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the official TKT pages from Cambridge so you know the module you are entering and the format of the test. Then take a practice set for that module in one sitting, without looking anything up, to find your starting point.

Review every question you got wrong, and the ones you guessed. For each, write the rule in a short note in your own words, as in the worked examples above: why the right option fits, and why each wrong option does not. Keep a running list of terms you confused, such as slip and error, or gerund and participle, and test yourself on that list.

Next, work through the smaller topic sets that match your weak areas, for example lesson planning and aims, classroom management, error correction or resources. Return to the full module set after a few topic sets and see whether the same questions still trip you up.

In the days before the test, practise the same kind of time pressure you will meet on the day: a full set of 80 questions in 80 minutes. Our questions are written by us and are not real exam questions, so use them to check your understanding, not to predict what will appear. Confirm your test date, format and registration deadline with your centre.

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Pros and Cons at a Glance

Sample TKT - Teaching Knowledge Test Practice Questions

Try these questions from our free TKT - Teaching Knowledge Test practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.

1. A teacher gives a new class a test on the first day to identify their specific strengths and weaknesses in past tenses. The teacher plans to use the results to focus on areas where the students seem to have the most difficulty. What type of test is this?

   • A. A placement test
   • B. A diagnostic test
   • C. An achievement test
   • D. A proficiency test

   Answer: B. A diagnostic test

A diagnostic test is used to identify a learner's specific areas of strength and weakness. The teacher's goal is to 'diagnose' problems to inform future teaching, which is the key purpose of this type of assessment. A placement test would be used to put students into the correct level class, an achievement test would measure what has been learned on a course, and a proficiency test would measure general language ability.

• A. A placement test
• B. A progress test
• C. A portfolio assessment
• D. A diagnostic test

Answer: A. A placement test

A placement test is specifically designed to assess a learner's current language level to put them in the most appropriate class or group. Its goal is to create homogeneous groups where students have similar abilities. A diagnostic test would identify specific weaknesses, a progress test would check learning during a course, and a portfolio shows work over time.

Take the full TKT - Teaching Knowledge Test practice test

If you want more targeted practice, the tkt unicam pfc page covers the same material with additional questions and explanations.

If you want more targeted practice, the tkt module 1 pdf page covers the same material with additional questions and explanations.

If you want more targeted practice, the tkt exam samples page covers the same material with additional questions and explanations.

Official Resources

• About the TKT tests (Cambridge English) — the official overview of the three core modules, TKT: CLIL and TKT: Young Learners, with the 80-question/80-minute format, Bands 1–4 results and digital vs paper-based delivery.
• Preparing for TKT (Cambridge English) — the official preparation page with the TKT handbooks, sample papers, glossary and other free study material to use alongside our TKT module 1 practice test.
• Find a Cambridge English centre — locate an authorised TKT exam centre near you to register, confirm test dates and ask for the per-module fee, which is set by each centre.

Sources & last verified

1. Cambridge University Press & Assessment — number of questions, time limit, delivery, eligibility (official source). “Each module is assessed with an 80-question test made up of multiple-choice and matching questions.” Verified Oct 29, 2026 · source checked Oct 18, 2026.
2. Cambridge University Press & Assessment — registration opens (official source). “You will need to take your test at one of our authorised TKT centres.” Verified Oct 26, 2026 · source checked Oct 26, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.