Barbecue Birthday Party
Read an email inviting a friend to a barbecue birthday party and write the correct word for each of the six gaps.
Reading Part 5
In this exercise you read a short email inviting a friend to a barbecue birthday party, and write the correct word in each gap. This is good practice for Reading Part 5 of the A2 Key (KET) examination.
- ⏱️ Takes about 20–30 minutes.
- 💡 Skill: reading, grammar and vocabulary.
- 📶 Level: A2 Key (KET) — Pre-Intermediate.
Key Words
- barbecue — a meal cooked outdoors over a fire, or the party where you eat it
- birthday — the day each year when you celebrate the date you were born
- invite — to ask someone to come to an event, such as a party
- prepare — to make something ready (for example, to get food ready)
- swimming costume — the clothes you wear to go swimming
Useful Language
- Comparatives — use than after a comparative (more fun than, bigger than).
- Prepositions of transport — by car, by bus, on foot.
- some of / a lot of — use of after these (some of my friends).
- don’t have to / don’t need to — for something that is not necessary.
- Linking words — if for a condition, because for a reason.
- forget / remember to + verb — use to before the verb (don’t forget to bring…).
Exam Tip
In Part 5 you complete a short text or email. You write one word in each of the six gaps — there are no choices to pick from. The missing words are usually small grammar words such as prepositions (by, of, to), comparatives with than, and linking words (if, because). Sometimes more than one word is possible (for example, don’t need to or don’t have to). Read the whole email first, then check that your word fits the grammar and is spelled correctly.
🗣️ Speaking
- Describe how you celebrate your birthday. What do you like to do?
- Talk about a party you have been to. What happened?
- Do you prefer a party at home, at the beach, or somewhere else? Say why.
✍️ Writing
- Write a short email (25–35 words) inviting a friend to your birthday party. Say when it is, where it is, and what you will do.
- Write five sentences about a barbecue party using the key words from this page.
🔎 Vocabulary challenge
- Find three more words connected with parties (for example: present, balloon, cake).
- Match each key word to its meaning, then cover the meanings and test yourself.
- Use each key word in a sentence of your own.
A2 Reading and Writing
Keep practising every part of the A2 Key Reading and Writing paper. Choose a part below to find more free exercises.
Part 1
- Airport Notices
- Restaurant Notices
- School Notices
- Shopping Mall Notices
- Short Messages Exercise 1
- Short Messages Exercise 2
Part 2
Part 3
- Climbing Mount Everest
- Don’t Skip Breakfast
- Edinburgh Festival
- Emirate Airline Manager
- Family Castle
- Getting to Sleep
- London Police Force
- Making Jam
- Photography for Beginners
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
A2 Listening and Speaking
Train your ears and your speaking too. Pick a part of the A2 Key Listening and Speaking test below for more free practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is A2 Key Reading Part 5?
A2 Key (KET) Reading Part 5 is an open cloze task. You read a short text or email with six gaps and write one word in each gap. There are no answer choices. It tests grammar and vocabulary.
How many questions are in Reading Part 5?
There are six gaps in Reading Part 5. You write one word for each gap.
How can I get better at Reading Part 5?
Read the whole text first. The missing words are usually small grammar words such as prepositions, comparatives, pronouns and linking words. Sometimes more than one answer is possible. Check your spelling and write only one word in each gap.
Is this barbecue birthday party exercise free?
Yes. This barbecue birthday party Reading Part 5 exercise is completely free to use. You can practise online as many times as you like.
Links
Cambridge English qualifications test real-life communication skills, making them ideal for students who need English for work, study, or travel.