A New Job
Read an email about starting a new job and write the correct word for each of the six gaps.
Reading Part 5
In this exercise you read a short email about starting a new job and write the correct word in each gap. The missing words are grammar words. 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.
Complete the email. Write one word for each space.
Key Words
- job — the work that someone does to earn money
- office — a room or building where people work at desks
- boss — the person who is in charge of you at work
- modern — new and up to date
- friendly — kind and pleasant to other people
Useful Language
- Prepositions of time — on Monday, in the morning, at 7:30.
- the verb be — is, are: the office is modern.
- Articles — a, an, the: the 7:30 train (a particular train).
- Conjunctions — and, but, so: and joins two ideas.
- Modals — will, can: I will learn a lot.
- to + verb — after some words we use to (I can’t wait to show you).
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. First read the whole email to understand it, then look at the words before and after each gap and decide what type of word is missing: an article (a, the), a preposition (on, to), a pronoun, a conjunction (and), or part of a verb (is, will). Write the full form, not a contraction (write do not, not “don’t”), write only one word, and check your spelling. Sometimes more than one word is possible (for example, will or can). If you are not sure, always make a sensible guess.
Practise the key words and grammar from this exercise.
🗣️ Speaking
- Talk about a job you would like to do in the future. Why that job?
- Describe a place where you would like to work. What is it like?
- What do you think makes a good boss or a good teacher?
✍️ Writing
- Write a short email (25–35 words) to a friend about your first day somewhere new (a job, school or club). Say how it went.
- Write five sentences about a new job using the key words from this page.
🔎 Vocabulary challenge
- Find three more words connected with work (for example: colleague, salary, meeting).
- 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 articles, prepositions, pronouns, conjunctions and parts of the verb be. Write full forms rather than contractions, check your spelling, and write only one word in each gap.
Is this new job exercise free?
Yes. This new job Reading Part 5 exercise is completely free to use. You can also download the printable PDF and 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.