High is incorrect because a cup of tea cannot be high.

Oxford Entry Test Buildings can be high.

Answer key 4 C
Speak is correct because we say can + infinitive.
Part 1 Speaking is incorrect because it is the -ing form.
To speak is incorrect because it is to + infinitive.
1 C Speaks is incorrect because it is the third person form.
2 B 5 C
3 A A is correct because there is just one banana.
4 C An is incorrect because banana does not start with a
5 C vowel.
6 A Lots is incorrect because we say lots + of + noun.
Few is incorrect because it refers to more than one
7 C
noun and there is only one banana in this sentence.
8 A
6 A
9 A Well is correct because we say play + adverb.
10 C Good is incorrect because it is an adjective.
11 C Best is incorrect because it is an adjective.
12 A Better is incorrect because it is used as a comparative.
13 C 7 C
14 B Is there is correct because we use it with singular nouns
and a park is a singular noun.
15 A
Are there is incorrect because we use it with plural
16 D nouns and a park is not plural.
17 D There is is incorrect because we use it with a statement
18 D and this is a question.
19 A There are is incorrect because we use it with a
20 D statement and this is a question.
21 C 8 A
We always have is correct because we say adverb of
22 D
frequency + verb.
23 A We have sometimes is incorrect because we don't say
24 D subject + verb + adverb of frequency, we say subject +
25 C adverb of frequency + verb.
26 D Never we have is incorrect because we don't say never
27 C + subject + verb, we say subject + never + verb.
We have often is incorrect because we don't say subject
28 C
+ verb + adverb of frequency, we say subject + adverb
29 D of frequency + verb.
30 D 9 A
1 C Would like is correct because we use it to make
requests.
Am is correct because we say I am.
Am like is incorrect because we use it to compare two
Are is incorrect because we say you / they are.
things.
Is is incorrect because we say he / she / it is.
Do like is incorrect because we use do and like together
Be is incorrect because we say will / can / should be.
in questions, for example Do you like sandwiches?
2 B Can like is incorrect because we use can to talk about
Are you is correct because in questions we use verb + ability.
subject.
10 C
You have is incorrect because in questions we use verb
I am is correct because the short answer uses the verb
+ subject, not subject + verb. The verb here should be a
from the question. The question is Are you … ?
form of be.
I do is incorrect because the short answer uses the verb
Have you is incorrect because we say people are from a
from the question. The question is not Do you … ?
place, not have from a place.
I go is incorrect because a short answer uses I am or I
You are is incorrect because in questions we use verb +
do.
subject, not subject + verb.
I going is incorrect because a short answer uses I am or
3 A I do.
Hot is correct because a cup of tea can be hot.
11 C
Happy is incorrect because a cup of tea cannot be
Talk is correct because past questions use did + subject
happy. People can be happy.
+ infinitive.
Hard is incorrect because a cup of tea cannot be hard.
Talking is incorrect because it is the -ing form.
Questions can be hard.
Talked is incorrect because it is the -ed form.

© Oxford University Press Pre-A1 • Answer key 1

 Talks is incorrect because it is the third person form.
12 A
Pair of scissors is correct because a refers to one pair.
Pair of scissor is incorrect because there is no singular
form of scissor.
Pairs of scissor is incorrect because pairs requires the
plural form scissors.
Pairs of scissors is incorrect because a refers to one
pair.
13 C
Was is correct because yesterday is in the past and was
is the past form of be.
Wasn't is incorrect because but suggests a contrast in
the weather.
Were is incorrect because weather is an uncountable
noun.
Weren't is incorrect because weather is an uncountable
noun and but suggests a contrast in the weather.
14 B
To get is correct because after going we use the
infinitive with to.
Get is incorrect because after going we don’t use the
infinitive without to.
Gets is incorrect because after going we don’t use the
third person form of a verb.
Getting is incorrect because after going we don’t use
the -ing form of a verb.
15 A
At is correct because we say at + a time.
In is incorrect because we say in + months or years.
On is incorrect because we say on + a day.
Until is incorrect because we say until + an end time.
16 D
To have is correct because we say decide + infinitive
with to.
Have is incorrect because to is missing.
Having is incorrect because it is the -ing form.
To having is incorrect because we say decide + infinitive
with to.
17 D
Don’t is correct because we use don’t + infinitive to give
instructions.
No is incorrect because we don’t use no to give
instructions.
Not is incorrect because we don’t use not to give
instructions.
Doesn't is incorrect because we use don’t + infinitive to
give instructions.
18 D
Have never been is correct because we use the present
perfect to talk about any time in the past.
Wasn’t is incorrect because it is the past simple.
Didn’t is incorrect because it is the past simple.
Never been is incorrect because the correct form of the
present perfect with never is never + has/have + past
participle.
19 A
Don’t have is correct because we use don’t + have +
infinitive with to to talk about something unnecessary.
Haven’t is incorrect because we don’t use haven’t +
infinitive with to in this way.
Mustn’t is incorrect because we use mustn’t to talk
about something necessary. This is unnecessary.
Shouldn’t is incorrect because we use shouldn’t +
infinitive to talk about something that is a bad idea.
© Oxford University Press
20 D
Is doing is correct because Jack is working at the same
time the speaker is talking. We need the present
continuous (be + -ing form).
Does is incorrect because it is the present simple.
Doing is incorrect because it is the -ing form without be.
Has done is incorrect because it is the present perfect.
21 C
Did you get is correct because we use wh- + did +
subject + infinitive for past questions.
You got is incorrect because we use wh- + did + subject
+ infinitive for past questions.
You did get is incorrect because we use wh- + did +
subject + infinitive for past questions.
Have you got is incorrect because it is the present
perfect.
22 D
The most is correct. This is the #1 hotel among all the
hotels on the island, so we need the superlative. We
use the + most + adjective for the superlative.
More is incorrect because more beautiful is the
comparative.
Most is incorrect because the is missing from the
superlative.
The more is incorrect because we don't use the more +
adjective for superlatives.
23 A
Than is correct because the comparative is -er / more +
than + noun.
As is incorrect because the comparative is -er / more +
than + noun.
Like is incorrect because the comparative is -er / more +
than + noun.
More is incorrect because the comparative is -er / more
+ than + noun.
24 D
How many is correct because we use it for countable
nouns.
How much is incorrect because we use it for
uncountable nouns.
How long is incorrect because we use it for time.
How often is incorrect because we use it to talk about
regular activities.
25 C
Who is correct because we use who to replace a
person.
Which is incorrect because we use which to replace a
thing.
Where is incorrect because we use where to replace a
place.
Whose is incorrect because we use whose for
possession.
26 D
Were sitting is correct because sitting was in progress
at the time of speaking. We need the past continuous.
Sat is incorrect because it is the past simple.
Have sat is incorrect because it is the present perfect.
Sit is incorrect because it is the present simple.
27 C
Interesting is correct. The adjective here needs to
describe the thing, not the person, so we need the -ing
form.
Interested is incorrect because the -ed form describes
the person.
Interest is incorrect because it is a noun or verb. We
need an adjective here.
Pre-A1 • Answer key 2
 Interests is incorrect because it is a noun or verb. We What is incorrect because we use what + noun. Sweet is
need an adjective here. an adjective.
28 C Too is incorrect because you can’t start a sentence with
See is correct. This is a first conditional sentence. We too.
need if / when + present simple. That is incorrect because we use that + is + adjective.
Saw is incorrect because we use present simple for first 2 C
conditionals. As hard is correct because the phrase as hard needs to
Will see is incorrect because it is the will + infinitive be followed by as.
form. Harder than is incorrect because it needs to be followed
Have seen is incorrect because we use present simple by a noun. As is not a noun.
for first conditionals.. The hardest is incorrect because it is used for the
29 D superlative, not a comparison between two things.
Haven’t heard is correct because we use the present Harder is incorrect because it needs to be followed by
perfect with for + a period of time. than + noun.
Don’t hear is incorrect because it is the present simple. 3 D
Didn’t hear is incorrect because it is the past simple. Hadn’t left is correct because the past perfect is used in
Hadn't heard is incorrect because it is the past perfect. conditionals for past possibilities.
30 D Didn’t leave is incorrect because the past simple is used
Warm enough is correct because we say adjective + in conditionals for present or future possibilities. This
enough to mean warm and it’s OK. possibility is in the past.
Too warm is incorrect because it means warm and Wouldn’t leave is incorrect because it cannot appear in
unpleasant. the if part of the sentence.
Enough warm is incorrect because we say adjective + Haven't left is incorrect because we use the present
enough, not enough + adjective. perfect in the first conditional to emphasise that one
Warmer is incorrect because it is the comparative form. action depends on the completion of another.
4 A
Part 2 Very little is correct because we use it with uncountable
nouns to say that there is not enough of something.
1 C A little is incorrect because we use it with uncountable
2 C nouns to say that there is enough of something. This
3 D person is in a hurry because they don’t have enough
4 A time.
Few is incorrect because we use it with countable
5 C
nouns. Time is uncountable.
6 D A few is incorrect because we use it with countable
7 B nouns. Time is uncountable.
8 D 5 C
9 C Phoned you is correct because when who is the subject,
10 D we say who + positive verb + object.
11 D Did you phone is incorrect because we say who + did +
subject + verb when who is the object. In this question,
12 C
who is the subject.
13 A You phoned is incorrect because we use it in positive
14 C sentences. This is a question.
15 C Is phoning you is incorrect because the present
16 B continuous is used for an activity that is happening, but
the phone call has finished.
17 A
18 C 6 D
Hasn’t it is correct because the question tag needs to
19 D
use the same verb as the main part. The verb here is
20 C has (in it has been).
21 A Doesn’t it is incorrect because the question tag needs to
22 D use the same verb as the main part. The verb here is
23 D not does.
Isn’t it is incorrect because the question tag needs to
24 C
use the same verb as the main part. The verb here is
25 A not is.
26 C Wasn’t it is incorrect because the question tag needs to
27 D use the same verb as the main part. The verb here is
28 C not was.
29 C 7 B
30 C Had left is correct because we use the past perfect
when one action finished at an earlier time. Emma was
1 C not at the party at the time of speaking.
How is correct because we use how + adjective for Left is incorrect because we use the past simple when
emphasis. one thing happened after another. Emma was not at
the party.

© Oxford University Press Pre-A1 • Answer key 3

 Leaving is incorrect because it is not a tense without an
auxiliary.
Has left is incorrect because we use the present perfect
to connect the action to the present.
8 D
Were seeing is correct because we use was / were + -
ing form for plans in the past that were changed.
Are seeing is incorrect because we use are + -ing form
for plans in the future, but this plan was changed.
Would see is incorrect because we use would +
infinitive for imagined futures with if clauses. There is
no if clause in this sentence.
Were about to see is incorrect because we use
was/were + about to + infinitive for things that were
going to happen immediately.
9 C
You’d better not is correct because we use you had
better for advice.
You’d rather not is incorrect because we use it to say
you prefer something. This is advice.
You would not is incorrect because we use it in a
conditional. This is advice.
You hadn't better is incorrect. The negative of You had
better is You had better not.
10 D
Good is correct because we say extremely + a gradable
adjective (one where we can say more + beautiful /
expensive, etc.). Good is gradable (better, the best).
Amazing is incorrect because we say extremely + a
gradable adjective (one where we can say more +
beautiful / expensive, etc.). Amazing is not gradable.
Fantastic is incorrect because we say extremely + a
gradable adjective (one where we can say more +
beautiful / expensive, etc.). Fantastic is not gradable.
Unique is incorrect because we say extremely + a
gradable adjective (one where we can say more +
beautiful / expensive, etc.). Unique is not gradable.
11 D
The better is correct because we say the + -er, the + -er
to show a cause and effect.
Even better is incorrect because we say the + -er, the + -
er to show that there is a cause and effect. Even better
does not have this meaning.
The best is incorrect because we say the + -er, the + -er
to show that there is a cause and effect. The best is a
superlative and does not have this meaning.
Much better is incorrect because we say the + -er, the +
-er to show that there is a cause and effect.
12 C
A great deal is correct because it can be used to make
comparative adjectives stronger.
So many is incorrect because it needs to be followed by
a noun. Better is not a noun.
Far more is incorrect because it needs to be followed by
an adjective of more than one syllable. Better is already
a comparative.
A large amount is incorrect because we say a large
amount + of.
13 A
To have visited is correct because verbs of the senses
are followed by the perfect infinitive to show how we
experienced a whole action or completed event.
To visit is incorrect because feel lucky to visit is used to
talk about something in the present and this sentence is
not talking about the present.
© Oxford University Press
To be visiting is incorrect because this is used to talk
about something happening now and this sentence is
not talking about something happening now.
To have been visiting is incorrect because this is used to
talk about something that was happening in the past
and was interrupted.
14 C
Could have is correct because it means it was possible
in the past.
Must have is incorrect because it means that it was
definitely true. The speaker says we’ll never know.
Will have is incorrect because it means that the action
will be completed by a certain time. The speaker says
we’ll never know.
Should have is incorrect because it is used to say
something would have been a good idea in the past.
The speaker says we’ll never know.
15 C
The is correct because the + adjective means all the
people with this characteristic.
Some is incorrect because it needs a noun after it. We
only have the adjective young.
Any is incorrect because it needs a noun after it. We
only have the adjective young.
Every is incorrect because it needs a singular noun after
it. We only have the adjective young.
16 B
If I could have is correct. For questions that can be
answered yes or no, after phrases such as I was
wondering you use if then reported speech word order.
Could I have is incorrect. For questions that can be
answered yes or no, after phrases such as I was
wondering you use if then reported speech word order.
I could have is incorrect. For questions that can be
answered yes or no, after phrases such as I was
wondering you use if then reported speech word order.
If could I have is incorrect. For questions that can be
answered yes or no, after phrases such as I was
wondering you use if then reported speech word order.
17 A
Used to living is correct because we say get used to + -
ing form to mean become familiar with.
Used to live is incorrect because used to + infinitive is
used to talk about past habits.
Use to live is incorrect because we use it in negatives
and questions about past habits. (Didn’t you use to live
in Korea?)
Use to living is incorrect because we say get + used + to.
18 C
Minority is correct because it is a noun meaning a small
number.
Measure is incorrect because it is a noun meaning the
amount of something that you want. Bad football fans
are not something we want.
Majority is incorrect because it is a noun meaning a
large number. We want a noun that means a small
number.
Mass is incorrect because it is a noun meaning a large
amount. We want a noun that means a small number.
19 D
Had taken is correct because I wish + past perfect is
used to talk about a past regret.
Would take is incorrect because I wish X would do
something is used to discuss another person’s annoying
habits.
Pre-A1 • Answer key 4
 Took is incorrect because I wish I + past simple is used
to discuss something in the present time. The action
here is in the past.
Have taken is incorrect because after wish a past tense
is used.
20 C
Constantly is the correct collocation to use with
complaining.
Commonly is not the correct collocation to use with
complaining.
Entirely is not the correct collocation to use with
complaining.
Ultimately is not the correct collocation to use with
complaining.
21 A
Whatever is correct because it means no matter what
and is the subject of happens.
Whenever is incorrect because it means no matter
when and needs a subject after it. Happens is a verb.
Whichever is incorrect because it is used to refer to a
limited number of given options.
Whatsoever is incorrect because it is used after a
negative phrase to add emphasis.
22 D
You started is correct because it’s time + past simple is
used to refer to an action that should happen in the
very near future.
You start is incorrect because after it’s time we use the
past simple, similar to if clauses.
You’ll start is incorrect because after it’s time we use
the past simple, similar to if clauses.
You have started is incorrect because after it’s time we
use the past simple, similar to if clauses.
23 D
Will be lying is correct because the future continuous
will be + -ing form is for guessing about actions that are
happening about now.
Will have lain is incorrect because the future perfect is
for actions that are finished. The speaker is guessing
about what Laura is doing about now.
Would lie is incorrect because it is for conditionals or
past habits. The speaker is guessing about what Laura is
doing about now.
Would have been lying is incorrect because it is used for
speculating about the past.
24 C
Were I to agree is correct because were I to do is used
in place of if I did to speculate about possible future
actions.
Had I agreed is incorrect because had I is used in place
of if I had to speculate about past actions. This is a
future action.
If only I had agreed is incorrect because if only is used in
place of if to speculate about an impossible situation.
This is a future possibility.
Supposing I'd agreed is incorrect because supposing +
had is used to speculate about the past.
25 A
Didn’t is correct because I’d rather + you needs to be
followed by the past simple.
Don’t is incorrect because I’d rather + you needs to be
followed by the past simple. Don’t is the present
simple.
Won’t is incorrect because I’d rather + you needs to be
followed by the past simple. Won’t is will not.
© Oxford University Press
Mustn’t is incorrect because I’d rather + you needs to
be followed by the past simple. Mustn't is not the past
simple.
26 C
Ought to is correct because ought to + perfect infinitive
is used to offer belated advice.
Must is incorrect because must + perfect infinitive is
used to express certainty about a past event. We know
that this didn’t happen.
Had to is incorrect because had to + perfect infinitive is
used to express certainty about a past event. We know
that this didn’t happen.
Need to is incorrect because it is used to offer advice in
the present, not to offer belated advice.
27 D
Considered is correct because the participle clause all
things is followed by the past participle.
Considering is incorrect because the participle clause all
things is followed by the past participle. This is the -ing
form.
Having considered is incorrect because the participle
clause all things is followed by the past participle. This
is the perfect continuous infinitive.
To consider is incorrect because the participle clause all
things is followed by the past participle. This is the
infinitive with to form.
28 C
Should is correct because should can replace if for
present situations.
Would is incorrect because we need a word that can
replace if. Would cannot replace if.
Could is incorrect because we need a word that can
replace if. Could cannot replace if.
Need is incorrect because we need a word that can
replace if. Need cannot replace if.
29 C
Only is your work is correct because the subject and the
verb are inverted after not only (not only + verb +
subject).
Your work is only is incorrect because the subject and
the verb are inverted after not only (not only + verb +
subject).
Is only your work is incorrect because the subject and
the verb are inverted after not only (not only + verb +
subject).
Only your work is is incorrect because the subject and
the verb are inverted after not only (not only + verb +
subject).
30 C
It’s what is correct because we say It is what + clause +
that + clause.
What it’s is incorrect because we say What it’s + about
+ is.
That’s what is incorrect because That’s what can only
be followed by one clause. We have two (she is going to
do next; that really worries me).
What’s that is incorrect because we use it at the start of
a question and this isn’t a question.
Pre-A1 • Answer key 5