Cheat sheet
MET Cheat Sheet
Listening: Conversations
- 33% of exam
- Part 1 Short Conversations Part 2 Longer Conversations Gist and Detail Speaker Intention Inference Questions
Listening: Short Talks
- 17% of exam
- Part 3 Short Talks Main Idea Purpose Questions Specific Details Single Speaker
Reading: Grammar
- 20% of exam
- Sentence Completion Tenses and Conditionals Prepositions and Articles Relative Clauses Word Order
Reading: Single-Text Comprehension
- 10% of exam
- Single-Text Passages Main Idea Vocabulary in Context Inference Questions Detail Questions
Reading: Multiple-Text Comprehension
- 20% of exam
- Multi-Text Sets Cross-Text Synthesis Thematic Links Compare Information Detail Questions
Writing (Optional Module)
- Not published of exam
- Task 1 Short Response Task 2 Essay Personal Experience Formal Register Multi-Paragraph Essay
Speaking (Optional Module)
- Not published of exam
- Picture Description Personal Experience Opinion Statement Advantages and Disadvantages Persuasion Task
Quick Facts
- Exam MET
- Credential English Proficiency CEFR
- Questions 100 MC: 50 + 50
- Time 100 min MC, 155 full
- Score 0-80 scaled, no pass/fail
- Level CEFR A2 to C1
- Format Computer, Prometric or ATC
- Blueprint Oct 2025 handbook
Listening Three Parts LI
- P1=Short | P2=Long | P3=Talks
- Part 1: conversations Part 2: conversations Part 3: talks 50 questions total
Conversations vs Short Talks LI
Conversations
- Two or more speakers
- Parts 1 and 2
- 33% weight
Short Talks
- One speaker only
- Part 3
- 17% weight
- Speaker count differs
Listening Question Type Picker LI
- Two speakers talking briefly → Part 1 item ( 1 question each )
- Multi-turn longer conversation → Part 2 item ( 3 to 4 questions )
- One speaker presenting → Part 3 item ( Main idea focus )
- Asked overall topic → Answer gist type
- Asked why speaker said → Answer intention type
- Asked unstated fact → Answer inference type
Listening Structure LI
- Part 1 19 short conversations
- Part 2 14 longer-conversation questions
- Speakers Two people talking
- Focus Gist detail inference
- Format 4-option multiple choice
Gist vs Detail Questions LI
Gist
- Overall topic
- Main idea only
Detail
- Specific stated fact
- Exact information
- Broad vs specific
Conversation Question Types LI
- Gist Overall topic
- Detail Specific stated fact
- Inference Implied not stated
- Speaker intention Why they said it
Listening Strategy Cues LI
- Signal words However therefore so
- Tone Formal versus casual speech
- Context clues Setting reveals meaning
- Distractors Similar-sounding wrong answer
Short Talks Structure LI
- Part 3 17 questions total
- Speaker Single speaker only
- Context Announcements and presentations
- Focus Main idea purpose detail
Talk Topics LI
- Announcements Public service messages
- Lectures Academic short talks
- Instructions Step by step directions
- Workplace talks Meetings and briefings
Reading Three Parts RE
- Grammar=20 | Single=10 | Multi=20
- Grammar: 20 questions Single-text: 10 questions Multi-text: 20 questions 50 questions total
Grammar vs Vocabulary Items RE
Grammar
- Structure choice
- Tenses prepositions
- Sentence completion
Vocabulary
- Word meaning
- Context clues
- Reading passages
- Structure vs meaning
Reading Section Router RE
- Sentence missing a word → Grammar item ( 20 questions )
- One long passage shown → Single-text item ( 10 questions )
- Three linked passages shown → Multiple-text item ( 20 questions )
- Testing verb tense choice → Apply grammar rule
- Word meaning unclear → Use context clues
- Comparing two linked texts → Cross-reference the details
Grammar Structures Tested RE
- Tenses Verb form choice
- Conditionals If-clause sentences
- Prepositions Between among etc
- Articles A an the
- Relative clauses Who which that
- Word order Sentence structure rules
Grammar Section Facts RE
- Questions 20 sentence completions
- Weight 20% of MC score
- Format Fill missing word
- Options 4 choices each
Grammar Traps RE
- A vs An Vowel sound after
- Since vs For Point versus duration
- Few vs A few Almost none versus some
- Its vs It's Possessive versus contraction
Single-Text Passages RE
- Passages 2 extended texts
- Questions 5 per passage 10 total
- Topic General or academic
- Skills Main idea detail vocabulary
- Weight 10% of MC score
Vocabulary in Context RE
- Context clues Surrounding words hint meaning
- Synonyms Closest in-context match
- Word forms Noun verb adjective shift
- Idioms Non-literal meaning
Single-Text vs Multiple-Text Reading RE
Single-Text
- One passage
- 5 questions each
- 10% weight
Multiple-Text
- Three linked texts
- 10 questions each
- 20% weight
- One text vs three
Multiple-Text Sets RE
- Sets 2 sets of 3 texts
- Questions 10 per set 20 total
- Texts Thematically linked
- Skill Combine across texts
- Weight 20% of MC score
Cross-Text Skills RE
- Compare views Different authors same topic
- Synthesize facts Combine two sources
- Spot contradictions Texts disagree
- Shared theme Common thread across three
CEFR Score Bands WR
- A2=27-39 | B1=40-52 | B2=53-63 | C1=64-80
- A2: 27-39 B1: 40-52 B2: 53-63 C1: 64-80
2-Skill vs 4-Skill MET WR
2-Skill
- Listening + Reading only
- 100 minutes
- Score report only
4-Skill
- Adds Writing + Speaking
- 155 minutes
- Full 4-skill report
- Modules taken differ
Which MET Version to Take WR
- Need score report only → 2-skill MET ( Listening and Reading )
- University or visa requires more → 4-skill MET ( Adds Writing Speaking )
- Prefer in-person testing → Test center option ( ATC or Prometric )
- Prefer remote testing → At-home Prometric option ( Where available )
Writing Tasks WR
- Task 1 3 related short questions
- Task 2 Formal multi-paragraph essay
- Time 45 minutes total
- Task 1 topic Personal experience response
- Task 2 topic Single essay prompt
- Grading Certified human raters
Automated vs Human Scoring WR
Listening/Reading
- Computer scored
- Scored same day
Writing/Speaking
- Certified human raters
- May take longer
- Machine vs rater
Delivery and Logistics WR
- Delivery Computer at Prometric or ATC
- Results Typically within 5 days
- Retake wait 8 weeks recommended
- Sharing Free unlimited score sends
Speaking Five Tasks SP
- T1=Describe | T2=Experience | T3=Opinion | T4=ProsCons | T5=Persuade
- 1: describe picture 2: share experience 3: state opinion 4: list pros/cons 5: persuade examiner
Speaking Task Order SP
- Task 1 begins → Describe the picture ( Neutral description )
- Task 2 begins → Share an experience ( Picture-related story )
- Task 3 begins → State an opinion ( Picture-related view )
- Task 4 begins → List pros and cons ( New situation given )
- Task 5 begins → Persuade the examiner ( New topic given )
Speaking Tasks 1-5 SP
- Task 1 Describe a picture
- Task 2 Personal experience picture-related
- Task 3 Personal opinion picture-related
- Task 4 Advantages and disadvantages
- Task 5 Persuade the examiner
- Time 10 minutes total
- Grading Certified human raters
Common Traps
Gist ≠ Detail
- Gist is overall topic ≠ Detail is specific fact
Single-Text ≠ Multiple-Text
- Single-text is one passage ≠ Multi-text is three passages
2-Skill ≠ 4-Skill
- 2-skill skips writing/speaking ≠ 4-skill adds both modules
Scored ≠ Pass/Fail
- MET reports 0-80 score ≠ No fixed passing cutoff
Listening ≠ Reading Timing
- Listening runs 35 minutes ≠ Reading runs 65 minutes
Automated ≠ Human Scoring
- Listening/Reading computer scored ≠ Writing/Speaking rater scored
Since ≠ For
- Since marks a point ≠ For marks a duration
Last Minute
- 1. Listening: 50 questions, 35 minutes
- 2. Reading: 50 questions, 65 minutes
- 3. Grammar 20, Single 10, Multi 20
- 4. No pass or fail score
- 5. CEFR bands span A2 to C1
- 6. Writing and Speaking are optional
- 7. Guessing never loses points
- 8. Speaking has five tasks
- 9. Results arrive in about 5 days
- 10. Multi-text reading spans three linked texts
MET (Michigan English Test)
- Practice Questions 129 questions Study Guide 16 topics Cheat Sheet 70 facts Flashcards 50 cards Shorts 1 short