B1 Preliminary exam format

B1 Preliminary

Practise your English

Find lots of free online activities for teenagers and adults.

Who accepts B1 Preliminary?

These are just a few of the leading organisations that will accept your certificate:

Universidad de Chile
Freie Universität Berlin
Tec de Monterrey
Metrostav
MNG Airlines
StudyPortals

B1 Preliminary is made up of four papers developed to test students’ English skills. You can see exactly what’s in each paper below.

The formats below are the same for both the paper-based and computer-based exams and digital exams. Please note, during March 2024 we will be moving from our current computer-based exam delivery to Cambridge English Qualifications Digital, which will offer you even more benefits. Information on the switch and what this means for you can be found on our Cambridge English Qualifications Digital page.

Paper	Content	Marks (% of total)	Purpose
Reading (45 minutes) See sample paper	6 parts/ 32 questions	25%	Shows you can read and understand the main points from signs, newspapers and magazines.
Writing (45 minutes) See sample paper	2 parts/ 2 questions	25%	Shows you can use vocabulary and structure correctly.
Listening (30 minutes, including 6 minutes’ transfer time) See sample paper	4 parts/ 25 questions	25%	You have to be able to follow and understand a range of spoken materials including announcements and discussions about everyday life.
Speaking (10-12 minutes per pair of candidates; 15-17 minutes per group of three) See sample paper	4 parts	25%	Shows how good your spoken English is as you take part in conversation by asking/answering questions and talking, for example, about your likes and dislikes. Your Speaking test will be face to face with one or two other candidates and two examiners. One of the examiners (who could be online, examining remotely) talks to you and the other examiner listens. This makes your test more realistic and more reliable. Examiners may use their mobile phones for entering marks using an app.

Reading
Writing
Listening
Speaking

What’s in the Reading paper?

The B1 Preliminary Reading paper has six parts. There are different types of texts and questions.

Part 1 (Multiple choice)

What do candidates have to do?	Read five real-world notices, messages and other short texts for the main message.
How many questions are there?	5
How many marks are there?	One mark for each correct answer.

Part 2 (Matching)

What do candidates have to do?	Match five descriptions of people to eight short texts on a particular topic, showing detailed comprehension.
How many questions are there?	5
How many marks are there?	One mark for each correct answer.

Part 3 (Multiple choice)

What do candidates have to do?	Read a longer text for detailed comprehension, gist, inference and global meaning, as well as writer’s attitude and opinion.
How many questions are there?	5
How many marks are there?	One mark for each correct answer.

Part 4 (Gapped text)

What do candidates have to do?	Read a longer text from which five sentences have been removed. Show understanding of how a coherent and well-structured text is formed.
How many questions are there?	5
How many marks are there?	One mark for each correct answer.

Part 5 (Multiple choice cloze)

What do candidates have to do?	Read a shorter text and choose the correct vocabulary items to complete gaps.
How many questions are there?	6
How many marks are there?	One mark for each correct answer.

Part 6 (Open cloze)

What do candidates have to do?	Read a shorter text and complete six gaps using one word for each gap.
How many questions are there?	6
How many marks are there?	One mark for each correct answer.

What’s in the Writing paper?

The B1 Preliminary paper has two parts. You have to show that you can write different types of text in English.

Part 1 (Writing an email)

What do candidates have to do?	Write about 100 words, answering the email and notes provided.
How many questions are there?	1
How many marks are there?	The question has a maximum of 20 marks available.

Part 2 (Choice between an article or a story)

What do candidates have to do?	Write about 100 words, answering the question of their choosing.
How many questions are there?	Choose one question from a choice of two.
How many marks are there?	The question has a maximum of 20 marks available.

What’s in the Listening paper?

The B1 Preliminary Listening paper has four parts. For each part, you have to listen to a recorded text or texts and answer some questions. You hear each recording twice.

Part 1 (Multiple choice)

What do candidates have to do?	Identify key information in seven short monologues or dialogues and choose the correct visual.
How many questions are there?	7
How many marks are there?	One mark for each correct answer.

Part 2 (Multiple choice)

What do candidates have to do?	Listen to six short dialogues and understand the gist of each.
How many questions are there?	6
How many marks are there?	One mark for each correct answer.

Part 3 (Gap fill)

What do candidates have to do?	Listen to a monologue and complete six gaps.
How many questions are there?	6
How many marks are there?	One mark for each correct answer.

Part 4 (Multiple choice)

What do candidates have to do?	Listen to an interview for a detailed understanding of meaning and to identify attitudes and opinions.
How many questions are there?	6
How many marks are there?	One mark for each correct answer.

What’s in the Speaking paper?

The B1 Preliminary Speaking test has four parts and you take it together with another candidate. There are two examiners. One of the examiners talks to you and the other examiner listens.

Part 1 (Interview)

What do candidates have to do?	Respond to questions, giving factual or personal information.
How long do candidates have to speak?	2 minutes.

Part 2 (Extended turn)

What do candidates have to do?	Describe one colour photograph, talking for about 1 minute.
How long do candidates have to speak?	3 minutes.

Part 3 (Discussion)

What do candidates have to do?	Make and respond to suggestions, discuss alternatives and negotiate agreement.
How long do candidates have to speak?	4 minutes.

Part 4 (General conversation)

What do candidates have to do?	Discuss likes, dislikes, experiences, opinions, habits, etc.
How long do candidates have to speak?	3 minutes.

openbook What’s in the Reading paper?

pencil What’s in the Writing paper?

playlist What’s in the Listening paper?

megaphone What’s in the Speaking paper?

What’s in the Reading paper?

What’s in the Writing paper?

What’s in the Listening paper?

What’s in the Speaking paper?