| Paper | Content | Marks
(% of total) |
Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Reading
|
6 parts/
32 questions |
25% |
Shows you can read and understand the main points from signs, newspapers and magazines. |
|
Writing
|
2 parts/
2 questions |
25% |
Shows you can use vocabulary and structure correctly. |
|
Listening
|
4 parts/
|
25% |
You have to be able to follow and understand a range of spoken materials including announcements and discussions about everyday life. |
|
Speaking
|
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 conducted face to face with one or two other candidates and two examiners. This makes your test more realistic and more reliable. |
The B1 Preliminary for Schools Reading paper has six parts. There are different types of texts and questions.
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
The B1 Preliminary for Schools paper has two parts. You have to show that you can write different types of text in English.
| 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. |
| 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. |
The B1 Preliminary for Schools 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.
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
The B1 Preliminary for Schools 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.
| What do candidates have to do? | Respond to questions, giving factual or personal information. |
|---|---|
| How long do candidates have to speak? | 2 minutes. |
| What do candidates have to do? | Describe one colour photograph, talking for about 1 minute. |
|---|---|
| How long do candidates have to speak? | 3 minutes. |
| 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. |
| What do candidates have to do? | Discuss likes, dislikes, experiences, opinions, habits, etc. |
|---|---|
| How long do candidates have to speak? | 3 minutes. |
