Cambridge English qualification

Cambridge B1 Preliminary

formerly PET

An intermediate qualification showing that a learner can manage everyday written and spoken English, read straightforward factual texts and maintain a practical conversation.

Explore format and tasks Official Cambridge overview ↗

Exam format

Format and part-by-part tasks

Four papers. Reading and Writing are separate 45-minute papers; Listening takes about 30 minutes and Speaking 10–12 minutes per pair. Adult and for Schools versions have the same format and level, with different topic contexts.

Reading

Tasks move from short notices to longer text structure, vocabulary and open-cloze control.

45 minutes · 6 parts · 32 questions · 25%

Task map

  1. Part 1: identify the main message in five notices or messages.
  2. Part 2: match five people to eight short texts.
  3. Part 3: answer five questions on detail, gist, inference and writer attitude.
  4. Part 4: restore five removed sentences to a longer text.
  5. Part 5: choose vocabulary for six gaps in a short text.
  6. Part 6: supply one word for each of six open-cloze gaps.

Writing

Both answers are about 100 words and are assessed for content, communicative achievement, organisation and language.

45 minutes · 2 parts · 2 questions · 25%

Task map

  1. Part 1: reply to an email and its notes in about 100 words.
  2. Part 2: choose an article or story and write about 100 words.

Listening

Each recording is heard twice; tasks test key information, gist, gap completion and attitude or opinion.

About 30 minutes · 4 parts · 25 questions · 25%

Task map

  1. Part 1: identify key information in seven short recordings using visuals.
  2. Part 2: understand the gist of six short dialogues.
  3. Part 3: complete six gaps while listening to a monologue.
  4. Part 4: answer six questions about detail, attitude and opinion in an interview.

Speaking

Candidates speak to the examiner, give a one-minute photograph description and negotiate with a partner.

10–12 minutes per pair · 4 parts · 25%

Task map

  1. Part 1: answer factual and personal interview questions.
  2. Part 2: describe one colour photograph for about one minute.
  3. Part 3: discuss alternatives, make suggestions and negotiate agreement.
  4. Part 4: continue a general conversation about the Part 3 topic.

Results and scoring

How the result is reported

Cambridge reports separate skill scores on the Cambridge English Scale and averages them for the overall result. The target level is not the only possible outcome: performance in the adjacent reported level is also shown on the Statement of Results or certificate.

Scale scoreGrade/resultCEFR
160–170AB2
153–159BB1
140–152CB1
120–139Level A2A2

Candidate experience

What happens on the day and afterwards

Paper and digital exams use the same four-component task design.
Speaking is face-to-face with one or two other candidates and two examiners.
Digital results are normally available in 5–10 working days; paper results normally take 4–6 weeks.
The for Schools version has the same level and format, with topics suited to school-age learners.

Preparation guidance

Prepare for the tasks candidates actually complete

  1. 1Use the six-part Reading format introduced in 2020; older combined Reading and Writing materials are obsolete.
  2. 2Time both 100-word Writing tasks and check every prompt or genre requirement.
  3. 3Practise one-minute photograph descriptions with a clear order rather than isolated labels.
  4. 4For collaborative Speaking, react to the partner and work towards agreement instead of delivering separate monologues.

Official resources

Format, samples, preparation and results

Understand the qualification

Cambridge’s current qualification overview and part-by-part format.

Official preparation material

Sample tests, audio, Speaking videos, wordlists and teacher/candidate support.

Results and delivery

How results work, expected release windows, and paper/digital delivery.

Format and results information checked 12 August 2026 against current official Cambridge English pages. Confirm dates, local format availability, identification and access arrangements with an authorised centre. EduZMS is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or an official partner of Cambridge University Press & Assessment.

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