Key Facts
| B1 Preliminary paper-based exam date (next after publication) | 21 November 2026 (Sat) |
|---|---|
| B1 Preliminary paper-based exam date | 3 December 2026 (Thu) |
| B1 Preliminary paper-based exam date | 6 March 2027 (Sat) |
| B1 Preliminary digital exam availability | Available throughout the year via local exam centres |
| Digital exam results turnaround | 5–10 working days after the exam session |
| Paper-based exam results turnaround | normally 4–6 weeks after the exam session |
| Digital exam certificate sent to centre | usually within 3–4 weeks |
| Paper-based exam certificate sent to centre | usually 7–10 weeks after the exam date |
Figures correct at the time of writing. Confirm current fees and deadlines with the school or university directly.
B1 Preliminary, the Cambridge exam whose certificate is titled Preliminary English Test (PET), tests English at CEFR level B1 through four papers, Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking, each worth 25% of the total. It is set by Cambridge University Press & Assessment and can be taken on paper or on a computer, with the same content, scoring and final certificate in both formats. Candidates receive a separate Cambridge English Scale score for every paper, and the average of the four gives the overall result.
Adults and older students usually take the exam as evidence of practical English for study, work or life, and Cambridge states that thousands of institutions and employers around the world accept it for that purpose. The exam is targeted at B1 but reports results from A2 to B2, so a certificate can sit above or below the target level. Speaking is taken face to face with one or two other candidates and two examiners, which shapes how preparation is best arranged.
What does B1 Preliminary certify?
B1 Preliminary certifies that a candidate has mastered the basics of English and has practical language skills for everyday use, at level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). It is designed for adults, and the certificate shows the overall score on the Cambridge English Scale, an individual score for each paper, a CEFR level and a grade. Cambridge places B1 at scale scores 140 to 159, while the exam as a whole reports ability from A2 to B2.
Because every Cambridge exam is aligned to the CEFR, a university, employer or immigration authority can read the level directly from the result. Cambridge states that thousands of institutions and employers accept the exam as evidence of spoken and written English for study, work and life. Requirements differ between organisations, so the published list of the body receiving your result decides whether this exam satisfies a particular application.
How is the exam structured, paper by paper?
The exam has four papers, Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking, and each carries 25% of the total. Speaking usually takes place on a different day from the other three papers, which are taken together on the same day. Reading lasts 45 minutes with six parts and 32 questions: five short real-world texts with multiple choice, matching five descriptions of people to eight short texts, a longer text with multiple choice, a gapped text with five sentences removed, a multiple-choice cloze with six gaps and an open cloze with six gaps where one word fills each gap.
Writing lasts 45 minutes and has two parts, each about 100 words and each worth a maximum of 20 marks. Part 1 is a compulsory email that answers an email and notes provided. In Part 2 the candidate chooses one of two questions and writes either an article or a story, and the story question gives the first sentence.
Listening lasts 30 minutes including 6 minutes of transfer time, with four parts and 25 questions, and every recording is played twice. Part 1 has seven questions on short recordings with picture options, Part 2 has six short dialogues tested for gist, Part 3 asks the candidate to complete six gaps during a monologue, and Part 4 is an interview with six multiple-choice questions on detail, attitudes and opinions.
Speaking is face to face with one or two other candidates and two examiners, and lasts 10 to 12 minutes per pair or 15 to 17 minutes per group of three. Part 1 is an interview of about 2 minutes, Part 2 asks each candidate to describe one colour photograph for about 1 minute, Part 3 is a discussion of about 4 minutes in which candidates make suggestions and negotiate agreement, and Part 4 is a general conversation of about 3 minutes. One examiner talks to the candidates while the other listens, and that examiner may be remote.
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Enquire about this tutorWhat is B1 Preliminary for Schools?
B1 Preliminary for Schools is the version tailored to the interests and experience of school-age learners, at the same CEFR level and with the same format as the standard exam. Its topics suit teenagers, while the papers, parts and timings match, and Cambridge's Statement of Results guide covers both versions together on the same Cambridge English Scale.
The standard version is designed for adults, so adult learners and older students usually enter that one. Both versions are offered on paper and on a computer, and Cambridge states that the content, the scoring and the final certificate are the same in either format, which leaves the choice to what a local exam centre offers and what suits the candidate.
How is B1 Preliminary scored?
The overall result is the average of the four paper scores on the Cambridge English Scale: Reading plus Writing plus Listening plus Speaking, divided by four. Each paper carries equal weight, so a gain in any one skill moves the overall score by the same amount. The Statement of Results then gives the overall score, the four individual scores, a CEFR level and a grade.
Reading questions 1 to 32 carry one mark each, every Listening question carries one mark, and each Writing task carries a maximum of 20 marks. Cambridge publishes a guide for teachers on converting practice test scores to Cambridge English Scale scores, which helps a candidate interpret mock results.
The grade bands on the Cambridge English Scale are listed below, and Cambridge notes that the exam is targeted at B1 even though it reports A2 to B2.
- 160 to 170: Grade A, certificate stating ability at level B2
- 153 to 159: Grade B, certificate at level B1
- 140 to 152: Grade C, certificate at level B1
- 120 to 139: Level A2, certificate stating ability at level A2
What happens with an A2 result or a lower score?
A score of 120 to 139 earns a certificate stating that the candidate demonstrated ability at CEFR level A2, and the same Preliminary English Test Certificate format applies to everyone who scores 140 to 170. A score of 102 to 119 gives no grade, CEFR level or certificate, although the scale score still appears on the Statement of Results, and scores below 102 are not reported.
Grade A gives a certificate at level B2, yet the exam is not designed to assess the full range of B2 skills. Cambridge recommends that candidates who want to demonstrate B2 ability fully prepare for and take B2 First instead.
How should you prepare for Reading and Listening?
Reading preparation starts with reading many kinds of text, because the paper uses signs, notices, packaging information, short articles, notes, text messages and emails. Practise three ways of reading: skimming for the main idea before reading closely, scanning for specific information such as film times on a cinema website, and careful reading for what the writer thinks or feels, which Part 3 tests. Then complete whole papers in 45 minutes, since 32 one-mark questions reward steady pacing across all six parts.
Dictionaries and questions about word meanings are not allowed in the exam, so practise guessing unknown words from context and keep a vocabulary notebook with pronunciation, an example sentence and a translation. In the digital exam, practise with the highlighting and note tools. On paper, practise marking one answer per question in pencil on the answer sheet and erasing changes cleanly.
For Listening, read the instructions, questions and pictures before each recording and predict what information will come. Each recording plays twice, so answer on the first hearing and use the second to check. In Part 2 listen for the general meaning of each dialogue, since a single matching word can mislead. In Part 3 practise writing short answers quickly and spelling them correctly. On paper, the 6 minutes of transfer time are for copying answers in pencil onto the answer sheet.
How should you prepare for Writing and Speaking?
Writing improves fastest with timed tasks of about 100 words, because both tasks carry equal marks and the 45 minutes cover planning, writing and checking. For Part 1, underline every point in the email and notes and answer each one completely and clearly, in your own words instead of copying the question, using functions such as describing, inviting, suggesting, thanking and reminding. For Part 2, choose the question you can write about confidently and keep one register throughout. A memorised answer cannot respond to the instructions given on the day.
After each practice answer, check it against a fixed list: every point covered, the right register for the reader, verb endings, irregular past tenses, plural forms, word order and spelling. Write & Improve gives free automated feedback on exam tasks, and Cambridge publishes a writing checklist and sample tests with answers. The digital test has an automatic word count and no spell-checker, so practise typing and editing on screen.
Speaking improves with regular conversation in English, because the paper assesses language and subject knowledge does not matter. If a topic is unfamiliar, say so, link it to something familiar or describe what a friend might say. Practise Part 2 by describing a picture for about a minute and recording yourself, then listen for vocabulary range and pronunciation. For Part 3, practise making and responding to suggestions, discussing alternatives and asking a partner what they think. For Part 4, practise giving opinions on likes, dislikes, experiences and habits.
Model answer: Email to a friend about a photography exhibition
Task: Read this email from your English friend Jo and the notes you have made. Write an email to Jo using all your notes. Write about 100 words.
Email from Jo: Hi, I have just started a weekend photography course and I am enjoying it a lot. The course ends with an exhibition, and I would love you to come. I also want to buy a camera but I do not know which one. What do you think? Jo
Your notes: Thank Jo and ask about the date. Recommend a camera and say why. Suggest a day to meet.
"Hi Jo,
"Thank you for your email. Congratulations on starting the course. I would love to come to the exhibition, so could you tell me the date? Then I can keep the evening free.
"For a camera, I would choose a small compact one. My cousin has one, and it takes sharp pictures even in poor light. It is light enough to carry all day, and it does not cost too much.
"Why don't we meet on Saturday morning and look at some in the shop in town? Let me know if that suits you.
"Best wishes,
"Anna
What this model answer does:
- Answers all three notes in order: thanks with a question about the date, a camera recommendation with reasons, and a suggested day to meet, which is the complete and clear response the guidance asks for.
- Uses the functions Cambridge lists for Writing, namely thanking and suggesting, in short natural phrases.
- Puts the ideas in its own words instead of copying phrases from Jo's email.
- Keeps one friendly register from greeting to closing, so it suits a message to a friend.
- Uses simple structures and regular verb forms accurately, and stays close to the length of about 100 words.
Related guides
- Cambridge English exams, A2 Key to C2 Proficiency
- A2 Key (KET)
- B2 First (FCE)
- B2 First Writing with model answers
- C1 Advanced (CAE)
- C1 Advanced Writing with model answers
- C2 Proficiency (CPE)
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Frequently asked questions
- Can you still pass B1 Preliminary if one paper goes badly?
- Cambridge states that it is possible to pass the exam if you do well in some papers but not in every paper. Because the overall result is the average of the four paper scores, a weaker Speaking score, for example, can be offset by stronger Reading, Writing and Listening scores. The Statement of Results shows each paper score, so it also shows which skill to practise before a retake.
- Do wrong answers lose marks in Reading?
- No. A correct answer gets 1 mark, an incorrect answer gets 0 marks and no answer gets 0 marks, so leaving a question blank gains nothing. Cambridge advises answering every question, and choosing an option for every multiple-choice item even when unsure. The same advice applies to Listening, where each correct answer carries one mark.
- Is it possible to take the Speaking test with a friend?
- Ask your exam centre, because different centres have different rules about who is paired with whom. Cambridge says it makes no difference if you already know your partner, since some candidates feel more relaxed and others find it harder. Examiners are trained to give every candidate equal opportunity, including when partners differ in ability or personality.
- Is there a spell-checker in the digital Writing test?
- No, so spelling needs checking by hand before the test ends. The digital Writing test does include an automatic word count and lets you edit your work easily. You are also given paper for planning and notes, which must be left in the exam room afterwards. Practising typing and on-screen editing beforehand helps with all of this.
- How do candidates check or share their result?
- The free online results service shows your result as soon as it is ready, using the Candidate ID Number and Candidate Secret Number printed on your Confirmation of Entry. Your Statement of Results carries a unique Verification Number, which organisations can use with Cambridge's Results Verification Service to confirm the result is genuine.
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