CEFR B1 · Cambridge English

B1 Preliminary (PET) Practice

B1 Preliminary, also known as PET, is the Cambridge English qualification at CEFR level B1. It shows you can use everyday English at an intermediate level — reading short articles, writing simple emails and stories, and following the main points of clear, standard speech.

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PET exam structure

The B1 Preliminary exam has four papers. Reading, Writing and Listening are taken on the same day; Speaking is scheduled separately and is paired with another candidate.

Reading & Writing

45 min reading + 45 min writing

6 reading parts (32 questions) + 2 writing parts

Listening

~30 min

4 parts, 25 questions

Speaking

12 min

4 parts, paired with another candidate

Reading & Use of English — part by part

  1. Part 1 — Multiple Choice (Short Texts) — signs, notices, messages
  2. Part 2 — Matching — match 5 people to 8 short texts
  3. Part 3 — True/False or Multiple Choice — single longer text
  4. Part 4 — Gapped Text (Missing Sentences)
  5. Part 5 — Multiple Choice Cloze — vocabulary in context
  6. Part 6 — Open Cloze — grammar gaps, no options given

Writing

Part 1 is a short email (around 100 words). Part 2 lets you choose between an article or a story (around 100 words). Both are scored on Content, Communicative Achievement, Organisation and Language.

Sample PET question

A typical Part 1 item from a recent PET mock exam.

PET · Part 1 · Short Text

WET FLOOR — Please use the other entrance

What does this sign mean?

A · The floor is being painted today
✓B · The floor is slippery — please go in another way
C · Workers are coming in through this entrance
D · Water deliveries arrive here

How PET is scored

Scores run from 140 to 170 on the Cambridge English Scale. 140 = grade Pass with Merit at A2, 153+ = grade Pass at B1, 160+ = grade Pass with Merit at B1, 167+ = grade Pass with Distinction. Below 140 you receive an A2 Key certificate instead.

Practise PET by paper

Drill into one skill at a time — full part-by-part breakdowns, sample questions and study tips.

Common PET questions

How hard is the PET exam?

The PET sits at CEFR B1, which Cambridge describes as intermediate. You can handle most everyday situations: ordering food, writing short emails, following short conversations on familiar topics. It's typically the first formal Cambridge exam students take after Cambridge English: Key (KET, A2).

How long does the PET exam take?

About 2 hours and 20 minutes total — 45 minutes reading + 45 minutes writing + roughly 30 minutes listening + 12 minutes speaking. The speaking test is taken separately and is paired with another candidate.

Is PET accepted by universities?

Many universities and employers accept the PET as proof of intermediate English, but most degree programmes ask for B2 First (FCE) or higher. PET is most commonly used for school-leaving English certification in Europe and as a stepping stone to FCE.

Ready to start practising for PET?

Free to start. No downloads. Auto-marked Reading, Writing and Listening with detailed per-question explanations.

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