B1 Preliminary
Four papers, four equal quarters. The cleanest arithmetic on the whole Cambridge ladder, and the level at which everyday English becomes a certificate.
Where these figures come from
Papers, durations, parts, questions and weightings were read from Cambridge English's own B1 Preliminary exam format page. The grade table was read from Cambridge's results page.
Cambridge materials are linked, never copied. No question, task or mark-scheme wording is reproduced; the methods on this page are RCF English's own. RCF English is not affiliated with, endorsed by or approved by Cambridge English.
The four papers
| Paper | Time | Parts and questions | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 45 minutes | 6 parts / 32 questions | 25% |
| Writing | 45 minutes | 2 parts / 2 questions | 25% |
| Listening | 30 minutes, including 6 minutes' transfer time | 4 parts / 25 questions | 25% |
| Speaking | 10-12 minutes per pair of candidates; 15-17 minutes per group of three | 4 parts | 25% |
Four skills, four equal quarters
B1 Preliminary is the straightforward one. Each of the four papers is worth exactly 25%, and your overall score is the average of the four.
This matters because it makes neglect expensive in a way candidates underestimate. Speaking is a quarter of the qualification and takes eleven minutes; Reading is a quarter and takes forty-five. A candidate who never practises speaking has given away as much as one who never practises reading.
It also differs from the levels above it. At B2 First and C1 Advanced there are five scored components, not four, because Use of English is counted separately. Do not carry the arithmetic from one level to the next.
Grades and what they certify
| Cambridge English Scale score | Grade | CEFR level certified |
|---|---|---|
| 160-170 | Grade A | B2 |
| 153-159 | Grade B | B1 |
| 140-152 | Grade C | B1 |
| 120-139 | Level A2 | A2 |
The two things this table is telling you
You can pass upwards. A score of 160 or above on a B1 examination earns a certificate stating B2. That is a real result, not a consolation, and for some candidates it is a cheaper route to a B2 certificate than entering B2 First and failing it.
You can pass downwards. A score between 120 and 139 still produces a certificate, at A2. You are not left with nothing, which is the fear that pushes candidates into entering a level below the one they could reach.
Paper by paper
Reading: 45 minutes, 6 parts, 32 questions
- Forty-five minutes for thirty-two questions is about eighty seconds each, and the parts are not equally hard. Move on from anything that has taken two minutes and come back.
- The parts move from short notices and messages towards longer continuous texts. Do the short parts quickly and buy yourself time for the long ones, not the other way round.
- Answer every question. There is no penalty for a wrong answer at this level, so a blank is a guaranteed nought and a guess is not.
- Practise with a clock from the start. Candidates rarely fail this paper on comprehension; they fail it on the last six questions.
Writing: 45 minutes, 2 parts
- Two pieces in forty-five minutes means about twenty minutes each, with five to check. The checking is not optional at this level - it is where the easy marks are.
- Answer the question that was set. The commonest way to lose marks here is a well-written piece that covers two of the three things asked for.
- Hold the register. An email to a friend and a piece written for a teacher do not sound the same, and the difference is assessed.
- Length is a guide, not a target. Going far over costs time and adds errors; going far under leaves content marks unclaimed.
Listening: 30 minutes, 4 parts, 25 questions
- Six of those thirty minutes are transfer time, so the listening itself is shorter than the figure suggests. Know that before the day.
- Read the questions in the pause before each part. Knowing what you are listening for is most of this paper.
- You hear everything twice. Use the first listening for the answer and the second for the ones you missed, rather than trying to be certain first time.
- Write something for every question, even on the first listening. An answer you improve is better than a blank you run out of time to fill.
Speaking: 10-12 minutes, 4 parts
- You are examined with a partner, and part of what is assessed is how you interact with them. Listen and respond rather than delivering a prepared turn.
- Do not rescue a silent partner by talking over them, and do not go quiet if they dominate. The examiner is assessing you, and both extremes cost you.
- Extend your answers. A one-word answer gives the assessor nothing to credit. Give the answer, then a reason or an example.
- Accuracy matters less than range and communication at this level. Say the more interesting thing imperfectly rather than the dull thing safely.
- It is a quarter of the qualification and it is over in eleven minutes. Practise it out loud with somebody, not silently in your head.
Related pages
B2 First
The next level up, and the one most often asked for by universities and employers.
Cambridge English overview
The whole ladder from Pre A1 Starters to C2 Proficiency, with every grade table.
Practical English: the four skills
Reading, writing, listening and speaking practice that transfers to any of these levels.