B2 First
Four papers, but five scored components. The one arithmetic fact that changes how you should revise for this examination.
Where these figures come from
Papers, durations, parts and questions were read from Cambridge English's own B2 First exam format page. The grade table was read from Cambridge's results page.
A note on the weightings. Cambridge's format page prints 40% against Reading and Use of English and 20% against Writing. It prints no percentage against Listening or Speaking. The five-component model described below is Cambridge's own published scoring method, and it is what reconciles the 40%.
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 as printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading and Use of English | 1 hour 15 minutes | 7 parts / 52 questions | 40% |
| Writing | 1 hour 20 minutes | 2 parts - Part 1 one compulsory question, Part 2 one question from a choice of four | 20% |
| Listening | about 40 minutes | 4 parts / 30 questions | not printed |
| Speaking | 14 minutes per pair of candidates | 4 parts | not printed |
Four papers, five scores - and this is the thing to understand
Your overall result is the average of five separate component scores: Reading, Use of English, Writing, Listening and Speaking. Each is weighted equally, at one fifth of the total.
Reading and Use of English is one paper carrying two of those five components. That is why it is printed at 40% while the other papers are worth 20% each - and it is why Listening and Speaking, with no percentage printed beside them, are each worth exactly as much as Writing.
What this changes in practice. Use of English is not a supporting skill on this examination; it is a fifth of your grade in its own right, and it is the component most candidates treat as grammar practice to be fitted in around the reading. An hour a week on Use of English is worth the same as an hour a week on Speaking, and more than most candidates believe.
Grades and what they certify
| Cambridge English Scale score | Grade | CEFR level certified |
|---|---|---|
| 180-190 | Grade A | C1 |
| 173-179 | Grade B | B2 |
| 160-172 | Grade C | B2 |
| 140-159 | Level B1 | B1 |
Choosing between B2 First and C1 Advanced
A Grade A at B2 First certifies C1 - the same level certified by a Grade C at C1 Advanced. If C1 is what you need and you are on the boundary, that is a genuine choice rather than a trick.
The honest test: enter the level you can already nearly reach. These are level examinations, not banded tests. Entering a level far above you produces a low certificate or none, not a stretched performance.
And the safety net is real. A score between 140 and 159 on B2 First still certifies B1. You do not walk away with nothing.
Paper by paper
Reading and Use of English: 1 hour 15 minutes, 7 parts, 52 questions
- Seventy-five minutes for fifty-two questions is under ninety seconds each, and this paper carries two of your five component scores. It is the tightest paper on the examination for time.
- Split your practice the way the marks split. The Use of English parts and the Reading parts are scored separately, so working only through reading passages leaves a fifth of your grade untouched.
- The Use of English parts reward precision, not comprehension. You can understand a sentence perfectly and still lose the mark on the form of the word. Learn word families, not just meanings.
- Transfer answers as you go if you are allowed to, rather than leaving it to the end.
- Never leave a blank. No penalty for a wrong answer means a blank is the only guaranteed nought on the paper.
Writing: 1 hour 20 minutes, 2 parts
- Part 1 is compulsory and Part 2 is one from four. Read all five prompts before you choose, and choose on which gives you material rather than which topic you like.
- Forty minutes each. Plan for five, write for thirty, check for five. The check is worth more than the extra paragraph.
- The task tells you the reader and the purpose. Both are assessed. An essay, a review, an email and a report do not open the same way, and the first sentence should already sound like the right one.
- Cover every content point. Part 1 in particular sets specific points to address, and missing one caps the content mark however well the rest is written.
- Range is assessed as well as accuracy. A safe, simple piece with no errors scores below an ambitious one with a few - but not below a careless one.
Listening: about 40 minutes, 4 parts, 30 questions
- A full fifth of your grade, in forty minutes. Treat it as a paper, not as revision you do while tired.
- You hear everything twice. First listening for the answer, second for the gaps - do not try to be certain on the first pass.
- Read ahead in the pauses. Knowing what is being asked is most of the work.
- Answer every question before the second listening ends, even if you are unsure. An answer you revise beats a blank you run out of time for.
- Practise with a range of accents, not only the one your teacher has.
Speaking: 14 minutes per pair, 4 parts
- A fifth of the qualification, in fourteen minutes, with a partner. The interaction is assessed, not just your English.
- Part 2 is a long turn. Practise speaking for a full minute without stopping, on a picture you have not seen before. Most candidates have never once done this out loud before the day.
- Do not answer the question you prepared. Examiners recognise rehearsed material instantly, and it scores below genuine hesitant speech.
- Engage with your partner in the collaborative parts - agree, disagree, ask them something. Two monologues score below one conversation.
- Keep going when you make a mistake. Self-correction is credited; stopping is not.
Related pages
C1 Advanced
The next level up, with eight parts in the Reading and Use of English paper.
B1 Preliminary
The level below, with four equally weighted papers.
Cambridge English overview
The whole ladder, with every grade table.
IELTS
The other route, if your university asks for a band score rather than a level.