How to Take the PET (B1 Preliminary): Four Papers, Question Types, Scoring, Certificates, and Differences from KET
PET is the Cambridge English B1 Preliminary exam, corresponding to CEFR Level B1. Based on the Cambridge English website and official documents, this article outlines the duration, question types, and weightings of the four papers, the Cambridge English Scale scoring and grades, certificate requirements, practice test score conversions, main differences from KET, as well as when to take the exam and how to prepare.
PET is the B1 Preliminary exam from Cambridge English, corresponding to Level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). It is the level above A2 Key (KET) and below B2 First. It has two versions: B1 Preliminary for Schools (for school students) and B1 Preliminary (for adults). Both are at the same level and have the same exam format; the only difference is that the Schools version features content more tailored to the interests and experiences of school-aged students. Based on information and official documents published on the Cambridge English website, this article explains what the PET exam covers, how it is scored, how the certificate is used, and how it differs from the KET. For our PET course details, please see PET Training.
I. Basic Information
- CEFR Level: B1 (also reliably assesses the higher B2 and lower A2 levels);
- Cambridge English Scale Score: 140–159 corresponds to B1;
- Exam Components: 4 papers—Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking;
- Exam Duration: Approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes;
- Exam Format: Computer-based or paper-based; both formats have the same question types. The official website states that both formats award the same certificate, so preparation methods do not need to change; the specific format depends on the arrangement of the test center where you register.
The official website states that passing the B1 Preliminary shows that a candidate can: read simple English textbooks and articles; write letters and emails about everyday topics; understand factual information; and identify opinions and feelings in spoken and written English.
II. The Four Papers
| Paper | Duration | Number of Questions | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 45 minutes | 6 parts, 32 questions | 25% |
| Writing | 45 minutes | 2 parts, 2 questions | 25% |
| Listening | Approx. 30 minutes (including 6 minutes transfer time) | 4 parts, 25 questions | 25% |
| Speaking | 10–12 minutes per pair of candidates (15–17 minutes for groups of three) | 4 parts | 25% |
Reading: 6 Parts, 1 Point per Question
- Part 1 Multiple-choice (5 questions): Read 5 short texts such as notices and messages from everyday life to understand the main message;
- Part 2 Matching (5 questions): Match 5 character descriptions with 8 short texts on the same topic to test detailed comprehension;
- Part 3 Multiple-choice (5 questions): Read a longer text to test detailed comprehension, main idea, inference, overall meaning, as well as the author's attitude and opinions;
- Part 4 Gapped text (5 questions): A longer text with 5 sentences removed; put the sentences back in their correct places to test understanding of text structure and coherence;
- Part 5 Multiple-choice cloze (6 questions): Read a shorter text and choose the correct words to fill in the blanks;
- Part 6 Open cloze (6 questions): Read a shorter text and fill in each blank with one word.
For answering strategies for each part, see How to Tackle the PET Reading Test.
Writing: 2 Parts, About 100 Words Each
- Part 1 Email (compulsory): Write a reply of about 100 words based on a given email and prompt notes, with a maximum score of 20;
- Part 2 Article or story (choice of two): Write an article or a story of about 100 words, with a maximum score of 20.
The Writing paper has a maximum score of 40, graded on four criteria: Content, Communicative Achievement, Organisation, and Language. Each criterion is scored from 0 to 5 in whole numbers only. For the requirements and grading criteria for both parts, see How to Tackle the PET Writing Test.
Listening: 4 Parts, Each Recording Played Twice
- Part 1 (7 questions): Listen to 7 short monologues or dialogues, identify key information, and choose the correct pictures;
- Part 2 (6 questions): Listen to 6 short dialogues and understand the main idea of each;
- Part 3 (6 questions): Listen to a monologue and complete 6 fill-in-the-blank questions;
- Part 4 (6 questions): Listen to an interview, understand the details, and identify attitudes and opinions.
Each question is worth 1 point. For listening strategies for each part and the differences between computer-based and paper-based tests, see How to Tackle the PET Listening Test.
Speaking: 4 Parts, Two to Three Candidates Tested Together
- Part 1 Interview (2 minutes): Answer questions and provide factual or personal information;
- Part 2 Individual long turn (3 minutes): Each candidate describes a color photograph for about 1 minute;
- Part 3 Collaborative task (4 minutes): Discuss with your partner, make suggestions, respond to suggestions, discuss different options, and negotiate a decision;
- Part 4 Discussion (3 minutes): Talk about likes, dislikes, experiences, opinions, habits, etc.
The official website states that the Speaking test is conducted face-to-face with one or two other candidates, with two examiners: one who interacts with the candidates (who may be remote) and another who only listens. According to the official conversion guide, the assessing examiner scores Grammar and Vocabulary, Discourse Management, Pronunciation, and Interactive Communication, while the interacting examiner gives an overall performance score. The Speaking test has a maximum score of 30, and half points can be awarded. For the exam process and grading criteria, see How to Tackle the PET Speaking Test.
III. What Are the Differences Between PET and KET?
| KET (A2 Key) | PET (B1 Preliminary) | |
|---|---|---|
| CEFR Level | A2 | B1 |
| Corresponding Scale Score | 120–139 | 140–159 |
| Papers | 3: Reading and Writing combined into one paper (1 hour) | 4: Reading and Writing are separate (45 minutes each) |
| Total Duration | Approx. 2 hours | Approx. 2 hours 20 minutes |
| Writing | Short email of 25+ words + picture-based story of 35+ words | Email reply of approx. 100 words + article or story of approx. 100 words (choice of two) |
| Listening | 5 parts, 25 questions | 4 parts, 25 questions |
| Speaking | 2 parts, 8–10 minutes | 4 parts, 10–12 minutes, with an added individual long turn |
The most obvious changes are in Writing and Speaking: the Writing task shifts from short texts of a few dozen words to complete articles of about 100 words, requiring attention to text type; the Speaking test adds a section where each candidate independently describes a photograph, requiring them to speak continuously for about 1 minute. For details on the KET, see How to Tackle the KET.
IV. Results and Certificates
B1 Preliminary results are reported using the Cambridge English Scale: Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking each receive a scale score. The four skills are equally weighted, and the average is calculated to give the overall score, along with the grade and CEFR level. The grade is determined by overall performance across the entire exam; there is no minimum score required for each individual paper.
| Cambridge English Scale Score | Grade | CEFR Level |
|---|---|---|
| 160–170 | A | B2 |
| 153–159 | B | B1 |
| 140–152 | C | B1 |
| 120–139 | A2 Level | A2 |
- 102–119: The scale score will be shown on the Statement of Results, but no certificate is issued;
- Certificate Content: Scale scores for each of the four skills, overall score, grade, and CEFR level;
- Results Release: For computer-based tests, results are generally available 5–10 working days after the exam; for paper-based tests, 4–6 weeks;
- Certificate Delivery: For computer-based tests, the physical certificate is usually sent to the test center within 3–4 weeks; for paper-based tests, 7–10 weeks after the exam;
- Validity: Cambridge English certificates do not expire, but institutions may decide for themselves how long they accept results;
- Results Verification: Candidates can register for the official free online results service, and institutions can verify results online using the candidate's ID number and date of birth.
What Level Do Practice Test Scores Roughly Correspond To?
Cambridge has provided a conversion table using official practice tests to estimate scale scores for each skill:
| Cambridge English Scale Score | Reading (out of 32) | Writing (out of 40) | Listening (out of 25) | Speaking (out of 30) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 160 (B2) | 29 | 34 | 23 | 27 |
| 140 (B1) | 23 | 24 | 18 | 18 |
| 120 (A2) | 13 | 16 | 11 | 12 |
| 102 (Minimum reported score) | 5 | 10 | 5 | 7 |
According to the official guidelines, this table applies only to official practice tests and is for reference only; it cannot accurately predict actual exam scores. Students scoring near the cutoff (within about 3 scale points above or below) are advised to continue improving.
5. When to Take the PET
The official website positions B1 Preliminary as the natural next step between A2 Key and B2 First. Here are some practical recommendations:
- Scored Grade A in KET (above 140): This indicates a B1 level has been reached, and you can start preparing for PET directly;
- Have not taken KET: Take a proficiency assessment first, or estimate your level using official practice tests. Register when your scores in each section are around 140;
- Focus on writing and speaking: Moving from KET to PET, the word count for writing and the duration for speaking increase significantly. It is recommended to practice writing 100-word emails and articles, and speaking continuously for 1 minute in advance.
For details on how the score ranges for KET and PET overlap and how to determine which exam your child should take, see How to Choose Between KET and PET. For the next level up from PET, B2 First, see How to Prepare for B2 First, and for how to choose between the two, see How to Choose Between PET and B2 First.
6. How to Prepare
Here are some practical recommendations:
- Refer to the official vocabulary list: Cambridge has released an official vocabulary list for B1 Preliminary, which can be used to identify and fill knowledge gaps;
- Practice reading longer texts: The texts in Parts 3 and 4 are longer. Practice grasping the structure and inferring the author's attitude;
- Practice writing in two formats: For the email reply in Part 1, make sure to cover every point in the prompt notes. For Part 2, decide before the exam whether you are better at writing an article or a story, and practice both;
- Practice listening for interviews and attitudes: Part 4 is an interview. Practice identifying the speakers' opinions and attitudes;
- Practice speaking with photo descriptions and discussions: When describing a photo, clearly state who is in it, where they are, and what they are doing. During the discussion, practice making suggestions, responding to your partner, and reaching a conclusion;
- Familiarize yourself with the question types using official sample papers: The Cambridge English website provides sample papers for all four components. Complete at least a few full sets before the exam;
- Confirm the exam format: Before registering, check with the test center to confirm whether it is a computer-based or paper-based exam, as well as the exam date and score release date.
Final Thoughts
PET (B1 Preliminary) is the B1 level exam in the Cambridge English Qualifications. It consists of four papers testing reading, writing, listening, and speaking, taking about 2 hours and 20 minutes in total, with each skill accounting for 25%. Scores are reported on the Cambridge English Scale, with 140–159 corresponding to B1, and the certificate is valid for life. Compared to KET, the requirements for writing and speaking are significantly higher. If you want to know if your child is ready to take the PET now, you can book our free assessment.
Verification note: This article was verified in September 2026. Information on the levels, differences, Cambridge English Scale score ranges, exam format, number of papers, and duration of B1 Preliminary and B1 Preliminary for Schools, what candidates can do upon passing, and its positioning between A2 Key and B2 First, is sourced from the B1 Preliminary overview page on the Cambridge English website. The duration, number of questions, weightings, and question types for each part of the four papers, as well as the speaking exam format, are from the official exam format page. Information on score grades and their CEFR correspondence, no certificate issued for 102–119 scores, the ability to assess B2 and A2 levels, score release and certificate dispatch times, certificate validity, and online verification, is from the official results page. The content displayed on the certificate is from the Cambridge "B1 Preliminary Handbook for teachers" (2024 edition). Information on individual scoring for the four skills with equal weightings, no minimum score required for individual papers, the assessment criteria and maximum scores for writing and speaking, and the conversion table between practice test scores and scale scores, is from the Cambridge "The Cambridge English Scale explained: A guide to converting practice test scores" (2023 edition). The official vocabulary list can be found on the B1 Preliminary preparation page of the Cambridge website. The comparative data for KET was verified in article 244 on this site. The recommendations on when to take PET and how to prepare are based on our practical experience.
References:
- Cambridge English：B1 Preliminary for Schools and B1 Preliminary
- Cambridge English：B1 Preliminary exam format
- Cambridge English：Results
- Cambridge English：B1 Preliminary Handbook for teachers（PDF）
- Cambridge English：B1 Preliminary Vocabulary List（PDF）
- Cambridge English：Converting practice test scores to Cambridge English Scale scores（PDF）