How to Tackle PET (B1 Preliminary) Reading: Question Types and Official Answering Strategies Across 6 Parts

PET (B1 Preliminary) Reading is a separate paper: 45 minutes, 6 parts, 32 questions, 1 mark per question, counted as a separate component, making up one quarter of the total score. We introduced the entire exam in How to Take the PET; this article focuses specifically on Reading: what each part tests, official recommendations on how to approach them, and what practice test scores roughly correspond to in terms of proficiency. This is based on the exam format page on the Cambridge English website, the B1 Preliminary Handbook for Teachers (2024 edition), and the official Cambridge practice test score conversion guide. The exam format for B1 Preliminary for Schools and B1 Preliminary is the same, so the following content applies to both versions.

I. Structure of the Reading Paper

• Total score is 32 marks, 1 mark per question;
• Text sources: The handbook states that reading texts are adapted from real-world materials as much as possible, such as notices and signs, packaging instructions, notes, emails and text messages, newspapers, simplified encyclopedias and non-fiction, brochures, and websites;
• Paper-based test: For Parts 1–5, mark your answers on the answer sheet; for Part 6, write the words on the answer sheet; no extra time is given to transfer answers, and everything must be completed within 45 minutes;
• Computer-based test: Answers are entered directly into the computer, with a countdown timer on the screen, and you can use the highlight tool to mark keywords; you can take notes on paper during the test, but leave them on the desk afterward.

Compared to the KET, the main changes in the PET Reading paper are in three areas: Parts 3 and 5 change from 3-option multiple-choice to 4-option multiple-choice; Part 4 (sentence gap-fill) is added to test text structure; and Part 2 changes from "3 short texts with 7 questions" to "5 people with 8 short texts" (for KET Reading, see KET Reading and Writing).

II. The Six Parts: What They Test and How to Approach Them

The "what they test" and "how to approach them" for each part below are compiled based on the teacher's handbook.

Part 1: Short Texts, Finding the Main Message

What it tests: 5 short texts (notices, messages, etc.), each with one 3-option multiple-choice question.

How to approach it: First, determine the context where the text would appear (visual information like layout and position can help); then read the 3 options and compare each with the original text; after making a choice, read it again to ensure the meaning truly matches.

Part 2: Five People, Eight Short Texts

What it tests: Detailed understanding of factual material. 5 descriptions of people, each with several specific requirements; 8 short texts on the same topic. Find the most suitable text for each person; 3 texts will not be used.

How to approach it: First, read the 5 people's descriptions; then carefully read the 8 short texts, highlighting parts that match the descriptions; then check each requirement one by one to confirm the text meets all the requirements in the description. The handbook specifically warns: do not choose a text just because one or two words match between the description and the text ("word spotting"); look at the overall meaning of the paragraph.

Tip (practical advice): You can break down each person's requirements into two or three key conditions, such as "classes on weekends, experienced teachers, affordable price," and check them off paragraph by paragraph. If a text only meets two of the conditions, it is likely a distractor.

Part 3: Longer Text, Opinions and Attitudes

What it tests: A text expressing opinions or attitudes, with 5 4-option multiple-choice questions. You need to understand the writer's attitude or opinion (or the opinions of others cited by the writer), as well as the details and overall meaning of the text.

How to approach it: Skim first to understand the topic and gist; then reread carefully; answer each question by comparing every option with the original text before choosing; finally, check the original text one more time. The handbook notes that in the sample paper, the first 4 questions follow the order of information in the text, while the last question tests the overall meaning.

Part 4: Sentence Gap-Fill, Looking at Structure

What it tests: A longer text with 5 gaps, each missing a sentence; 8 sentences are provided after the text. Choose 5 to put back in the correct places; 3 will not be used. It tests whether you can follow the narrative and the attitudes/opinions within it, and understand how a coherent, well-structured text is organized.

How to approach it: Read the whole text first to understand the narrative; choose a sentence for each gap; check that the chosen sentence connects grammatically and logically with the text before and after the gap; after choosing, think about why the other sentences are inappropriate; read the whole text again after filling in all gaps.

Tip (practical advice): Pay attention to pronouns (it, they, this), time words (then, later), and conjunctions (but, so) in the sentences; they can help you determine the relationship between the sentence and the text before and after the gap.

Part 5: Multiple-Choice Cloze, Mainly Testing Vocabulary

What it tests: A short text with 6 gaps, choosing one word or phrase out of 4 for each gap. It mainly tests vocabulary, but also some grammar, such as collocation patterns (what form follows a word).

How to approach it: Skim to get the gist; read the whole sentence for each question before choosing; figure out why the other three options are wrong; read the whole text again after filling in all gaps.

Example (created by us, not an actual exam question): My teacher ___ me to enter the writing competition.
A suggested B advised C made D said
The answer is B. All four words make sense in meaning; the difference lies in the structure that follows: "advise sb to do" is correct; "suggest" and "say" cannot be followed by "sb to do"; "make sb do" does not take "to" afterward. This is what the handbook refers to as "collocation patterns."

Part 6: Open Cloze, Testing Grammar and Fixed Collocations

What it tests: A short text with 6 gaps, no options provided; you need to think of one word to fill each gap yourself. It mainly tests grammatical structures, as well as some phrasal verbs and common fixed collocations.

How to approach it: Skim the whole text to get the gist; think of a word that makes sense for each gap; ensure correct spelling; read the whole text again after filling in all gaps.

Example (created by us, not an actual exam question): I'm really looking forward ___ seeing you next week.
The answer is to ("look forward to doing" is a fixed collocation). In the answers for the handbook's sample paper, this part is filled with function words like every/each, if, to, so, and of.

III. What Proficiency Level Do Practice Test Scores Roughly Correspond To?

Cambridge officially provides a conversion table using official practice tests to estimate the Reading scale score (out of 32):

The official guidelines state that this table only applies to official practice tests and should be used as a reference only; it cannot accurately predict formal exam scores. Students near the score boundaries (within about 3 scale points above or below) are advised to keep improving. Simply put: a practice test Reading score of 23 roughly corresponds to the B1 starting score of 140, and 29 roughly corresponds to the B2 score of 160.

IV. Common Reasons for Losing Marks

Here is a summary based on experience:

• Part 2 "word spotting": Choosing an option just because of matching words without checking all requirements;
• Part 3 answering with your own opinion: Choosing a statement you agree with instead of the writer's opinion;
• Part 4 only looking at the sentence before the gap: Failing to check if it connects with the sentence after;
• Part 5 focusing only on meaning, not structure: All four words make sense, but ignoring the form that should follow;
• Part 6 spelling errors or filling in two words: Only one word is allowed per gap, and it must be spelled correctly;
• Poor time management: Spending too much time on Parts 2 and 3, leaving no time for the gap-fill sections later; running out of time to transfer answers in the paper-based test.

V. How to Practice

The first six points below are recommendations from the handbook, and the last two are our practical advice:

1. Read a variety of texts: Read social media comments, flyers, graded readers, and articles—both authentic and adapted;
2. Practice skimming and scanning: Make it a habit to skim through the text first to get the main idea;
3. Learn to skip unknown words: Practice reading texts with unfamiliar words; ignore words that don't affect your answers; guess meanings from context instead of looking up every single word in the dictionary;
4. Read instructions carefully: Highlight key words (use a pen on paper or the highlight tool on a computer), and use the examples to understand what is required;
5. Practice under timed conditions: Practice completing the entire test within the time limit and learn to manage your own time;
6. Read from different perspectives: Look for specific information when reading flyers, and think about how to reply when reading comments;
7. Build up collocations and phrasal verbs: Parts 5 and 6 test collocations and fixed phrases. Organize them by "verb + to do / doing / preposition" and use the official Cambridge B1 Preliminary vocabulary list to fill in any gaps;
8. Categorize mistakes by section: See which section you lose the most points in, determine whether it's a comprehension issue or a vocabulary and grammar issue, and then practice accordingly.

Final Thoughts

The PET Reading test is 45 minutes long, has 6 parts and 32 questions, and is graded as a separate skill. The first four parts test comprehension: Part 2 requires checking all conditions, Part 3 requires distinguishing the author's viewpoint, and Part 4 requires coherence between the preceding and following texts; the last two parts test language: Part 5 focuses on collocations, and Part 6 requires coming up with a correctly spelled word. By practicing each part according to official methods, you can consistently score well in Reading. If you want to understand your child's current reading level, you can book our free assessment.

Verification note: This article was verified in September 2026: The duration of the Reading test, the question types, number of questions, and scoring for the 6 parts are sourced from the B1 Preliminary exam format page on the official Cambridge English website and the Cambridge "B1 Preliminary Handbook for teachers" (2024 edition); Parts 3 and 5 are multiple-choice with four options. For the tested content and answering methods of each part: Part 2 matches eight short texts to five people, Part 4 requires choosing three out of eight sentences, Part 3's sample test first 4 questions follow the original text order while the last question tests overall meaning, Part 5 may test collocations, and Part 6 tests grammatical structures, phrasal verbs, and fixed collocations with correct spelling. The sources of the texts, the answering rules for paper-based and computer-based tests, sample test answers, and preparation advice are from the aforementioned teacher's handbook; the separate scoring for the four skills, as well as the conversion table and instructions for converting practice test scores to scale scores, are from the Cambridge "The Cambridge English Scale explained: A guide to converting practice test scores" (2023 edition); the comparison with KET Reading has been verified in article No. 245 on this site. The examples for Parts 5 and 6 are created by us and are not actual test questions; the tips for Parts 2 and 4, common reasons for losing points, and the last two practice suggestions are our empirical recommendations.

References:

• Cambridge English: B1 Preliminary exam format
• Cambridge English: B1 Preliminary Handbook for teachers (PDF)
• Cambridge English: Converting practice test scores to Cambridge English Scale scores (PDF)
• Cambridge English: B1 Preliminary Vocabulary List (PDF)