How to Write for the PET (B1 Preliminary): Requirements for the Email, Article, and Story, and the Four Assessment Criteria

The writing section of the PET (B1 Preliminary) is a separate paper: 45 minutes, 2 parts, with each part requiring about 100 words. Each part is worth 20 points, making a total of 40 points for the paper. It is graded as a separate component, accounting for one-quarter of the total score. Compared to the 25-word and 35-word short texts in the KET, the PET requires writing two complete short texts while paying attention to the appropriate style. We have covered the entire exam in How to Take the PET, and there is also a dedicated article on PET Reading. This article focuses specifically on writing: what the two parts test, official recommendations on how to write, and the grading criteria used by examiners. The information 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 is the same for both B1 Preliminary for Schools and B1 Preliminary, so the following content applies to both versions.

I. Structure of the Writing Paper

• Computer-based exam: There is a countdown timer on the screen, and the word count is displayed automatically; the handbook recommends practicing typing and editing on a computer beforehand;
• Paper-based exam: The questions are in a question booklet, and answers are written in a separate lined answer booklet; handwriting must be clear, and you can use uppercase, lowercase, cursive, or print, as long as corrections are legible. The handbook suggests practicing to get a feel for "how long about 100 words is" so you don't waste time counting words during the exam.

II. Part 1: Writing a Reply (Compulsory)

What the prompt looks like: The prompt provides a 100–120 word email, with 4 notes next to it, connected by lines to the corresponding parts of the email. The prompt sets the context, who you are writing to, and why you are writing; the 4 notes represent the 4 content points you must cover.

What is tested: Covering all 4 points in a reply of about 100 words, while demonstrating the use of "language functions," such as agreeing, disagreeing, expressing opinions, offering help, and explaining reasons.

How to write (handbook recommendations):

• Clarify before you start: who you are writing to, why you are writing, and what to include in the reply;
• Read the email carefully to ensure all 4 notes are addressed;
• Do not memorize model essays, as memorized answers may not fit the exam prompt;
• Outline before writing to ensure a clear structure and relevant content;
• Read through your writing when finished to check if the meaning is clear and all 4 points are covered.

Example (created by us, not an actual exam prompt): Your friend Alex emails to invite you to the school sports day, asking which event you want to join, what to do for lunch, and if you can come to his house the night before. The 4 notes are: ① "Say which event you want to join" ② "Suggest..." ③ "Yes! Say how you will get there" ④ "Ask Alex...".

Hi Alex,
Thanks for your email. I'd love to come to the sports day! I think I'll join the football match, because I'm not very fast at running but I play football with my friends every weekend.
For lunch, why don't we make some sandwiches together? We could also bring some fruit and cold drinks, because it will probably be hot.
Yes, I can come to your house the night before. My dad will drive me there after dinner.
By the way, what time does the sports day start? And should I bring my own football boots?
See you soon,
Lin

About 100 words. Each note has a corresponding paragraph; expressions like because, why don't we, could, and by the way are used to fulfill functions such as explaining reasons, making suggestions, and asking questions; the opening and closing use a friendly tone.

III. Part 2: Article or Story (Choose One)

What the prompt looks like:

• Article: The prompt provides a call for submissions from a magazine or website, specifying a topic, usually with several questions to answer. The topic in the handbook sample paper is movies: What kind of movies do you like? Do you prefer watching them at the cinema or at home? Why?
• Story: The prompt provides the first sentence of a story, and the candidate must continue writing, maintaining a clear connection to the opening sentence.

How to write (handbook recommendations):

• Choose the right prompt for you: Look at the topics of both questions, as well as their language requirements (e.g., what vocabulary is needed), before deciding which one to write;
• Outline first: Ensure a clear structure and relevant content;
• Keep the story consistent with the opening sentence: Pay attention to the names and pronouns in the opening sentence and maintain the same perspective. For example, if it starts in the third person, continue in the third person;
• Practice under timed conditions: Finish on time within the recommended word count.

Writing approach (practical tips):

• Article: Start with an engaging hook (such as a question), answer each question from the prompt one by one with reasons, and conclude with a single sentence summarizing your opinion;
• Story: Write in three parts—beginning, development, and ending—using the past tense. Add time markers (then, suddenly, in the end) to advance the plot, and make sure the ending resolves the story;
• Decide your preference before the exam: Practice both types so you know which one you are better at before the test, which will help you choose faster during the exam.

IV. How Examiners Grade

Both parts use the same grading criteria: Content, Communicative Achievement, Organisation, and Language, each scored from 0 to 5. Each part is worth a maximum of 20 points, and only whole numbers are awarded:

• Content: How well the task is fulfilled, meaning whether it is written as required;
• Communicative Achievement: Whether the writing fits the task requirements and uses an appropriate register—this includes style, format, and tone. For example, an email to a friend should not be written like a formal report;
• Organisation: Whether the text is logical and well-organized;
• Language: Vocabulary and grammar, assessed for both range and accuracy.

The handbook's descriptions for the 5, 3, and 1 score bands are roughly as follows (scores of 4 and 2 fall between the adjacent bands):

As shown in the table, a score of 5 in Communicative Achievement, Organisation, and Language corresponds to the B2 level descriptors, while a score of 3 corresponds to the B1 level. In other words, to get a high score, your language and organization need to be slightly above the basic B1 requirements.

Handbook Notes on Word Count and Errors

• Word count: Each question provides a word count guideline. Writing too little may result in an insufficient range of language and incomplete information; writing too much may include irrelevant content, which can negatively affect the reader. Both situations can affect the score in the relevant criteria;
• Consistent spelling: You can use either British or American English, but you must be consistent. Do not mix British and American spelling for the same word;
• Dare to use a range of language: The handbook encourages candidates to use a variety of tenses, expressions, and vocabulary, even if there are minor errors; it is important to fully demonstrate your language ability;
• Errors that do not impede communication may not be penalized: Minor errors in spelling, grammar, or punctuation will not necessarily be penalized if they do not affect understanding; errors that impede understanding or cause a breakdown in communication will be treated more strictly.

What Level Do Practice Test Scores Correspond To?

Cambridge has provided a conversion table for estimating the writing scale score (out of 40) using official practice tests:

According to 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 grade boundaries (within about 3 scale points above or below) are advised to keep improving. Simply put: a combined score of 24 for the two tasks (an average of 12 per task, or about 3 points per item) roughly corresponds to the B1 starting score of 140.

5. Common Reasons for Losing Points

Here is a summary based on our experience:

• Missing notes in Part 1: Addressing only 3 out of the 4 notes will affect the content score;
• Incorrect tone: Writing a reply to a friend like a formal document, or writing an article like a casual chat;
• Story disconnected from the opening sentence: Starting with Lou and then switching to I, or the plot having no connection to the opening sentence;
• Article doesn't answer the questions in the prompt: Writing about a related topic but not answering each specific question;
• Using only the simplest sentences: Relying on and, but, and very good throughout, resulting in repetitive vocabulary and sentence structures;
• Too many or too few words: Writing 60 words leaves information incomplete, while writing 180 words makes it easy to go off-topic and leaves less time for checking.

6. How to Practice

The first five points below are from the handbook, and the last two are our experience-based suggestions:

1. Familiarize yourself with the requirements of both tasks: Be thoroughly familiar with the question types and requirements for both parts before the exam;
2. Emails: Frequently write emails to pen pals or online friends; when reading, pay attention to email structure and common expressions for openings and closings;
3. Articles: Frequently write short articles on topics you are interested in; read more articles in magazines and on websites to see how they are organized and what their language features are;
4. Stories: Frequently brainstorm and write short stories at home and in class; read more simplified English readers to see how stories begin, develop, and end;
5. Peer and self-assessment: Compare sample essays or classmates' essays against the prompt to identify strengths and areas for improvement in organization, language, and communication;
6. Organize functional phrases: Prepare two or three expressions for each function—agreeing, disagreeing, making suggestions, explaining reasons, and asking questions—and use them flexibly when writing replies;
7. Self-check against the grading criteria: After writing, ask yourself one question for each of the four criteria—content, communicative achievement, organization, and language: Are all points covered? Is the tone appropriate? Are there linking words? Is there variety in sentence structures?

Final Thoughts

The PET writing section is 45 minutes long and consists of two short texts of about 100 words each: Part 1 is a mandatory reply where all 4 notes must be addressed; Part 2 requires choosing between an article or a story. The article must answer the questions in the prompt, and the story must follow the opening sentence. Examiners grade based on four criteria: content, communicative achievement, organization, and language. To score high, in addition to covering all points, you need to pay attention to tone, use linking words effectively, and confidently use richer vocabulary and sentence structures. If you want to understand your child's current writing level, you can book our free assessment.

Verification note: This article was verified in September 2026. The duration of the writing section, the tasks for the two parts, word counts, and scoring are from the Cambridge English website's B1 Preliminary exam format page. Part 1 email is 100–120 words, includes 4 notes, must address all points, and tests language functions. Part 2 article and story question formats, sample paper topics, story matching the opening sentence, answering advice for each part, computer and paper-based exam rules, meanings of the four scoring criteria, descriptions of each band, word count and error explanations, and preparation advice are from the Cambridge "B1 Preliminary Handbook for Teachers" (2024 edition). Integer scores only, a writing full score of 40, and the conversion table and instructions for 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 Part 1 example is written by us and is not an actual exam question. The writing methods for articles and stories, common reasons for losing points, and the last two practice suggestions are our experience-based 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）