How to Tackle the PET (B1 Preliminary) Listening Test: Question Types, Answering Strategies for the 4 Parts, and Differences Between Computer-Based and Paper-Based Tests

The Listening section of the PET (B1 Preliminary) is about 30 minutes long, consists of 4 parts and 25 questions. Each question is worth 1 point. It is graded as a separate component, accounting for one-quarter of the total score. We covered the entire exam in our article on How to Take the PET. For Reading and Writing, see articles 249 and 250. This article focuses specifically on Listening: what each part tests, official listening strategies, the differences between computer-based and paper-based tests, and how practice test scores roughly translate to proficiency levels. 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 score conversion guide. The exam format is the same for B1 Preliminary for Schools and B1 Preliminary, so the information below applies to both versions.

I. Structure of the Listening Section

• Each recording is played twice;
• Recording types: The handbook lists possible types, including conversations at home or between friends (Parts 1 & 2), radio broadcasts (Parts 1 & 3), lecture excerpts and informative talks or radio programs (Part 3), conversations in a shop (Part 1), interviews with radio presenters (Part 4), and voicemail messages (Parts 1 & 3);
• The recordings feature a variety of standard native English accents, and the handbook recommends that students practice listening to different accents;
• Duration: Approximately 30 minutes. The paper-based test includes 6 minutes at the end to transfer answers to the answer sheet, while the computer-based test includes 2 minutes at the end to check answers (the website states "30 minutes, including 6 minutes transfer time," while the handbook states "approximately 30 minutes, plus" this time; the exact arrangement is subject to the test day schedule).

Compared to the KET Listening section, the PET has one fewer part (4 parts vs. 5 parts), but each part contains more questions. It also includes an interview, which requires identifying the speakers' attitudes and opinions (for KET Listening, see Article 246).

II. Differences Between Computer-Based and Paper-Based Tests

III. The Four Parts: What to Expect and How to Listen

The "What to Expect" and "How to Listen" for each part below are summarized based on the teacher's handbook.

Part 1: Short Recordings with Image Selection (7 questions)

What to expect: Listening for specific information. There are 7 short recordings, each with one question and three images. Select the image that best answers the question.

How to listen: Listen for the main idea on the first play and select the most appropriate image; use the second play to check, focusing on key information; proceed in the same way for the remaining questions.

Tips (experiential advice): Items in all three images might be mentioned in the recording. Listen carefully to determine which one actually answers the question. For example, if the question is "How did they finally decide to travel?", the dialogue might first mention taking the bus, then reject it, and finally make a decision.

Part 2: Short Dialogues for Main Idea (6 questions)

What to expect: Listening for the main idea. There are 6 short dialogues, each with a one-sentence context introduction, followed by a question (or a sentence to complete) and three options.

How to listen: Focus on understanding the main idea on the first play and select the most appropriate option; use the second play to verify if the answer is correct.

Tips (experiential advice): Questions may involve the speakers' feelings or opinions, such as "What did she think of the movie?" Determine the answer by considering the entire dialogue; do not just select an option because you hear a word from it.

Part 3: Monologue Gap Fill (6 questions)

What to expect: Locating and noting specific information. The question paper features a page of notes or sentences summarizing the recording, with 6 pieces of information removed. Complete the gaps while listening. Answers are mostly single words, numbers, or very short noun phrases.

How to listen:

• Read and listen to the instructions first. Use the pauses to read the content on the question paper and think about the context. Predict the language and information you will hear (e.g., locations and activities, courses, trips, holiday activities);
• The information on the question paper follows the same order as the recording, so you can listen in sequence;
• On the first play, write down single words, numbers, or very short noun phrases; keep answers short;
• The words to fill in are exactly the words spoken in the recording. Do not paraphrase them or write them in abbreviated note form;
• On the second play, check: ensure the sentences make sense with your answers and that each answer provides specific information;
• Pay attention to spelling; words spelled out in the recording must be spelled correctly.

In the handbook's sample paper answers, articles and modifiers are placed in parentheses, such as "(a/an/the) shark(s)", "(a/an/the) musical (show/play)", and "(some) ring(s)"—meaning that for these questions, writing shark, sharks, or the shark are all correct. The key is to get the core word right and spell it correctly.

Example (created by us, not an actual exam question): The notes say, "On the last day of the course, students will visit a ______." The recording says, "We were planning a trip to the museum on the last day, but this year we're going to visit a chocolate factory instead."
The answer is chocolate factory. The museum mentioned first is the replaced plan; you need to listen for the word "instead" later on.

Part 4: Interview (6 questions)

What to expect: A longer interview where you answer 6 multiple-choice questions while listening. The content comes from various contexts and is primarily informative. It requires a detailed understanding of the meaning and the ability to identify the attitudes and opinions expressed by the speakers.

How to listen: Read and listen to the instructions first. Use the pauses to read the questions and think about the context of the interview (e.g., locations and activities, or a person's life, interests, and experiences). Listen for the main idea on the first play and select the most appropriate answer for each question. On the second play, carefully check all answers, focusing on details and the attitudes and opinions explicitly expressed by the speakers.

Tips (experiential advice): The interview follows a format where the host asks questions and the guest answers. The host's questions can serve as "signposts": when you hear the host move to a new question, pay attention to see if you should move on to the next question.

IV. How Practice Test Scores Roughly Translate to Proficiency Levels

Cambridge has provided a conversion table for estimating Listening scale scores using official practice tests (out of a maximum of 25):

Cambridge notes that this table applies only to official practice tests and is for reference only; it cannot accurately predict formal exam scores. Students scoring near the threshold (within about 3 scale points above or below) are advised to continue improving. Simply put: a score of 18 on the Listening practice test roughly corresponds to the B1 starting score of 140, and 23 roughly corresponds to the B2 score of 160.

V. Common Reasons for Losing Points

Below is a summary based on experience:

• Choosing an option just because you hear the word: A word from the option appears in the recording, but it refers to something that was negated or replaced;
• Not checking on the second play: Losing focus after making a selection on the first play;
• Writing too much or paraphrasing in Part 3: Writing a full sentence or replacing the words you heard with your own phrasing;
• Spelling errors in Part 3: Misspelling names or place names that were spelled out in the recording, or misspelling common words;
• Mistaking the host's words for the guest's opinion in Part 4: You need to distinguish who is speaking;
• Leaving blanks: The handbook explicitly states that there is no penalty for wrong answers and encourages students not to leave any blanks;
• Transfer errors in the paper-based test: Shading the wrong row or omitting answers during the 6-minute transfer time.

VI. How to Practice

The first six tips below are from the handbook, and the last two are our experiential recommendations:

1. First, figure out what you're listening to: Help students identify the type of audio and the purpose of the task, then choose the right listening strategy;
2. Read and listen to the instructions: Read the instructions on the test paper clearly and listen to them carefully in the audio to fully understand what to do;
3. Make use of both playings: Listen to each audio track twice, using the second time to check and correct answers;
4. Check the transcript after finishing: Compare with the audio transcript to identify key words and sentences, cues, and distractors;
5. Don't leave any blanks: There is no penalty for wrong answers. Make sure every question has an answer before submitting the test—students often understand more than they think;
6. Don't just practice test questions: Listen to English with different accents and in various contexts; the exam shouldn't be the only focus;
7. Listen to more interviews and radio programs: Find English interviews and podcasts suitable for the B1 level, and practice identifying the speaker's viewpoints while listening (empirical advice);
8. Practice in the test format: Students taking the computer-based test should practice answering on a computer, while those taking the paper-based test should practice transferring answers to the answer sheet within 6 minutes (empirical advice).

Final Thoughts

The PET Listening test is about 30 minutes long, consists of 4 parts and 25 questions, with each audio track played twice, and is graded as a separate component. Parts 1 and 2 feature short audio clips, one focusing on specific information and the other on the main idea; Part 3 is a gap-fill task requiring students to write the exact words from the audio, keep them short, and spell them correctly; Part 4 is an interview where students need to identify the speakers' attitudes and opinions. Answer during the first playing and check during the second; don't leave any blanks even if you're unsure, and you'll be able to score consistently on the Listening section. If you'd like to know your child's current listening level, you can book our free assessment.

Verification notes: This article was verified in September 2026. The duration of the Listening test, the question types, number of questions, and scoring for the 4 parts are sourced from the B1 Preliminary exam format page on the Cambridge English website and the Cambridge B1 Preliminary Handbook for teachers (2024 edition). Information on audio types, various standard native accents, each audio track being played twice, the 2-minute checking time for the computer-based test and the 6-minute transfer time for the paper-based test, answering rules for both test formats, the content tested and answering methods for each part, the fact that Part 3 answers are mostly words/numbers/very short noun phrases and must use the exact words from the audio, words that have been spelled out must be spelled correctly, how to write sample test answers, no penalty for wrong answers, and preparation advice are all from the aforementioned teacher's handbook. The separate scoring for the four skills, as well as the conversion table and instructions for mapping practice test scores to the Cambridge English Scale, are from the Cambridge The Cambridge English Scale explained: A guide to converting practice test scores (2023 edition). The comparison with the KET Listening test was verified in article No. 246 on this site. The examples for Part 3 are created by us and are not actual test questions; the tips for Parts 1, 2, and 4, common reasons for losing points, and the last two practice suggestions are our empirical advice.

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)