Cambridge | B1 Preliminary for Schools (PET S)
Cambridge | B1 Preliminary for Schools (PET S)
B1 Preliminary for Schools (PET S) is specifically designed to motivate school-ages learners. It shows that a student can use English for everyday social and study purposes.
Exam Information
What is B1 Preliminary for Schools (PET S)?
B1 Preliminary for Schools (PET S) is an intermediate level exam, set at level B1 of the council of Europe's Common European Framework for languages (CEFR). B1 Preliminary (PET) and Cambridge English Preliminary for Schools follow exactly the same format and the level of the question papers is identical.
The content and treatment of topics in B1 Preliminary for Schools (PET S) have been particularly targeted at the interests and experience of school-age learners.
At Level B1 level typical users can be expected to:
- understand the main points of straightforward instructions or public announcements
- deal with most of the situations you might meet when travelling as a tourist in an English-speaking country
- ask simple questions and take part in factual conversations with friends, family and at school
- write letters/emails or make notes on familiar matters
Who takes Cambridge B1 Preliminary for Schools?
In Switzerland B1 Preliminary for Schools (PET S) is mainly used by secondary school students who usually take it at the end of their 3rd year at secondary school.
Why to take B1 Preliminary for Schools (PET S)?
As B1 Preliminary for Schools (PET S) is mainly taken by teenagers and young adults, it shows their ability and determination to strive for and work towards a goal. Therefore, holding a B1 Preliminary for Schools (PET S) certificate will enhance any application for an apprenticeship.
Format of the exam
You can take your Cambridge exam in two ways: on a computer or on paper.
| Paper | Content | Marks (%of total) | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing (1 hour 30 minutes) | Reading: 5 parts/ 35 questions Writing: 3 parts/ 7 questions | 50% | Students need to be able to read texts from signs, newspapers and magazines and understand the main points. They will need to show they can use vocabulary and structure by completing tasks such as producing a short message, and writing a story or letter of around 100 words. |
| Listening (36 minutes including 6 minutes' transfer time) | 4 parts/ 25 questions | 25% | Students need to show they can understand the meaning of a range of recorded spoken material, including announcements, interviews and discussions about everyday life. They will also need to be able to understand the attitudes and intentions of the speakers. |
| Speaking (10–12 minutes per pair of candidates) | 4 parts | 25% | Students take part in a conversation, asking and answering questions, and talking freely about their likes and dislikes. They take the Speaking test with another candidate or in a group of three. |
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