Free Practice Questions for B1 Preliminary for Schools
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Key Facts: B1 Preliminary for Schools Exam
B1 Preliminary for Schools is set at CEFR level B1 by Cambridge Assessment English for school-age learners.
The Reading paper has 6 parts and 32 questions and lasts 45 minutes, testing signs, messages, articles and vocabulary.
The Listening paper has 4 parts and 25 questions and lasts about 30 minutes including transfer time.
Results are reported on the Cambridge English Scale, where 140 or above is a pass at level B1.
A score of 160-170 earns a Grade A and a certificate at the higher level B2.
The overall result is the average of the four equally weighted Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking skill scores.
The exam is available in both computer-based (digital) and paper-based formats, with identical scoring and the same certificate.
B1 Preliminary for Schools sits between A2 Key for Schools and B2 First for Schools in the Cambridge English pathway.
B1 Preliminary for Schools (PET for Schools) is Cambridge English's B1-level exam for teenagers, testing Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking with school-age topics; a Cambridge English Scale score of 140 or above is a pass.
Sample B1 Preliminary for Schools Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to review concepts for the B1 Preliminary for Schools exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1You see this sign on a classroom door: 'Science lab closed today. Year 9 students, go to Room 12 for biology.' What should Year 9 students do?
2A text message reads: 'Hi Mia, football practice is moved to Thursday because the field is wet today. Bring your boots! Coach Lee.' Why has practice changed?
3A library notice says: 'Return all borrowed books before the end of term. Students with late books cannot borrow again next term.' What happens if you return books late?
4An email from a teacher says: 'Your history project is good, but please add more dates and check your spelling before Friday.' What does the teacher want the student to do?
5A sign in the school canteen reads: 'Please put your tray on the rack and your rubbish in the bin after eating.' What are students asked to do?
6A note from a friend says: 'I can't come to the cinema tonight - I have to finish my maths homework. Can we go on Saturday instead?' What does the friend want?
7A school trip notice says: 'Bring a packed lunch and a raincoat. The museum café will be closed for repairs.' Why must students bring a packed lunch?
8A message on the school website reads: 'Tickets for the drama club show go on sale Monday. Buy early - last year they sold out in two days.' What is the message advising?
9A sign near the school gym says: 'Wear trainers on the wooden floor. Outdoor shoes can damage the surface.' Why must students wear trainers?
10A text from your classmate says: 'Did you understand the science homework? I'm stuck on question 3. Can you call me tonight?' What does your classmate want you to do?
About the B1 Preliminary for Schools Exam
Cambridge English B1 Preliminary for Schools, also known as PET for Schools, is an intermediate-level English qualification at CEFR level B1 for school-age learners. It follows exactly the same format and scoring as B1 Preliminary for adults, but uses topics and contexts aimed at the interests and experiences of teenagers, such as school, hobbies, friends and family. The exam tests four skills across four papers: Reading (6 parts, 32 questions), Writing (2 tasks), Listening (4 parts, 25 questions) and Speaking (4 parts). Reading and Listening are objective papers built mainly from multiple-choice, matching and cloze tasks, which makes them ideal for practice-question study. Results are reported on the Cambridge English Scale, where 140 and above is a pass at B1 and 160-170 earns a Grade A certificate at B2. It is the logical step between A2 Key for Schools and B2 First for Schools.
Exam sponsor: Cambridge Assessment English (Cambridge University Press & Assessment). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.
Questions
100 questions
Time Limit
About 2 hours 20 minutes in total: Reading 45 minutes, Writing 45 minutes, Listening about 30 minutes (including 6 minutes' transfer time) and Speaking 10-12 minutes per pair.
Passing Score
Cambridge English Scale 140 or above is a pass at B1: 140-152 is Grade C, 153-159 is Grade B and 160-170 is Grade A (B2). A score of 120-139 is reported as A2.
Exam / Certification Fees
Set by each authorised exam centre and varies by country; typically around 110-130 euros (about USD 120-150) for 2026, with digital and paper-based versions priced the same.
Exam sponsor websiteFees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.
Our practice resources: topics covered
We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.
Reading Part 1 - Short texts
Read five short real-world texts such as signs, notices, emails and messages and choose the option that best matches the meaning.
Reading Part 2 - Matching
Match five descriptions of people to the most suitable of eight short texts about clubs, trips and everyday activities.
Reading Part 3 - Long text
Read a longer article or interview and answer multiple-choice questions on detail, opinion, attitude and overall meaning.
Reading Part 4 - Gapped text
Choose the correct sentences to fill five gaps in a longer text, testing understanding of structure and cohesion.
Reading Part 5 - Vocabulary cloze
Choose the correct vocabulary item to complete six gaps, testing collocations, word forms and word meaning.
Listening Part 1 - Short extracts
Listen to seven short monologues or dialogues and choose the correct option that answers each question.
Listening Part 2 - Gist
Listen to six short recordings and identify the main idea, gist, attitude or purpose of each speaker.
Listening Part 4 - Interview
Listen to a longer interview and answer six multiple-choice questions on detailed meaning, opinion and attitude.
Preparing for the B1 Preliminary for Schools Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Cambridge English Scale 140 or above is a pass at B1: 140-152 is Grade C, 153-159 is Grade B and 160-170 is Grade A (B2). A score of 120-139 is reported as A2.
- Exam length: 100 questions
- Time limit: About 2 hours 20 minutes in total: Reading 45 minutes, Writing 45 minutes, Listening about 30 minutes (including 6 minutes' transfer time) and Speaking 10-12 minutes per pair.
- Exam / certification fees: Set by each authorised exam centre and varies by country; typically around 110-130 euros (about USD 120-150) for 2026, with digital and paper-based versions priced the same. Official sources
Using Our Practice Resources
- Work through all 100 available questions
- Review every answer and explanation
- Track weak areas and revisit them
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
B1 Preliminary for Schools: Suggested Study Strategy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is B1 Preliminary for Schools?
B1 Preliminary for Schools (PET for Schools) is a Cambridge English qualification at CEFR level B1 for school-age learners. It tests Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking using the same format as B1 Preliminary but with topics suited to teenagers.
How is B1 Preliminary for Schools different from B1 Preliminary?
Both exams are at the same CEFR level, follow the same format and lead to the same certificate. The 'for Schools' version uses content tailored to the interests and experiences of school-age learners, while B1 Preliminary is designed for adults.
How is the exam scored?
Results are reported on the Cambridge English Scale. A score of 140-152 is Grade C, 153-159 is Grade B and 160-170 is Grade A. The overall result is the average of the Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking scores; 120-139 is reported as A2.
How many questions are in the Reading and Listening papers?
The Reading paper has 6 parts and 32 questions in 45 minutes. The Listening paper has 4 parts and 25 questions in about 30 minutes, including 6 minutes to transfer answers to the answer sheet.
Do I have to pass every paper?
No. There is no requirement to reach a minimum score in any single paper. Your grade and CEFR level are based on your average performance across all four skills, so strength in some papers can balance weaker ones.
Is B1 Preliminary for Schools available on computer?
Yes. The exam is offered as a computer-based (digital) test and as a paper-based test. Both are the same qualification with the same format and scoring, and the digital version usually gives faster results.