Cambridge B1 Preliminary – Free

Below is a breakdown of the Cambridge B1 Preliminary exam.

For more information, including guidance, examples and exercises, click on the name of the relevant part.

Reading
45 minutes

Reading

6 parts

32 questions

32 marks

Part 1

Multiple-choice short texts

5 questions

5 marks

Part 2

Matching

5 questions

5 marks

Part 3

Multiple choice

5 questions

5 marks

Part 4

Multiple-choice gapped text

5 questions

5 marks

Part 5

Multiple-choice gap fill

6 questions

6 marks

Part 6

Open gap fill

6 questions

6 marks

Writing
45 minutes

Part 1

Email

100 words

15 marks

Part 2

Article
OR
Story

100 words

15 marks

Listening
Approximately 30 minutes

Listening

4 parts

25 questions

25 marks

Part 1

Multiple-choice short texts

7 questions

7 marks

Part 2

Multiple-choice short texts

6 questions

6 marks

Part 3

Gap fill

6 questions

6 marks

Part 4

Multiple-choice gapped text

6 questions

6 marks

Speaking
Approximately 12 minutes

Part 1

Introductory phase

2-3 minutes

Part 2

Individual long turn

2-3 minutes

Part 3

Collaborative task

2-3 minutes

Part 4

Discussion phase

3 minutes