B1 B1 Preliminary Exam Preparation 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the CEFR level that the B1 Preliminary exam certifies?
- A2
- B1 (Correct answer)
- B2
- C1
Correct answer: B1
The B1 Preliminary exam certifies language ability at the B1 level on the Common European Framework of Reference.
Question 2: Which Cambridge exam comes directly after the B1 Preliminary in level of difficulty?
- A2 Key
- B2 First (Correct answer)
- C1 Advanced
- C2 Proficiency
Correct answer: B2 First
B2 First (FCE) is the next level up from B1 Preliminary in the Cambridge English qualification ladder.
Question 3: In the B1 Preliminary Reading Part 1, what task type do candidates complete?
- Multiple matching of headings to paragraphs
- Reading five short texts and answering one multiple-choice question each (Correct answer)
- Filling gaps in a text with missing sentences
- Choosing the correct summary of a long article
Correct answer: Reading five short texts and answering one multiple-choice question each
Part 1 presents five short real-world texts and one three-option multiple-choice question for each.
Question 4: What is the best strategy if you run out of time in the B1 Preliminary Listening test?
- Leave blank answers
- Guess the remaining answers using any option
- Use the end-of-test check time to fill in any blanks (Correct answer)
- Ask the examiner for extra time
Correct answer: Use the end-of-test check time to fill in any blanks
Candidates are given time at the end of the listening test to check and fill in any unanswered questions on the answer sheet.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes an 'open cloze' question in the B1 Preliminary Use of English section?
- You choose the missing word from four given options
- You write one missing word yourself with no options provided (Correct answer)
- You match words from a box to gaps in a text
- You transform a sentence using a given keyword
Correct answer: You write one missing word yourself with no options provided
In an open cloze, candidates must supply the missing word themselves without any multiple-choice options.
Question 6: When writing a story for B1 Preliminary Part 2, which element is most important for a high score?
- Using very long sentences
- Keeping a consistent narrative with a clear beginning, middle, and end (Correct answer)
- Writing exactly 100 words
- Including at least five different tenses
Correct answer: Keeping a consistent narrative with a clear beginning, middle, and end
A coherent narrative structure with a clear progression of events is essential for scoring well on the story task.
What is the CEFR level that the B1 Preliminary exam certifies?