B1 Trivia 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which grade is the highest a candidate can achieve on B1 Preliminary?
- Grade A (Correct answer)
- Grade B
- Grade C
- Pass with Merit
Correct answer: Grade A
Grade A is the top result and can indicate B2-level performance.
Question 2: If a candidate scores at the higher end, which level above B1 can the certificate show?
- A1
- A2
- B2 (Correct answer)
- C2
Correct answer: B2
A Grade A on B1 Preliminary can certify B2-level ability.
Question 3: What does the acronym 'PET' historically stand for?
- Practical English Test
- Preliminary English Test (Correct answer)
- Personal English Training
- Pearson English Test
Correct answer: Preliminary English Test
PET originally stood for the Preliminary English Test.
Question 4: The Listening paper of B1 Preliminary lasts approximately how long?
- About 30 minutes (Correct answer)
- About 90 minutes
- About 3 hours
- About 10 minutes
Correct answer: About 30 minutes
The Listening paper takes about 30 minutes, including transfer time.
Question 5: What percentage of the total marks does each of the three skill areas roughly contribute?
- 10% each
- 25% each (with reading/writing split)
- About one third each (Correct answer)
- 50% reading only
Correct answer: About one third each
Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking are weighted so each main area counts about equally, near a third when reading and writing are combined.
Question 6: Which of these is NOT one of the four skills assessed by B1 Preliminary?
- Reading
- Writing
- Translation (Correct answer)
- Speaking
Correct answer: Translation
Translation is not assessed; the four skills are reading, writing, listening and speaking.
Question 7: How long is a B1 Preliminary certificate typically valid?
- 6 months
- 1 year
- It does not expire (Correct answer)
- 10 days
Correct answer: It does not expire
Cambridge English certificates do not officially expire, though institutions may prefer recent results.
B1 Trivia 3
Which grade is the highest a candidate can achieve on B1 Preliminary?