B1 Preliminary
A Preliminary qualification shows that you have mastered the basics of English and now have practical language skills for everyday use.
This exam is the logical step in your language learning journey between Key and First.
It is a CEFR Level B1 (What is this?)
Exam Format
Preliminary is made up of three papers developed to test your English skills: Reading and Writing (1 hour 30 minutes), Listening (36 minutes, including 6 minutes' transfer time), Speaking (10–12 minutes per pair of candidates).
Preparation
You can find many free resources to help you prepare for the exam. Download our free sample papers to prepare the reading, the listening and the writing part. All answers will be provided.
Dates
There are many exam dates throughout the year offering both paper-based and computer-based exams Preliminary.
Results
Preliminary results are reported on the Cambridge English Scale.
You will receive a separate score for each skill, giving you a clear understanding of your performance. These scores are averaged to give you an overall result for the exam. You will also be given a grade and Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) level.