1–6 PROGRESS TEST 1 |  Higher B1

Listening
1 PT Track 1  Listen to the conversation
between Toby and his friend Sara. Decide if
each statement is T (True) or F (False).
1 Toby’s family will use the attic as a study.
2 Sara’s dad has just bought a new car.  T / F
3 Toby’s mum is nervous about the
damage to the chimney.  T / F
4 Toby is pleased about his brother’s
plans for the new bedroom.
5 Toby is anxious about talking to his
parents about the room at the moment. T / F B He’s unsure it will work as a bedroom.
 3 Toby says he should have the new bedroom
2 PT Track 1  Listen again. For each question,
choose the correct answer.
1 What does Toby say is the main reason he’s
T/F in town?
A He wants to eat out at a new restaurant.
B He wants to do some shopping.
C He wants to relax.
2 What does Toby think about the attic space?
T/F
A He’s surprised how large it is.
C He thinks the builders won’t finish the work.
because
A his brother will be at university before the
work is finished.
B he thinks his own bedroom is too small.
C he’ll continue living in the house after his
brother has left.
4 How does Toby feel about the building work at
his house?
A He’s worried that the noise will make it
difficult for him to sleep.
B He’s angry about the damage the builders
have made.
C He’s impatient about the amount of time the
work is taking.
5 How does Sara offer to help Toby?
A She understands why Toby can’t find
somewhere quiet in his house.
B She says she’s certain that Toby can use her
father’s study.
C She suggests he speaks to his parents.

Optimise B1 Optimise B1 Teacher’s Resource Centre © Springer Nature Limited 2019.

This sheet may be photocopied and used within the class.
1 of 5
 1–6 PROGRESS TEST 1 |  Higher B1

Vocabulary
3 Complete the second sentence so that it has the same meaning as the first. Use one word in each
sentence. The first letter is given.
1 Jim has lots of friends at school; everyone 6 Mum has asked me to clean my room and put my
likes him. clothes away in my wardrobe.
Jim is a very p       student. My mum asked me to t       up my room.
2 My aunt and uncle are travelling around the 7 I don’t think it’s fair that my parents won’t let me
Caribbean on a large ship. go to the party.
My aunt and uncle are on a c       around I think it’s u       that my parents won’t
the Caribbean. let me go to the party.
3 Joe doesn’t tell the truth. 8 My sister is always drawing and painting pictures.
Joe is very d       . My sister is really c       .
4 My dad has to go to Sweden next week for his job. 9 We’re going to do a lot of walking in the
My dad is going on a b       trip to mountains on holiday next month.
Sweden next week. We’re going on a h       holiday in the
5 Maria doesn’t talk very much and she doesn’t mountains next month.
like meeting new people. 10 I’m going to meet up with my friends tomorrow.
Maria is a bit s       . I’m going to get t       with my friends
tomorrow.

Reading

My Australian Adventure
13-year-old Alicia Jones writes about her trip to Sydney
We arrived here in Sydney on Friday morning and we’ve been exploring the city for a few days now. It’s such
a great place with so many amazing and cool things to see and do. But I think the best thing about the city
is that you can never get bored. Both my parents enjoyed eating out in lots of different restaurants, and my
little brother really loved our trip on the jet boat that took us around Sydney Harbour! The boat travelled
really fast, and we saw the Opera House and Harbour Islands as well. We even went past the Taronga Zoo!
But the real adventure begins tomorrow afternoon. That’s when we’re taking the train to Perth on the Indian
Pacific railway! It’s one of the longest train journeys in the world – 4,352 km! We’ll be travelling past gold
mines, the amazing Blue Mountains, and we may even be lucky enough to see some wild animals as well.
I hope I get to see some kangaroos! Of course, it’s faster to travel by plane, but Dad thought this would be
much more fun, and it’s something we’ve never done before!
Because we’ll be on the train for four days, we’ve booked two cabins so that we can sleep more easily.
Having a bed of our own, instead of trying to sleep in a train seat, will really help. I’ll be staying with my
mum, and my brother will be staying in my dad’s cabin. We’ve also got some space for our luggage – and all
the souvenirs we’ve bought of course! We have to share a bathroom with some of the other passengers on
the train, but that’s OK.
When we arrive in Perth next Sunday, we’re going to stay with my aunt and uncle. They have a nice house
by the beach. I’d really like to visit the night food market. It has food from 30 different countries around
the world, and it only opens at night. It’s free to enter the market, and there are even some bands that play
there. I can’t wait!

Optimise B1 Optimise B1 Teacher’s Resource Centre © Springer Nature Limited 2019.

This sheet may be photocopied and used within the class.
2 of 5
 1–6 PROGRESS TEST 1 |  Higher B1

4 Read the text. What do these words and numbers represent? Choose the correct answer.
1 exploring the city 4 next Sunday
A what they have been doing in Sydney A the day they will arrive in Perth
B what they want to do in Perth B the day they will go home
2 4,352 kilometres 5 30 countries
A the distance between Sydney and Perth A the number of countries Alicia has visited
B the distance between Sydney and the B the number of countries represented at the
Blue Mountains food market
3 four days
A the amount of time they have been on holiday
B the amount of time they will be on the train


5 Read the text again. For each question, choose the correct answer.
1 Where would you normally see this kind of article? 4 What does Alicia want to do in Perth?
A in a newspaper A She wants to go to the beach.
B in a blog B She wants to try different kinds of food.
C in an email C She wants to go to a concert.
D in a report D She wants to do some shopping.
2 Why has Alicia written the article? 5 How does Alicia feel about her holiday so far?
A to tell people facts about Australia A excited about trying new things
B to explain why she is on holiday B annoyed about not having her own bathroom
C to encourage others to go to Australia on the train
D to tell her friends what she has been doing C concerned that she won’t have time to do
on holiday everything
3 What did her brother enjoy most about Sydney? D surprised at how long the train journey will be
A eating out in restaurants
B visiting the zoo
C taking the harbour tour
D exploring the city

Optimise B1 Optimise B1 Teacher’s Resource Centre © Springer Nature Limited 2019.

This sheet may be photocopied and used within the class.
3 of 5
 1–6 PROGRESS TEST 1 |  Higher B1

Grammar
6 Complete the text with the correct answer (A, B, C or D).
It’s my birthday next week and my parents have surprised my brother and me with a trip to Glenshee in
Scotland where we (1)     learn how to snowboard! I’m so excited! My dad (2)     snowboard when he
was younger, so he’ll be able to help us! I have been wanting to do this for a few years, but I wasn’t old
(3)     until now.
There are so (4)     other things you can do at Glenshee. If you (5)     interested in snowboarding, you
can go skiing instead. There are also cafés and a shop where you can buy or hire equipment and clothes if
you (6)     your own. Mum (7)     to see Braemar Castle, which is only a few miles away, but it’s closed
during the winter. So, we’re going (8)     the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre instead. I’ve (9)     seen
some pictures of the reindeer on the centre’s website – they are so cute! I’ll have to remember to take my
camera with me – there are going to be (10)     many things to see!
1 A are going to B have been C will be D were going
2 A would B use to C wouldn’t D used to
3 A so B such C enough D too
4 A much B many C lots of D some
5 A isn’t B wasn’t C aren’t D weren’t
6 A forgot B forgetting C forgotten D forget
7 A wanting B wants C wanted D want
8 A be visiting B to visit C visiting D visit
9 A already B never C yet D still
10 A such B enough C so D too

Writing
7 Write an answer to one of the following questions.
1 Read this email from your English-speaking friend Anna and the notes you have made.
Write your email to Anna using all the notes. Write about 100 words.

From: Anna
Subject: Next month
Hi! Great!
I’m really looking forward to visiting you and your
family next month! I’m so excited about it!
I need to decide what sort of clothes to bring
with me. Can you tell me what the weather will be
like? Tell Anna
I don’t want to bring too much luggage.
What other things do you think I should bring Suggest …
with me? Explain
And what type of activities will we be able to do
together when I get there?
Reply soon!
Anna

Now write an email to your friend in about 100 words.

Optimise B1 Optimise B1 Teacher’s Resource Centre © Springer Nature Limited 2019.

This sheet may be photocopied and used within the class.
4 of 5
 1–6 PROGRESS TEST 1 |  Higher B1

2 You have seen this notice on a website for teenagers.

REVIEWS WANTED

We’re looking for reviews of outdoor activities in your country. Could you write a review of an activity
you have tried where you live? Include information about what and where it is, if you need any special
equipment and how much it costs. Explain why you would or wouldn’t recommend it.

Now write your review in about 100 words.

Speaking
8 Talk about yourself. Answer the questions.
1 What is your name?
2 How old are you?
3 Where do you live?
4 Do you have any brothers or sisters?
Now choose one of the following questions to answer.
• How would you describe your best friend’s personality?
• Describe a room in your house.
• Talk about the last holiday you had with your family.
• Talk about an outdoor activity you enjoy doing.

Total score 

Optimise B1 Optimise B1 Teacher’s Resource Centre © Springer Nature Limited 2019.

This sheet may be photocopied and used within the class.
5 of 5