B2 ANSWER KEY
TEST 2
Test 2  Listening
Section 1
1 A ‘could you let me know if that’s still the case and
whether it’s still at the Shaker building, please?’
2 A ‘Here’s a few of the ideas we have… I’ll give you time to
look at each of them and discuss what you think in your
groups’
3 C ‘the people like me who check that all the facts in the
script are correct’
4 C ‘Thank you for giving up your valuable time… . Make
sure the sand is flat when you leave the beach to go
back to your resort.’
5 A ‘rough out there… if you keep looking at the
horizon… the controls… I’ll go outside and see what’s
happening…’
6 C ‘can’t wait to chill out… I’m seriously running out of
energy…’
7 B ‘…I don’t think that’s significant… the fact that they’re
made from abandoned vehicles is though – I think that’s
where they differ…’
8 C ‘…I just hope that it stays on the track… And that
they’ve got all the safety procedures in place’
9 B ‘It would’ve been good to have more instruction’
10 C ‘you’re making a dip to serve later, put the avocado
stone in the middle of the dip to stop it from going
brown…. ‘
Section 2
11 Yoga is an ancient form of exercise. It involves stretching,
which strengthens the muscles. In addition, the complex
breathing exercises increase the circulation of oxygen in
the body. Practising yoga regularly not only reduces stress
levels, it can also improve your quality of sleep.
Section 3
12 onion ‘onion is in everything we cook’
13 feast ‘We call each day’s food a feast,’
14 £149 ‘is £99 for three weeks and £149 for the six-week
course’
15 you’ve paid the fee ‘Your place won’t be confirmed until
you’ve paid the fee’
16 allergies ‘let us know of any allergies… we take these into
account, your preferences are also important to us but we
might not meet everybody’s expectations’
17 habit ‘make saving money a habit’
18 50% ‘Fifty percent is ideal’
19 water ‘Money can be like water sometimes’
20 afford ‘buy what you can afford’
21 fear of missing out ‘avoid FOMO in other words the fear of
missing out’
1 Pearson PTE General B2 (Level 3) Answer Key  ©  Pearson Education Limited 2020
Test 2  Reading
Section 4
22 B The receipt needs to be for the item bought, which
makes it valid. Genuine means not fake which is different.
recent is not appropriate as it could be a receipt for a
different item.
23 C You say enthusiasm for not in. You say history of and it’s
not the word you’d use here.
24 A regular repeats previous information, the same has
nothing to refer back to. Alternate means first one then
the other so it is correct here.
25 B contributions and sales cannot be raised
26 B victory = on top. Just behind and at first do not fit the
context
Section 5
27 C ‘There is no guarantee of when he`]ll be required’ He
says the pay is reasonable (quite good) so not A, and he
doesn’t mind waiting around, so not B.
28 A ‘due to pressure of academic work in the period leading
up to exams’ He has to turn film work down (say ‘no’ to)
so not B, and wants to do more in future so not C.
29 B ‘sometimes students are unable to commit’ A is
incorrect – it is an ‘honest agency’ but we don’t know
that students have to work for an agency like this. The
fees are free, so C is not the key.
30 C ‘The money varies depending on whether it’s a
commercial or a music video’ Sometimes the agency
needs people who look unusual but there’s nothing to
say it prefers them, so A is not correct and if you don’t
work you still get paid, so not B.
31 B ‘you need patience / For this reason, he believes the job
is not for everyone’ He has a passion for acting but he
doesn’t say you need to, so A is not the key. To say that
work is fun is different from needing a sense of humour,
so not C.
Section 6
32 identify them ‘…your first challenge will be to locate (find)
the various insects … before you go on to identify them…’
33 our countryside team ‘…should assistance (help) be
required, our countryside team will be available…’
34 the whole day / a day / one day ‘…the majority of (most)
visitors prefer to spend the whole day exploring…’
35 provide valuable data ‘…the results of your investigations
will provide valuable data.’ This data will help the
conservation team.
PHOTOCOPIABLE  
 ANSWER KEY
36 fierce competition ‘As there is fierce competition for this,
you might not be lucky…’
37 near other students ‘…being near other students… more
important…’
38 cost ‘…put cost as their main priority…’
39 free Wi-Fi ‘…properties with basic cooking equipment and
free Wi-Fi… top of their ‘wish list’…’
Section 7
40 fee-paying international students
41 higher education
42 horror fiction
43 advanced learning skills
44 online discussion areas
45 Educational Technology
46 (real) challenge
Test 2  Writing
Section 8
47 Sample answer
Hi Laura,
I know you’re interested in doing a MOOC. I think that’s
a great idea! You said that you wanted to get a maths
qualification because it would help you get a place at
university. You could study at home whenever you wanted
to with a MOOC.
However, it might not be easy. Many people start MOOC
courses, but don’t finish them. I think it’s because in a
classroom you can ask the teacher a question if you have a
problem. You can’t do that on a MOOC course.
I’m sure you will succeed. Just make sure you have a clear
goal in your mind and manage your time wisely.
Best wishes,
Jason
[114 words]
Section 9
48 A Sample answer
Are you an international student who has just arrived
to study at the college? If so, you mustn’t miss our
‘International Students’ Welcome Fair’! This event will take
place on Tuesday 20th September from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in
the Students’ Union Building.
The fair is specially designed to meet the needs of
international students. There will be people from different
organisations who can offer you help and advice about
a wide range of practical matters. For example, if you
want to know how to open a bank account, there will
be employees from several local banks. If you have any
questions about visas, you can ask the college admin staff.
2 Pearson PTE General B2 (Level 3) Answer Key  ©  Pearson Education Limited 2020
The library workers can explain how to borrow books, and
the IT team will help with any computer issues.
You’ll have the chance to find out about different student
organisations, including lots of sports activities, the chess
society, the photography club, and many more. The
Students’ Union staff will also be there and can give you
advice on anything from hiring a bicycle to where the
nearest supermarket is. This is a great opportunity to get
some practical help, make new friends, and meet other
international students.
[199 words]
B Sample answer
Schools around the world tend to teach traditional subjects
such as maths, people’s first language, history, geography,
science, and foreign languages. However, if the aim of all
those years at school is to provide a wide education that
prepares young people for their future lives, I believe that
some more practical skills should be introduced.
First of all, students spend a great deal of time learning
facts, such as the names of kings and queens, when they
lived, and what they did. Although these things may be
important for history, they are not of much practical use in
today’s rapidly changing world.
Another reason for introducing practical subjects into
general education is that many young people leave school
without vital life skills such as being able to cook for
themselves, drive a car, or look after their money without
getting into debt.
All in all, in my opinion, if they could do all the above-
mentioned things, they would be better equipped for adult
life after school. Not only that, but their motivation might
increase assuming that the practical side of learning was
made clear; this is what all schools should aim at.
[192 words]
Test 2  Speaking
Section 10
TOPIC 1: Free time
I prefer to be in a place with nature because I enjoy being out
in the fresh air and going walking or hiking outdoors.
In my area, we have some beautiful parks where you can go
and relax with friends or walk your dog. I like to go there at the
weekend to spend time with my friends.
Very calm and relaxed. If I’m feeling stressed, being surrounded
by nature helps me to calm down and focus on what’s really
important in life.
It’s rather important. I take all the necessary steps to take care
of our planet and respect wildlife.
PHOTOCOPIABLE  
 ANSWER KEY
Yes, definitely. When I go out for a walk in the woods, for
example, I realise that there are lot of plants whose names I
don’t know.
TOPIC 2: Timekeeping
I think that was last week when I woke up a bit late for work
because I didn’t hear my alarm. Then I really had to hurry up to
get dressed and eat my breakfast so I could get to the bus in
time!
I’d say I’m quite stressed out and nervous – it isn’t a nice feeling!
I’m often nearly late, but it’s rare for me to actually be late. I
often start getting ready to do something too late, but then I
hurry and I actually get there on time.
Sometimes yes because we shouldn’t pay much attention to
things that are not that important and focus on those which
require much effort.
I’d say things that require a lot of concentration or precision.
TOPIC 3: Family
Last weekend I visited my grandmother who lives in Reading. I
drove over to her house and took her some cakes I had made. I
told her all about what I’ve been doing since we last saw each
other.
I often meet my relatives because we live close to each other.
We usually talk and play board games – my family is really
competitive so it’s always a challenge.
Probably with my brother and my sister because they are my
best friends. We have so much fun when we’re together – we
know exactly how to make each other laugh and, of course,
we have lots of the same memories so we talk about the good
times we had when we were growing up together.
I think we can learn a lot from them because they have so
much more life experience than we do. If you ever have a
problem, they’ve probably had the same problem at some
point in their lives so they can give you good advice.
TOPIC 4: Style
It isn’t very important to me because I don’t think the clothes
you choose have any influence on how you feel or how other
people see you. I’d rather spend my money on things like
books instead.
Not really. Although I don’t like it when people wear very
bright clothes that are difficult to look at. I think darker colours
are better.
I don’t think they can tell you what someone’s personality is
like, but they can tell you how important a person’s appearance
is to them. I sometimes find that if someone’s appearance is
important to them and they’re wearing fancy and expensive
clothes, they might not be very confident.
Me and my friends sometimes watch videos of people dressing
for some fashion events and have a lot of fun discussing the
outfits.
3 Pearson PTE General B2 (Level 3) Answer Key  ©  Pearson Education Limited 2020
I would probably buy a good quality coat because my old one
is in poor condition.
Section 11
Sample answer
Yes, I think that people definitely should stop relying on their
mobile phones. There are lots of reasons why it’s a bad idea to
do that – for example, if you rely on your phone too much, you
become a bit obsessed with it. I know people who can’t stop
looking at their phone, even while they’re having a meal with
other people.
I take your point, but don’t people use their phones so much
because they’re such a convenient way of communicating with
other people and getting information?
Yes, but what about face-to-face communication? That’s more
important than sending people messages on your phone and
you can feel a stronger connection to people when you talk to
them face-to-face.
OK, but at least you never feel bored if you have a mobile phone.
If you’re bored, using your mobile phone isn’t the only thing
you can do – there are so many other more interesting things
you can do instead, like reading a book or playing a sport.
Well but you can use a phone in many different ways, for example
for banking or meditation apps. Some people just feel happier and
more secure having a phone with them.
You might be right but think about a situation when you lose
this phone. It would probably be disastrous for most people.
Having all the banking details on my mobile, it would only
make me feel more anxious. I think we should at least try and
spend some time without our devices each week and not
depend on them so much!
Section 12A
Sample answer
In the first picture, I can see a family walking their dog in
the woods. The little girl is holding the dog’s lead and walking
ahead of her mum and dad with her little brother next to her.
It looks like it’s an autumn day because there are lots of brown
leaves on the ground. The little girl is smiling so she must enjoy
walking her dog.
In the second picture, I can see two little boys who are feeding
chickens at a farm. The boys are wearing shorts so it must be
summer. All of the chickens have crowded around close to the
fence because they want to get the food the boys are offering
them – I think it’s grain or something like that.
Because they enjoy being with the animals. You can do nice
things with them like go for walks in the woods, and they can
make those experiences more enjoyable because they’re so
happy and playful. It’s also nice to see how pleased they are
PHOTOCOPIABLE  
 ANSWER KEY
when you give them some food or tickle them, for example. But what shall I do if there’s a problem?
I think keeping animals is a very good thing for old people, If there’s a problem, you can call me and I can give you some
especially if they live alone, because it helps them to feel advice over the phone. Or if you can’t reach me, you could
less lonely. always ask my neighbour for help. I just don’t want to ask him
to look after the cat because he’s quite old and can’t walk very
Section 12B
well.
Sample answer
OK, then I’ll look after your cat for you.
In the first picture, I can see a lot of traffic on a motorway in
a big city. It looks like it might be Beijing or another huge city Section 13B
in Asia. There are lots of tall office buildings or blocks of flats Sample answer
on either side of the motorway. You can’t tell if the traffic is I think learning to drive would be very useful for you. You
moving or if it’s stopped moving, but it looks like it’s difficult should do it.
to get anywhere fast on this road. There must be a lot of
How would it help me in my day-to-day life?
pollution from the traffic in this place too.
Well, you could get to work faster and more easily, you can
In the second picture, I can see a man and a woman driving
drive to the supermarket in your car and put all the shopping in
through the countryside in an open-top sports car. It is a sunny
the boot of the car so you don’t have to carry heavy shopping
day and the woman looks very happy – she has put her arms
bags. And if you want to enjoy yourself at the weekend, you
up in the air in excitement at the thrilling open-top ride. The
could go for a relaxing drive in the countryside.
scenery they’re driving through looks beautiful – there’s a river
That all sounds lovely, but isn’t it expensive to take driving lessons?
to their right and some mountains in the distance.
Not really. Just think about how much money you spend
If you have a car in the city, you can use it to get to work. It
on things like cups of coffee or sweets which you don’t really
means that you don’t have to travel in a crowded commuter
need? If you just stopped buying things you don’t really need
train and you can probably leave for work a bit later. But, of
for a little while, you’d have enough money to pay for driving
course, you might waste time in traffic jams, which can be very
lessons.
frustrating. In the second picture, we can see how great it can
be to just be able to go wherever you want in a car. It’s easy to I’m worried I won’t be a very good driver though. I might not even
travel to places that would be very difficult to reach by public pass the test!
transport and just go at your own pace and enjoy yourself. But you can’t possibly know that you aren’t a very good driver
until you try it. Billions of people around the world can drive,
Section 13A
what makes you think that you aren’t as good as all of them?
Sample answer
Yes, that’s a good point. I will give learning to drive a try.
I’m going on holiday for a week. Would you mind looking
after my cat while I’m away? You live really near to me, so it
wouldn’t be very inconvenient for you to come over, would it?
I wouldn’t say that I live that near – it takes me about 20
minutes in the car to get to your house. That’s a long way to
travel. What kind of care does your pet need?
He just needs you to feed him and change his litter tray
once a day.
Well, I suppose that’s not very much, but I don’t have very much
experience of looking after animals.
You don’t need experience. All you have to do is open a tin of
cat food, pour into his bowl and then take out the litter from
the litter tray and put some clean litter in. Anybody could do it.

4 Pearson PTE General B2 (Level 3) Answer Key  ©  Pearson Education Limited 2020 PHOTOCOPIABLE