Preliminary

English Test
PET
 What is it?

CEFR level: B1 

Scale score: 140–159 
Test format: Computer or paper-
based
No. of papers: 4
Exam length: About 2 hours 20
minutes
 Format

01 Reading 02 Writing
6 parts – 32 questions 2 parts – 2 questions
45 minutes 45 minutes

03 Listening 04 Speaking
4 parts – 25 questions 4 parts
36 minutes (including 6 (12–17 minutes per pair of
minutes’ transfer time) candidates)
 General Tips
• If you consider you’ve finished, go an re-check the
hardest part for you.
• If you don’t know an answer, DON’T spend to much
time on it. Mark it with an asterisk (*) and come back
to it later.
• You must answer ALL the questions.
• Be careful when writing your answers. Check that
your answer corresponds to the number of your
question.
READING
 01
Reading
Multiple Choice
5 questions
 ❑ Read five real-world
notices, messages and
other short texts for the
main message.

IMPORTANT
TIP: Identify the type of short text. It will help you
Be careful with grammar and
with the intention of it.
vocabulary.
 02
Reading
Matching
5 questions
❑ Match 5 descriptions of
IMPORTANT
people to 8 short texts
There are 5 people and 8 texts.
on a particular topic,
There are 3 options that are left.
showing detailed
comprehension.
TIP: Identify the MAIN aspects of the person.
Look for them on each text.
 03
Reading
Multiple Choice
5 questions

❑ Read a longer text for
detailed comprehension,
gist, inference and global
meaning, as well as writer’s
attitude and opinion.
IMPORTANT
The answers will be found according to the order of the text.
Question 11 is in Paragraph 1
Only question 15 focuses on global meaning.
TIP: First read the questions, then look for the answer in
the text.
Don’t worry about hard words. Look for SPECIFIC
information.
 04
Reading
Gapped Text
5 questions
 ❑ Read a longer text from which
five sentences have been
removed.
❑ Show understanding of how a
coherent and well-structured
text is formed.

IMPORTANT
When selecting an answer, be careful
that it fits with the information that is
before and after.

TIP: Read the text carefully, but pay

attention to the key elements. (that)
Read the text again once you have
finished to make sure it makes
sense.
 05
Reading
Multiple Choice Cloze
6 questions
 ❑ Read a shorter text and
choose the correct
vocabulary items to
complete gaps.

IMPORTANT
Grammar and vocabulary are key.
(depending on the context of the text)

TIP: When selecting an answer, be

careful that it fits with the
information before and after.
 06
Reading
Open Cloze
6 questions
 ❑ Read a shorter text
and complete six
gaps using one word
for each gap.

IMPORTANT TIP:try to identify which type of word is

Prepositions, auxiliary verbs and missing.
“grammar words” are key. Adjectives and
nouns, are not quite common
 READING TIPS
• Always skim all your text first.
• Don’t spend too much time on one section
only. Answer what you know first.
• Be aware of time. You can go back later on
WRITIN
G
 01
Writing
E-mail
 ❑ Write about 100 words,
answering the email and
notes provided.

IMPORTANT

o INSTRUCTIONS TELL YOU WHAT TO

DO
o Notes are helpful BUT use your own
words. It is always informal.

Note 1: Say Sandy you’re excited

too.
Note 2: Choose one of the options
Sandy asked.
Note 3: Explain why not climbing.
Note 4: Ask a question
Note 1: Say Sandy
you’re excited too.
Note 2: Choose
one of the options
Sandy asked.
Note 3: Explain
why not climbing.
Note 4: Ask a
question
 02
Writing
Article OR story
Option 1 (article)
❑ Write about 100 words,
answering the question
of their choosing.

Try to catch the reader’s

attention
Be creative but ANSWER
THE QUESTIONS.

Choose ONLY 1 OPTION.

Summary
1. Mandatory task: no.
2. Word count: around 100 words.
3. Main characteristics: title,
interesting/engaging language.
4. Structure: introduction, main
paragraphs, ending.
5. Language: interesting
adjectives & adverbs,
questions.
 USEFUL
● TO START LANGUAGE
● Have you ever…?
● TO ENGAGE
● Do you ever wonder…?
● What do you think about…?
● Don’t worry! 
● Are you one of those people who…?
● Keep on reading! 
● Imagine that… 
● What about you? 
● TO ORGANIZE IDEAS
● Isn’t that great? 
● First,
● In the first place,
● Second,
● TO CONCLUDE
● Finally,
● In conclusion,
● As for,
● To sum up,
● In addition,
● On the whole,
● Moreover,
● However,
Option 2 (story)
❑ Write about 100 words,
answering the question
of their choosing.

You MUST begin with the

sentence given.
Use a lot of past tenses.
 Summary
1. Mandatory task: no
2. Word count: around 100 words
3. Main characteristics: interesting/engaging language, clear
structure, specific language
4. Structure: beginning, main part, ending
5. Language: interesting adjectives & adverbs, past verb forms,
direct speech, time expressions

A good story usually has a beginning, a main part and an ending. The main part is the most important one so you
want to make it longer than the other parts. Most of the time, we get to a structure that looks like this:

1. First sentence / Beginning

2. Main part paragraph 1
3. Main part paragraph 2
4. Ending
LISTENIN
G
 01
Listening
Multiple Choice
7 questions
❑ Identify key information
in seven short
monologues or dialogues
and choose the correct
visual.

IMPORTANT

They will nearly always mention

something about all the
pictures, so you will have to pay
special attention to what’s being
said.
 02
Listening
Multiple Choice
6 questions
 ❑ Listen to six short
dialogues and
understand the gist of
each.

IMPORTANT

The questions will often use

different words from the
recording, so think about
synonyms and paraphrasing.

TIP: if you don’t hear the answer to

one question, don’t worry about it.
Keep focused or you could miss the
answer to the next one.
 03
Listening
 ❑ Listen to a monologue
and complete six gaps.

IMPORTANT

• The words you write will

always be the same as you
hear on the recording.
However, the words around
the spaces may be different,
so make sure you are ready
to listen for paraphrased
texts..
• Careful with distractors

TIP: Guess what kind of words you need to listen for. For example, is it a
verb, noun, adjective, adverb that is missing? Is it a place name,
address, location, number, amount, or activity that’s missing?
 04
Listening
Multiple Choice
6 questions
❑ Listen to an interview for
a detailed understanding
of meaning and to
identify attitudes and
opinions

IMPORTANT

• The questions are in the

same order as in the text
(audio).
• Be careful with distractors.

TIP: If you miss an answer, keep

going. Try to identify synonyms or
paraphrasing words.
LISTENING
TIPS
• Read quickly.
• Identify the main words.
• Don't forget that the audio will be played twice. If you
don't have an answer, carry on.
• Try to answer as many answers as you can while the
audio is being played the first time.
 01
Speaking
Interview
2 minutes
 ❑ Respond to questions,
giving factual or personal
information.

TIP: Don’t stop talking! Being

quiet is penalized.
 02
Speaking
Extended turn
3 minutes
 ❑ Describe one colour
photograph, talking for
about 1 minute.

IMPORTANT
There’s no interaction

TIP: You have to describe what

you see, so don’t speculate.
 Useful language
Describing a photo
Expressions to start a description
Expressions to say what people are doing.
● In this picture I can see a ● they are sitting
group of people… ● they are standing
● In this picture there are ● they are lying down
some people…
● This picture shows a Expressions to say the position of the objects.
couple/woman/man… ● On the left/right…
● In the middle/centre…
Expressions to speculate.
● At the top/bottom…
● I think… ● In the background/foreground…
● I believe… ● In front of… / Behind…
● I suppose… ● On…
● They seem to be… ● Under…
● He/she seems to be…
Basic connectors.
● Maybe they are… ● because
● Probably, he/she/it is… ● Also
● They might be… ● Moreover
● Etc. ● but
● However
 03
Speaking
Discussion
4 minutes
 ❑ Make and respond to
suggestions, discuss
alternatives and
negotiate agreement.

IMPORTANT
Body language and interaction are important.
Turns should be balanced.

TIP: Don’t come up with a conclusion too soon.

Describe, suggest and give opinions. (tq)
Ask for opinion Reach an agreement
Shall we reach an agreement?
What about… For sure, In my opinion….
What’s your opinion about…
How do you feel about… I think…
What do you think?
Certainly, let’s vote for it.
 04
Speaking
General Conversation
3 minutes
 ❑ Discuss likes, dislikes,
experiences, opinions,
habits, etc.

TIP: Show expression for your partners’ answers.

Don’t give short answers. Try to talk about you, but if you don’t
have nothing to say you can invent.
SPEAKING TIPS
Basic grammar is important. (3rd person “s”)
Vocabulary should be fluid.