B1 Preliminary (PET) English practice
Build everyday English for B1 Preliminary, also known as PET. This collection focuses on understanding messages, describing experiences and communicating with a clear purpose.
How to use this collection
Read a short text and identify who it is for and what it asks the reader to do. Practise listening for details, then write a short email or story using the language you have reviewed.
Use these independent lessons alongside official preparation materials. They do not reproduce the exam format, include speaking assessment, or predict an exam score.
Official Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET) informationReading practice
The garden above the city
Read an original text and answer five questions about its meaning.
The interview that went wrong
Read an original story and explore its main idea, details and meaning.
Borrowing more than books
Read an original article and explore its main idea, details and meaning.
Travel around Europe in 5 stops
An original short travel diary with five questions on comprehension and vocabulary in context.
Why your coworkers hate you
An original short workplace story with five questions on comprehension and vocabulary in context.
Unusual and wonderful jobs
An original short interview with five questions on comprehension and vocabulary in context.
Listening practice
A community workshop
Listen for the main idea, details and the speaker’s purpose. Five questions with explanations.
Choosing a flat
A two-voice conversation with five questions on the main idea, details and speaker intention.
A volunteer clean-up
A short talk with five questions on the main idea, details and speaker intention.
Working while travelling the world
A short listening passage with three questions on details, meaning and the speaker's perspective. Original educational audio with synthesised voices.
Where did you stay?
A short listening passage with three questions on details, meaning and the speaker's perspective. Original educational audio with synthesised voices.
Stories of school and education
A short listening passage with three questions on details, meaning and the speaker's perspective. Original educational audio with synthesised voices.
Grammar practice
Present Simple vs Present Continuous
Present Simple vs Present Continuous. The present simple describes regular behaviour and stable states; the continuous describes temporary activity, change or a repeated action viewed emotionally with always.
Present perfect vs past simple
Past Simple vs Present Perfect. Use the present perfect to connect the past with now, including unfinished time and experience.
Present perfect continuous
Present Perfect Simple vs Continuous. Present perfect simple emphasises completion, results or how many; continuous emphasises duration or recent activity.
Past perfect
Past Simple / Past Continuous / Past Perfect. Use past simple for the main sequence, past continuous for background in progress, and past perfect for an earlier event.
Present continuous for future plans
Will / going to / Present Continuous. Will often expresses a spontaneous decision, promise or belief; going to expresses an intention or evidence-based prediction; present continuous describes an arrangement.
Review of all B1 verb tenses
Review of all B1 verb tenses. Review time relationships across simple, continuous and perfect forms.
Writing practice
How to write an email to a friend giving news
100–150 words · Email. Write to a friend you have not seen recently. Tell them you have joined a new club, describe your first meeting and explain one plan you have with the group. Ask about your friend's news.
How to write a past story from a given sentence
100–150 words · Story. Begin your story with this exact sentence: 'When I opened the bag, I knew something was wrong.' Explain the problem, describe what happened next and give the story a clear ending.
How to write an article – B1 Preliminary (PET) Exam
90–120 words · Article. Write an original exam-style article for a student magazine answering: 'Where do you like spending time with friends, and what makes that place special?' Use a title and engage the reader. This is independent skills practice, not an official exam paper.
Email making plans for visit
100–150 words · Email. Your friend writes: 'I'm visiting your town next Saturday and arriving by train at ten. I'd like to see something outdoors, but I can't walk very far. Where shall we meet, and what should I bring?' Reply with a suitable plan and a bad-weather alternative.
How to write an email cover letter
100–150 words · Application. A local library needs a weekend assistant to welcome visitors and help organise children's activities. Write an email applying for the role. Explain relevant experience, your interest and your availability. Use invented details for practice.