B1 Preliminary

B1 Preliminary, formerly known as Cambridge English: Preliminary (PET) is one of our Cambridge English Qualifications. It is the English language exam that shows you have mastered the basics.

A B1 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 A2 Key and B2 First.

Exam updates 2020

To make sure our exams are up to date with the latest research in language learning and teaching, we update them regularly. A2 Key, A2 Key for Schools, B1 Preliminary and B1 Preliminary for Schools have undergone a thorough review to ensure that our exams continue to remain relevant to the needs of schools and learners.

The new exam formats will start being used from January 2020. The changes include:

New and updated tasks across all of the papers

Better alignment between the exams, showing clearer progression from one exam to the next

An update to the way that grades are reported, bringing the exams in line with higher level Cambridge English Qualifications

The separation of the Reading and Writing papers in B1 Preliminary and B1 Preliminary for Schools.

You can find out more about the changes, including information on preparation materials, on our dedicated Key and Preliminary 2020 update website. You can also sign up to receive information and updates about the changes to the exams.