Breakout English has plenty of Preliminary (PET) materials which can be used to prepare for the Cambridge B1 exam. The PET exam is often the first time candidates step into the world of official exams, making it a significant challenge. Cambridge doesn’t make it easy either. While the exam doesn’t include the dreaded Use of English seen at higher levels, it still has demanding Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking sections.
Materials
B1 fixed phrases, dependent prepositions and collocations
How to write an email – PET Writing Part 1
Preliminary (PET) Reading Part 6 – Open Cloze
Preliminary (PET) Writing Sample Tests
How to do Preliminary (PET) Reading Part 2
Pictures to describe for Preliminary (PET) Speaking Part 2
Dead Famous – Past Simple Game
Describing a Picture – Preliminary (PET) Speaking Part 2 Plan
Christmas Songs Listening
Make and Do – Collocations
Writing an Article – Rhetorical Questions
Preliminary (PET) Speaking – Sample Tests
Preliminary (PET) Reading Part 4 – Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
First day get to know you questions
Cambridge Exam Changes 2020 – Updates for Preliminary (PET) and Key (KET)
Preliminary (PET) Writing Part 2 – Emoji Story 😀
Liar, liar! – present perfect / past simple game
Preliminary (PET) Transformations – Conditionals
How to teach Cambridge exam classes
Preliminary (PET) Speaking Parts 3 & 4
Expressing Preferences – Would you rather…
Preliminary (PET) Transformations – Passive
Preliminary (PET) Transformations – Comparatives and Superlatives
How to do PET Reading Part 1 – Signs and Modals of Obligation
Cambridge Speaking Part 1 – Chat Cards
First day of exam class – Get to know the exam (Cambridge)
Preliminary PET Writing Part 1 – Improve a letter
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How to prepare for Preliminary PET exam
Passing the Cambridge PET exam is all about getting the basics down. Once you’ve got a solid grasp of basic grammar and vocabulary, you need to work on practising the four skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking. You can also start to learn some more advanced concepts to try to capture the highest marks in the exam, but remember not to complicate your life too much.
Here are some things you can do to prepare for the exam:
- Study vocabulary – Vocabulary can be one of the biggest challenges at B1 level. Using course books designed for a B1 level will often expose you to a lot of vocabulary about common topics for the level including travel, shopping, describing a town or city and much more.
- Perfect the basic grammar – You should be able to write and speak in the present, past and future without making lots of mistakes. Memorise your irregular verbs, work on using modal verbs to give advice and discuss obligation and in general get those basics covered.
- Start listening to more English – There are some great websites like BBC 6 Minute English which give intermediate level learners the chance to practice listening without getting overwhelmed. Try to make listening in English part of your study routine.
- Get a graded reader – Graded readers like these ones from Penguin Books are novels and stories which have been adapted to a specific level. Find one at B1 level and get reading!
- Learn how to organise your writing – The biggest problem a lot of PET exam writing has is a lack of organisation. You don’t need to write Shakespeare for the Preliminary exam, but you do need to organise a letter, article and story in a logical way.
- Take a class or find a language exchange partner – It can be hard to find opportunity to speak in English, especially if you are self-conscious about your speaking. Force yourself to speak by taking a class with other learners at your level. The teacher will help too!
- Do some practice exams – You should never take an official exam without practising first. There are books available with practice exams where you can check your own answers and get a feel for the real day.
Enjoy the Preliminary (PET) materials!