B1 Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield B1 facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which word completes: 'We need to ______ a decision soon.' → make
2. What might Neil record about his encounter in his journal? → Building the house was better than watching TV, but I wanted to do more building work.
3. My little sister has always been afraid _____ loud thunderstorms. → of
4. What is the main focus of the Writing Part 1 task in B1 Preliminary? → Writing an email in response to a message
5. A blog reads: 'After moving to a new town, Anna was nervous at first but soon made friends.' How did Anna feel later? → Happier with new friends
6. What was the B1 Preliminary exam formerly known as? → PET (Preliminary English Test)
7. Which of the following is a key tip for the B1 Preliminary Writing email task? → Include all the points mentioned in the question
8. In Part 1 of the PET Exam, what types of questions are asked? → Multiple-choice, matching, fill-in-the-blank
9. The important team meeting is _____ Monday morning at nine o'clock. → on
10. You hear: "The bus comes every fifteen minutes, except on Sundays." When is the schedule different? → Sundays
11. In the sentence 'Although it was raining, the team continued the match,' what does 'although' show? → A contrast
12. What is the role of supporting details in a writing piece? → To elaborate and support the main ideas.
13. You hear: "It's only a ten-minute walk, so we don't need a taxi." How will they travel? → On foot
14. When listening for specific information like times or prices, what is a useful strategy? → Listen for the key numbers and details
15. Select the correct option: "There isn't _____ milk left in the fridge." → much
16. They include popular games ________ Solitaire and Tetris. → like
17. Which sentence uses a modal verb correctly? → You must wear a seatbelt.
18. The east of the island has the most rainfall. → True
19. What is the real problem with apprenticeships? → There are few available.
20. Choose the correct form: 'If it ___ tomorrow, we will cancel the picnic.' → rains
21. Recipe step: 'Once the water is boiling, add the pasta and stir occasionally.' When do you add the pasta? → When the water boils
22. Email: 'Please find the report attached. Let me know if anything is unclear.' What should you do if confused? → Contact the sender
23. In the B1 Preliminary Reading Part 1, what task type do candidates complete? → Reading five short texts and answering one multiple-choice question each
24. Choose the correct sentence: 'It's the first time I ___ sushi.' → have eaten
25. How many parts does the B1 Preliminary Listening paper contain? → 4
26. The Listening test plays each recording how many times? → Twice
27. An article begins: 'Many people now work from home.' What is the topic likely to be? → Remote working
28. Neil found it surprising that → some adults didn’t know how to use tools.
29. There are four seasons in Madagascar: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. → False
30. A speaker says, 'I used to play tennis, but I don't anymore.' What is true now? → They no longer play tennis